Anyone know anything about Stanley Bedrock planes?--dialup users beware.

[philw]

I found this old plane at an antique shop. I noticed it was the bedrock design and thought it should work a little better than my standard #4 Stanley. It was $22 and I thought that seemed like a good deal.
After bringing it home and checking a little history it appears to be a Type 1 or 2 Stanley Bedrock from around 1898-1899. It is a # 4 1/2 plane and as far as I can tell everything on it is original.
The cap has a couple small chips on the edge (see pictures) and the handle has a couple of hairline cracks and it missing a small piece where the front screw is located. A little rusty but I do not notice any pitting, if there is any pitting it is very small. The sole is in good shape and no other major problems with it.
My original plan was to clean it up and use it but after seeing a couple of values on the internet I am wondering if it's more of a collector item than a user.
My question is: Should I clean it up and use it or sell it to a collector........and any idea on value? I've seen everything from $70 to over $200.

 

[snapmom]

Unless you collect planes, would sell it.

 

[ricleh]

It is a good plane to use if you clean it up and tune it properly. I don't know what it would be worth to a collector. Lie_Nielsen makes a copy of that plane. It sells for $325-$360 depending on options. I believe the parts are interchangeable with the original Stanley bedrock. Here is a link

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28645

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

I'd keep it and use it,though I like woodworking alot and would love to get more proficient with handtools. The Bedrock series were top notch planes when they were made. As ricleh stated, the Lie-Nielsen planes are based off the Bedrock series and are about the best planes made today.

 

[Bolster]

If it were mine I'd keep it because I use planes and this is a nice item. Why let someone else enjoy such a fine item when you found it!

Use Evapo-Rust on it (not a wire brush, please!). If you keep it, tune it by flattening the sole. I use carbide grit on a piece of flat glass, or sometimes I use a large coarse diamond stone to get the sole dead flat.

The only thing wrong with an old plane is the old blade steel. Treat yourself for finding such a beautiful plane by purchasing one of the modern A2 or O1 steel blades available from Veritas / Lee Nielsen.

Once you sharpen the blade (with a Veritas jig) it will shave peach fuzz, and you will love it, and you will repent your errant thoughts of selling it.

 

[Bolster]

Taunton video on tuning a hand plane.

 

[davestonner]

it's not a bedrock. it is a stanley "Bailey" model with a bedrock chip breaker. nothing special. found under every rock. probably worth about...$22.

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.html

that links to "Patrick's Blood and Gore". a site dedicated to antique stanley woodworking tools. you can use that site to date the plane using patent castings etc.

 

[philw]

No, it is a Bedrock!
http://www.antique-used-tools.com/brtypes.htm

The early bedrocks had curved sides and also the clincher was the milled out area under the patent date.

Bolster--I'm probably going to take your advice. I already have the Veritas jig and the carbide grit/glass. I do some woodworking and enjoy using the few old planes I have. This is the first Bedrock I will have had a chance to use so I will probably keep it.

Thanks for the opinions.