I recently picked up a little No 3 plane to give to my niece. My No 3 is probably my favorite, and she is very seriously into wood shop in school, so I thought it would be just about her speed, once I teach her to sharpen the blade.
I knew that the plane had had some work done: the tote and knob aren’t rosewood (at least not like any I’ve ever seen), and the lateral adjustment lever does not appear to be Stanley issue. The body, however, bears the indications of a type 11-12 Stanley plane (3 patent dates, Bailey name, etc.).
What I didn’t notice until I had the plane apart is that it does not have a frog adjustment screw, unlike any Stanley-branded plane I’ve seen that was manufactured in the last 100+ years. The frog lacks a spot to screw in the frog clip, which together with the unusual lateral adjuster led me to think that the frog is not Stanley-branded.
More surprising, though, is the the body is not drilled to accept a frog adjustment screw either, in spite of the typical Stanley markings.
Both the body and frog are the right shape to accept a frog clip and adjust screw, but haven’t been tapped to actually take them.
Has anyone encountered a plane like this? Did Stanley actually produce a type 11-12 plane under its own brand without the frog adjuster? Or is this some kind of oddball that was made to look like a Stanley-Bailey plane, right down to the markings and patent dates?
The plane was inexpensive, and should make a nice user once I have it cleaned up and back together, but I’m still curious about it’s heritage!
I knew that the plane had had some work done: the tote and knob aren’t rosewood (at least not like any I’ve ever seen), and the lateral adjustment lever does not appear to be Stanley issue. The body, however, bears the indications of a type 11-12 Stanley plane (3 patent dates, Bailey name, etc.).
What I didn’t notice until I had the plane apart is that it does not have a frog adjustment screw, unlike any Stanley-branded plane I’ve seen that was manufactured in the last 100+ years. The frog lacks a spot to screw in the frog clip, which together with the unusual lateral adjuster led me to think that the frog is not Stanley-branded.
More surprising, though, is the the body is not drilled to accept a frog adjustment screw either, in spite of the typical Stanley markings.
Both the body and frog are the right shape to accept a frog clip and adjust screw, but haven’t been tapped to actually take them.
Has anyone encountered a plane like this? Did Stanley actually produce a type 11-12 plane under its own brand without the frog adjuster? Or is this some kind of oddball that was made to look like a Stanley-Bailey plane, right down to the markings and patent dates?
The plane was inexpensive, and should make a nice user once I have it cleaned up and back together, but I’m still curious about it’s heritage!
