How old is this Stanley #4 I found?

[BioNerd]

I found a 1933 Stanley #4 in a metal scrap pile and I restored it

My neighbor was a hoarder, his son is putting out a ton of stuff or metal scraping.

I've saved some items like this one:

Thanks!

EDIT:

Restored it:

I left a lot of the original rust patina, japaning and I only waxed the wood a bit.

A lot of truing sole and honing blade tho.

 

[amguttin]

If it has patent pending numbers near the tote (handle) then the dates o it is the correct date. It looks to be worth restoring unless the iron is pitted real bad.

 

[CNGsaves]

Work backwards for your question . . . . . what is market price of FULLY RESTORED old Stanley plane that I have ?? Decide if you're in it for money, or just to keep and use a nice old tool.

Ebay shows them ranging from $15 to $95 . . . . . the nice ones are beautiful.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=stanley+no+4+plane&_sacat=0

I'd say go for it and see how nice you can restore it. Satisfaction will be yours each time you bring out and use the old plane !

 

[classicJackets]

If he's putting out a ton of stuff, for free, I know someone on Garage Journal who might be willing to pay shipping on a few things...

 

[Jim C.]

If you could post some clear photos of the patent numbers on the main body casting and the trademark at the top of the cutting iron, that would help a lot in determining the plane's approximate date of manufacture. In terms of value, it's way past any serious collector interest. In terms of usability, and utility, there's a ton of potential there. With a good cleaning and tune up (that does NOT include exposing it to a stiff wire wheel mounted on an bench grinder), and a re-ground and sharpened iron, that plane would make for a great user out in your shop. Provided it's castings are not cracked, and the front knob and rear tote are intact, you have a good quality plane that can be rehabilitated. In terms of value, it's a $10 dollar item if all the parts are there and they aren't seriously damaged.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

If it has patent pending numbers near the tote (handle) then the dates o it is the correct date.....

That's sort of true but not entirely. That's just one clue that helps narrow things down, but other indicators that include the sum and construction/design of the parts, the cutting iron trademark, also must be considered when trying to put a date of manufacture on an old Stanley hand plane. The #4 was one of the most common and successful planes Stanley ever produced. Stanley literally made millions of them between 1869 well into the 1980s. As they went along, subtle and sometimes major changes were made to the parts. Many of the parts were interchangeable between planes that were manufactured decades apart from each other. So, patent dates are definitely one thing to look at, but they're not usually the only factor to consider particularly with a plane like the #4, that was so common and was produced by the same company for so long.

Jim C.

 

[dlehman604]

From what I can see of the frog, lateral adjusting lever, and iron cap, it's old enough to make a really nice user. I don't think you will get rich off of it, but it's a quality tool that someone somewhere would like to have. Definitely too good for the scrapper - nice save.

 

[Jim C.]

Work backwards for your question . . . . . what is market price of FULLY RESTORED old Stanley plane that I have ?? Decide if you're in it for money, or just to keep and use a nice old tool.

Ebay shows them ranging from $15 to $95 . . . . . the nice ones are beautiful.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=stanley+no+4+plane&_sacat=0

I'd say go for it and see how nice you can restore it. Satisfaction will be yours each time you bring out and use the old plane !

I mostly agree with this. Still, I guess the OP needs to decide what his intentions are for the plane. Most serious collectors want tools with ORIGINAL unmolested finishes on them, even if those finishes are rough. Although a vintage NOS Stanley #4 may be worth $100 +/-, restoring the plane to a pristine example may not, and probably will not increase it's value much more than fraction of what it's currently worth. Stripping it down to bare cast iron and re-painting it (the plane is actually japanned not painted) may actually hurt its value. Taking a wire wheel to it and removing the decades of patina is almost criminal in terms of destroying the plane's visual antique appeal. If the OP is going to keep the plane and use it, and wants it looking shiny and fresh from the factory, then restoring it to new condition may not be a bad option. Personally, I'd just give it a gentle cleaning and address the iron making it razor sharp with a mirror like finish on the cutting edge. It'll be a great worker again.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

From what I can see of the frog, lateral adjusting lever, and iron cap, it's old enough to make a really nice user. I don't think you will get rich off of it, but it's a quality tool that someone somewhere would like to have. Definitely too good for the scrapper - nice save.

Absolutely 1+

 

[Cope]

http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/dating/

 

[Bill Ramsey]

If you have a use for it, absolutely looks like it can be cleaned up to user grade. If you're wanting to sell it, probably not worth the effort...from just cost vs. benefit perspective, if it were me I'd sell it 'as is'.

I know we all have the unique viewpoint of being tool people, but it baffles me what people (like your neighbor) are willing to scrap or even just throw away.

 

[back2class]

Not too too old. 1920's at the oldest. Guessing around that.

 

[RustFarmer]

Your plane was made somewhere between 1942 and 1945. Plane geeks (Galoots) call this a Type 17. The lack of a frog adjusting screw on the new style frog makes it a Type 17. It may also have other unique parts due to WWII. It is worth more in its current condition, than if you "restored" it.

https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/typing/typing.htm

 

[BioNerd]

I want to keep it, I wouldn't sell it.

It is currently an ornament, my question was more about you guys telling me if seems repairable for me to use.

I currently rock a tuned up HF#33. It works great after hrs of tuning but I much rather use this puppy at work than that cheapo.

There is some odd items in the scrap pile.. Like a really old vacuum like contrivance.

I rescued a 16oz estwing hammer, a set of German double cherry carving tools, a really old metal tool box or fishing box, an assortment of hatchet knives, a 1907 nail puller, a really old camera, a really old oil bottle.

There is still several old fishing artifacts. I can go grab them and take pics if anyone is interested. I can ship them for just the shipping cost.

 

[BioNerd]

Like this odd items:

 

[BioNerd]

 

[Jim C.]

If you plan to keep it and use it I think that's great. As long as there's no significant damage, I can pretty much say with confidence that you're going to like the old Stanley #4 a lot more than anything you can currently buy at Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Those old vintage Stanleys are nice tools. Eventhough they were mass produced by the millions, the quality was significantly better than any mass produced plane being made today. Good call keeping it. Don't over restore it. Keep it looking old.

Jim C.

 

[BioNerd]

Any suggestions on what to leave unrestored?

 

[BioNerd]

Restored it:

I left a lot of the original rust patina, japaning and I only waxed the wood a bit.

A lot of truing sole and honing blade tho.





From:

 

[rick carpenter]

Looks like you've restored yours like I restored mine: into a user that shows its age nicely. Check out http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm and https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/typing/typing.htm for a little more info.

 

[CNGsaves]

Wow, that turned out GREAT !!!

I'd say intercept ALL dumpster loads of neighbor if great stuff like that is being thrown out !!

 

[BioNerd]

Thank you! Man, I will soon post about the metal box and chisels.

For now, I searched for the pat. # and its from feb 18, 1933.

http://www.google.com/patents/US1918750

 

[knotheads]

Sounds like your neighbors son is a bonehead

 

[bubinga]

actually using electrolysis and cleaning the black oxide resulting from the electrolysis will still give the plane a nice patina in my experience. If the japaning is bad, strip it off and re paint. Don't worry about collector value, it's not old or rare enough.

edit, hadn't finished reading all the posts,
It looks good.

 

[brass89]

This link should help you identify it provided all the parts are original. Sometimes, especially with older working planes they get modified with parts off others that didn't come with it. Key areas to look at are the handles (front knob height), materials, patent date, color of japanning, frog style (fixed or adjustable) etc etc.

http://virginiatoolworks.com/tools/stanley-planes/bailey-identification/

 

[brass89]

Keep in mind, even if it's not pristine enough to sell as a collector piece (provided you don't want to keep it) a lot of guys will be interested in it as a quality every day working plane. So long as the tote and knob are in good shape (no major cracks), all the parts are working and the sole has no cracks.

 

[bubinga]

Keep in mind, even if it's not pristine enough to sell as a collector piece (provided you don't want to keep it) a lot of guys will be interested in it as a quality every day working plane. So long as the tote and knob are in good shape (no major cracks), all the parts are working and the sole has no cracks.

absolutely,that is a great user plane. some guys will even up grade the blade, to a hock or Lie nielsen.

EDIT,
I got lucky at the flea market one day, nice #4 nice shape, low front knob, corrugated sole,
Girlfriend at the time started her ****, "Don't you have one of those",
"No, I have about 10 or better, but this one is a beauty"
"I just don't get it" Well guess what, First of all, you don't have to get it, and # 2, "if you have to ask" as they say.

 

[BioNerd]

absolutely,that is a great user plane. some guys will even up grade the blade, to a hock or Lie nielsen.

EDIT,
I got lucky at the flea market one day, nice #4 nice shape, low front knob, corrugated sole,
Girlfriend at the time started her ****, "Don't you have one of those",
"No, I have about 10 or better, but this one is a beauty"
"I just don't get it" Well guess what, First of all, you don't have to get it, and # 2, "if you have to ask" as they say.

I would have said: " don't you get it babe? I can't have just one of anything."