I can't believe my good fortune!
I'd been looking 'round for a decent Stanley #65 Low-angle Block Plane and had almost given up on finding one for a decent price. Then along came one on eBay: "Craftsman low-angle block plane, same as Stanley No. 65."
Yep-- in the 30s (and probably 40s and who knows, 50s) Craftsman was selling re-badged Stanley tools! I estimate my example as c. 1935 - 40 based on the style of the Craftsman logo. It is 100% identical to the knuckle-jointed Stanley No. 65 except that it has a Craftsman number (escapes me right now, it's in the shed and it's bloody cold outside! ;-) ) and the iron also says "Craftsman" instead of "Stanley."
If you're looking for a user as opposed to a museum-piece, look around for these! I got it for $28 plus shipping and there are NO cracks around the mouth!
I'd been looking 'round for a decent Stanley #65 Low-angle Block Plane and had almost given up on finding one for a decent price. Then along came one on eBay: "Craftsman low-angle block plane, same as Stanley No. 65."
Yep-- in the 30s (and probably 40s and who knows, 50s) Craftsman was selling re-badged Stanley tools! I estimate my example as c. 1935 - 40 based on the style of the Craftsman logo. It is 100% identical to the knuckle-jointed Stanley No. 65 except that it has a Craftsman number (escapes me right now, it's in the shed and it's bloody cold outside! ;-) ) and the iron also says "Craftsman" instead of "Stanley."
If you're looking for a user as opposed to a museum-piece, look around for these! I got it for $28 plus shipping and there are NO cracks around the mouth!