Lots of Stanley Hand Planes

[benush26]

Disclaimer*****
I have no decent knowledge about these planes. If you ask friends they would say that I probably have no real knowledge!! but to move forward.....

While checking out CL I came across this ad

http://helena.craigslist.org/tls/4271125742.html

I have no idea if $450 is a decent price for the seven planes nor the condition of the planes. Just thought if someone was a collector or connoisseur and thought they were a reasonable price you could call.

No, I don't know the owner AFAIK. The location is about 35 miles from me. If someone is REALLY interested and can tell me what I should be looking for, I'll drive down to check them out.

Dennis got me to start looking for wood vises at bargain prices in Ohio, so thought this might be era for buying tools long distance.

If the price is out of line, sorry about that. I see Stanley planes at over $100 each (though I have no real clue their value or the going price). I bought three a couple years back (all #4) that I re-conditioned for about $10 a plane - shipped, but they were in tough shape.

Be well,
Ben

[terrydowning]

Hand Planes are really difficult to value from photos.

The photo on the ad provides very limited ability to type the planes and it's impossible to tell the condition on the various parts.

The value of the 45 depends greatly on year and completness (How many cutters, long and short rods, original box, inclusion of additional items, etc. just adding the original screwdriver can increase the value significantly)

$450 could be a decent price but would require a visit by a knowledgeable shopper or at very least a lot more information.

[benush26]

Hand Planes are really difficult to value from photos.

The photo on the ad provides very limited ability to type the planes and it's impossible to tell the condition on the various parts.

The value of the 45 depends greatly on year and completness (How many cutters, long and short rods, original box, inclusion of additional items, etc. just adding the original screwdriver can increase the value significantly)

$450 could be a decent price but would require a visit by a knowledgeable shopper or at very least a lot more information.

Thanks Terry! Good information.

The offer stands if someone is really interested I can make a trip down to check it out and take more pictures. Just need clues as to what to look for and what to ask about.

[robinson46176]

I like buying mine at yard / garage sales for $4 to $8... I think I did pay about $16 for one of the longer ones.
My father only owned one smooth plane (which I now have) and one block plane. I don't believe he ever used the block plane (I have it too).
He did a lot of carpentry and trim work but never got into making furniture or hobby woodworking.

After I get my plane shelf built (actually I am re-making an old set of shelves I found) I will try to get around to refurbishing all of my planes. The last two shop locations were both bad about light rusting. It's a problem that just doesn't exist in this basement shop. More than the moisture level in the structure I believe that most of the problem was the constant changing of the temperature which caused sweating. The basement shop is heated and AC'd and only varies a few degrees from one time to another.


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[WmZiggy]

As mentioned above, evaluation by photo is very difficult. For example, I can only assume that the #45 is without blades, box, and additional parts (short arms, cam rest, beading stop, slitting cutter). A later 45 as this appears to be came standard with 27 blades. A #45 without it's blades and parts is worth $35. However, in reasonable condition with all of its parts (and as you know, condition is everything) $200 - 250.

Using my Stanley Tool Pocket Price Guide I have assembled the following prices for run-of-the-mill Stanley planes by the numbers. Keep-in-mind that since 2008, the market for tools has softened, except for the best and rare.

#3 - $35; #4 - $25; #5 - $25; #6 - $50; #7 - $80; #8 -$80: Total: $295.00

So you can see much depends on the status of the #45 whether this is a "good deal". I recently saw a set of 45 blades for $200 alone. So, it's not such a deal IF you have to find parts to make it a complete plane. Without blades, it's a boat anchor or parts plane.

I will add too, if the planes have condition issues such as hang holes drilled in them, abuse of blades or bottoms, stripped threads on adjustment knobs, cracked handles - all affect price. Handles can be replaced, bottoms flattened, hang holes are forever. Bottom line, you have to factor in your costs and time to set them right.

[terrydowning]

I recently paid $140 for my complete 1913 Stanley 45
Original metal Box
Original instruction
Original screwdriver
long and short arms
complete set of cutter
Extra sash cutter
Extra Fillister cutter
Extra spurs

I was very pleased. It works like a charm BTW, way quieter and much cleaner than using elctrons.

[WmZiggy]

Terry, sounds like you got a really good deal, and they are out there. I paid $100 for my Type 12 (1915) but it was missing the screw driver, booklet and box for the whole plane. I felt lucky to get this one with 100% of it nickle plating and no rust on anything. I don't think it was ever used. I found it in an antique shop in Denver in the early 90's.

John Walter in his opus on Stanley Tools in 1996 put the average price range for 45s at between $150 - $350. I upped the low end to $200 given inflation during the last 20 years, but you can get perfectly good examples for less. I also said they come with 27 blades. Error. It should be 23 for later models after yours.

Like you, I enjoy using my 45. Since I got it I have added hollow and rounds and some additional blades. I really love the 46 with it's skewed blade. It cuts wood like butter. Here too, I found it complete in original box in a back woods store in Alabama for $100 in the early 90s. It's a Type 3 which today can go for $500 or more. Sometimes I wonder why I use it, but I love it and tools are made to be used.

Like you said concerning the CL planes - photos are so hard to judge. However, from the looks of it I would low ball that 45.

[robinson46176]

I was very pleased. It works like a charm BTW, way quieter and much cleaner than using elctrons.

Are you sure that the RPM's are high enough? Or will you need a speed increaser?


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[WmZiggy]

Terry, like me you seem to have gone over to the "past side" and embraced hand tools, too. So I thought I would throw this in on the Stanley 45.

The last iteration of this plane to be made was by Paragon Plane, an off shoot of Record Planes of England in the 70s & 80s. Garrett Wade was the US distributor. They called it a "Multi-Plane" rather than a "45", but it was a duplicate of the iconic Stanley, with parts interchangeable. GW wrote in a book they published in 1979 entitled Woodworking Tools that the Multi-Plane "is an expensive but very versatile plane, which must have a place in all reference books, if not in the average workshop." At $600+ (in 1980s dollars) before they stopped producing it, I'm not so certain it was for the "average shop".

Well, several years ago I won (my wife doesn't like that term, "won") at auction back East a complete Paragon, never used. On an e-bid I won it for $200. Here are some pictures.

[ATTACH]23702[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]23703[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]23704[/ATTACH]

The plane came with 24 standard blades, and 16 special blades you could purchase additionally, for a total of 40 blades.

[ATTACH]23705[/ATTACH]

A complete Stanley 45 which they stopped making in 1962 came with 23 standard blades and just as many special blades as pictured here. One difference, however, the Multi-Plane came with plow blades in English and Metric sizes.

[JPG]

Terry, like me you seem to have gone over to the "past side" and embraced hand tools, too. So I thought I would throw this in on the Stanley 45.

The last iteration of this plane to be made was by Paragon Plane, an off shoot of Record Planes of England in the 70s & 80s. Garrett Wade was the US distributor. They called it a "Multi-Plane" rather than a "45", but it was a duplicate of the iconic Stanley, with parts interchangeable. GW wrote in a book they published in 1979 entitled Woodworking Tools that the Multi-Plane "is an expensive but very versatile plane, which must have a place in all reference books, if not in the average workshop." At $600+ (in 1980s dollars) before they stopped producing it, I'm not so certain it was for the "average shop".

Well, several years ago I won (my wife doesn't like that term, "won") at auction back East a complete Paragon, never used. On an e-bid I won it for $200. Here are some pictures.

[ATTACH]23702[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]23703[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]23704[/ATTACH]

The plane came with 24 standard blades, and 16 special blades you could purchase additionally, for a total of 40 blades.

[ATTACH]23705[/ATTACH]

A complete Stanley 45 which they stopped making in 1962 came with 23 standard blades and just as many special blades as pictured here. One difference, however, the Multi-Plane came with plow blades in English and Metric sizes.

Nice tail vise! Bench looks purty good also!;)