This is my first post on the Creek. To introduce myself, let me say that I like doing things with tools but would not qualify as a real woodworker. I have built props and specialized equipment during my career as a photographer and audio-visual producer. Lately, I have put a foot on the slippery slope of accumulating metal bench planes (for now, I hesitate calling my affliction “collecting“) and I am going down fast! So far, I have more than 30: at least one of every Stanley Bailey bench planes from number 3 to 7 including the “fractions” (4 ½, 5 ¼, 5 ½), a few of them with the corrugated sole version too, as well as other makes of similar planes (Record, Millers Falls, Union, Sargent (no VBM, though), Shelton, Whitmore, WS); I also have a few Stanley Handyman kind-a-planes and a few block planes.
I have already restored a few of the nicer planes with your help, Creekers; the amount of info available here is fabulous, thank you! Now, I ask for your help in identifying this recent flea market find.
It is a number 7 jointer (A) that lacks any form of maker identification. The only marking on the base casting is the crooked number 7 in front of the knob (B). No raised ring for the knob. The sides and the sole have a very nice and fine milling pattern. The base casting is 21 7/16” long (about half inch shorter than my Type 18 #7 Bailey), 2 7/8” wide and 2 1/16” high.
The plain lever cap has “6” and “B” markings on the reverse. The iron has the hole for the screw head at the cutting edge (lower) side. The cap iron has a smaller hump near the cutting edge than Bailey planes (C). No marking on the iron or the cap iron. The iron is thin like a Bailey; I don’t know yet whether it is laminated or not. The screw joining the cap iron to the iron is smooth-sided, not knurled like others (D).
The stained wood handles are of a light-colored species (beech, maple?). The knob is tall with a shape not as sexy as Bailey knobs (E). The tote has a nice rounded shape a bit smaller than Bailey’s (F). The studs thread size is ¼” x 20 NC; Stanley used a non standard #12 x 20 thread; the brass nuts are cylindrical.
The real surprise is the frog, the attached parts and how it mates to the base. It has a ramp shape similar to Bed Rock planes, but without the iron-in-place mouth adjustment feature (G). The frog screws are also ¼” x 20 NC thread. The frog is marked “6A”. No frog adjustment fork and screw. The frog bedding on the base is divided in two parts with room for the screw bosses (H); unfortunately, the frog base is not “channeled” so there is a lot of lateral movement while adjusting the mouth opening.
While the lateral adjustment lever is of the three-piece kind similar to Bailey’s, the individual parts are not the same as Bailey’s and have no marking. The revolving washer is loose and the countersink for the rivet is quite crude (I). The brass depth adjustment knob is of the small type (one inch) with a left hand thread compatible with Bailey’s. Its knurling differs though (D). The plated yoke is beefier and squarish compared to Stanley’s (J). The screw retaining the lever cap will only partly screw into a Bailey frog; instead of 24 threads per inch, it seems to have 25.
I don’t think Stanley made it (no standard inventory parts). I looked at pictures of many other makes on the Net, but didn’t find a match. Any idea?
Thanks, Andre (more pictures in next post)
Plane.jpgToe.jpgHump.jpgKnurling.jpgKnobs.jpgTote.jpg
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