Ultimate Stanley Level Thread

[AntiqueBen]

I haven't seen a thread dedicated specifically to vintage Stanley Levels, so I thought I would show some love & start this one. If there already is one, I apologize for missing it. My Grandfather was a bricklayer, so from the time I could walk I was getting in trouble playing with his levels stacking them like Lincoln Logs out in his garage. He had every length you could imagine & every single one of them was a Stanley. My dad used them too. I collect & use a lot of different vintage tools, but I've never really ran into some nice Stanley levels...until yesterday! I bought a nice mahogany 30" Stanley No. 30. When I seen it, it brought back a lot of memories. This one is in great original condition & it's accuracy is spot on with all floats working perfectly. You can't beat the look of all the brass on a beautiful piece of mahogany. To be honest, I think I could get hooked on looking for these to do restoration projects. I chose this one over a 24" Cherry wood Stanley with a bad float. According to what is called the "V" stamp, it looks like this one was made from 1912-1918, even though the patent stamp is 5-8-06. I was surprised to find out it wasn't easy to find a good reference that shows all the Stanley models & info at one place online...unless I'm missing it...which is extremely possible for me. Post up your Stanley Levels & anything you know about them. I only know enough to be dangerous about vintage Stanley Levels, so I'm looking forward to learning more so when I see the next one out in the wild, I'll know what I'm looking at.

 

[txvwnut]

I‘ve got a vintage Stanley torpedo level. Next time I’m the shop I’ll try to remember to get a pic.

 

[Southern83]

I picked these up last week. Top and bottom are #36's and the middle is a #37(I think). Bottom one came with a neat homemade wooden sleeve that looks just as old as the level.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Nice find. Those look like they are in mint condition. Are those considered machinist levels?

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here are some pics of the levels offered in the 1914 Stanley catalog. I learned a lot from these. The old catalogs are great to look at. The link to whole catalog is: https://archive.org/details/StanleyToolsCatalogueNo341914/page/n27/mode/2up

 

[Southern83]

Nice find. Those look like they are in mint condition. Are those considered machinist levels?

I'm not sure I'd consider them a machinist level. A machinist level in my mind looks like the #34 in the catalog, or a Starrett 98.

 

[RTM]

The 36 are better than others due to the use of proved glass, but they aren't up to Starrett 98 class. The #34 isn't up to a 98 either, but is it a bit finer than 36.

This is based on getting several victims together at the same time. Starrett 98-12, 98-5, Stanley 34-10, 36-24, and 96-28 levels, on a known out of level surface.

 

[Jim C.]

Here’s a pretty nice Stanley #39 1/2.

Jim C.

 

[crguy]

Stanley made a wide range of levels. Here are some of the full sized ones. All rosewood, some brassbound, except for the #32 with the inclinometer.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Now that is a sweet collection! That no. 32 is really nice. In your opinion, what would you consider to be the "Holy Grail" of Stanley levels?

 

[crguy]

Now that is a sweet collection! That no. 32 is really nice. In your opinion, what would you consider to be the "Holy Grail" of Stanley levels?

The Brooks patent #26 is probably the hardest to find. The 32 is scarce, but they do turn up. Personally, I like the highly figured rosewood brass bound ones in all sizes the best.

 

[Maui]

There was a local fellow who was selling his father’s overflow from his collection, and I purchased around 90 wood planes from him, mostly Stanley made. He had a pile of these Stanley levels too, around 100 of them, and nobody wanted them. I bought a couple of the smallest ones. I had no idea what they were worth.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Sounds like a potential gold mine. I would like to learn more about the dates that Stanley manufactured each model. When they first made a model & when they quit making it. Anyone know of an online reference that gives this type of information??

 

[crguy]

Sounds like a potential gold mine. I would like to learn more about the dates that Stanley manufactured each model. When they first made a model & when they quit making it. Anyone know of an online reference that gives this type of information??

The book Stanley Tools by John Walter seems to have the most information available. The trouble is they were printed years ago and not that easy to find. They do turn up on Ebay, but the price is high.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Looks like John Walter is getting ready to put out a third edition of his Stanley book sometime this year. Lots of color pics & new added information. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

 

[crguy]

Looks like John Walter is getting ready to put out a third edition of his Stanley book sometime this year. Lots of color pics & new added information. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Don't hold your breath on that. He's been promising a new book for years.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I just bought a 30" Rosewood Stanley level that I should receive next week. When I'm looking at this Stanley stamp, am I to assume this particular one was only made in 1876 (according to this stamp chart)?

 

[FTWingRiders]

I’ve got a few Stanley’s from my Dad.


There a Disson and an old craftsman in the mix, plus a couple with no markings that I can find.

 

[crguy]

I just bought a 30" Rosewood Stanley level that I should receive next week. When I'm looking at this Stanley stamp, am I to assume this particular one was only made in 1876 (according to this stamp chart)?

The study in Walters' book says that's a type 4, 1872 - 1889. What number is that level? Are you sure it's rosewood?

 

[AntiqueBen]

I'm not 100% it's Rosewood yet. The seller said it is & the pics look like it is, but until it's in my hands I won't know for sure. I'm not sure what number it is yet either. If the Stanley stamp chart I posted is correct, it's showing a different stamp after 1876 than mine. After 1876 the stamping changed again. It's like that stamping was only for that one year of 1876. Did Stanley have more than one stamp in production at the same time?

 

[RTM]

Again, remember that these stamp history sheets were put together after the fact, sometimes by a century or more. It is someone's best understanding or best guess based on what they see in catalog cuts, on tools, etc, and try it ng to correlate all that into something meaningful.

It's not a fact sheet.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Gotcha. That makes way more sense than Stanley making a stamp marking for 1 yr. I am anxious to see if the level still has it's No. on it. I'm gonna have to get a copy of Walter's book.

 

[d42jeep]

When I found my S-K carpenter’s box, I ended up filling it with mostly Stanley tools. I also had a drawer of random woodworking tools with some other Stanley items. No fancy display of levels here, just some I’ve gathered over time.
-Don
Back in the S-K box.

 

[davethorik]

found this #36G cast iron level in original box earlier this year. looks like it was never used. the box says Stanley rule & level but the paperwork appears newer.

 

[AntiqueBen]

That original box is probably just as rare as the level. Nice find. Gotta love new old stock.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I should get the level I ordered this Saturday. I got another pic from the seller. He said he thought it was Rosewood, but this pic looks like Cherry wood to me. What do you guys think??

 

[crguy]

I should get the level I ordered this Saturday. I got another pic from the seller. He said he thought it was Rosewood, but this pic looks like Cherry wood to me. What do you guys think??

Not rosewood IMO.

 

[RTM]

My rosewood is really dark and dense compared to my Cherry levels. At 28”, rosewood weighs 4.5#, a 30” cherry about 3#.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Should I leave the patina on the brass on an old level or clean it up? I'm guessing in this case it wouldn't hurt the collectable value.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I was taking all the brass off of my level and found a number "3" stamped on it. It's the one I posted earlier that has the patent dates of 1862 & 1872. I would love to know what John Walter's book says about this one. Is there a difference between a type 3 & a no. 3? I appreciate any help.

 

[crguy]

I was taking all the brass off of my level and found a number "3" stamped on it. It's the one I posted earlier that has the patent dates of 1862 & 1872. I would love to know what John Walter's book says about this one. Is there a difference between a type 3 & a no. 3? I appreciate any help.

3 is most likely the model number. Would need more pictures of the level to verify. Stanley themselves had nothing to do with the studies that put various tools into types. It was all done by collectors long after the tools were made. I never clean the brass on a level unless it's totally black/green and splotchy.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here are a few pics. I can post better pics tomorrow. I sat the brass pieces back in place for the pics. Should I leave the brass like it is? The end pieces are pretty dirty & the other ones are pretty dull. I also noticed it doesn't have the carved section for grip, it's just solid on both sides.

 

[RTM]

I was taking all the brass off of my level and found a number "3" stamped on it. It….. I would love to know what John Walter's book says about this one. Is there a difference between a type 3 & a no. 3?

Here is a pic of my #3. It’s just a utility level, nothing spectacular. Read the vintage catalogs to see where it stacks up.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Nice level. Your right in that the no. 3 maybe isn't anything special. I thought what mine might have going for it was age. I'm guessing the older & earlier they were, they were probably pretty plain looking. Yours has the grip carved out & mine doesn't. I'm looking forward to reading Walter's book to find out things like when the grip appeared.

 

[RTM]

I've tentatively dated mine as 1914 - 1934, based on catalogs here

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

The 1914 details the various features. A further digging might extend or contract the range

Stanley Tools Catalogue No. 34 : 1914 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

149 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[AntiqueBen]

We'll, this no. 3 level was in such bad shape when I received it, I couldn't wait any longer to restore it. Here are some before pics.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here are some after pics. I would have normally never removed the original patina, but the brass was so bad it was turning green in spots & you couldn't really read the lettering. It'll be a wall hanger for me anyways.

 

[Uncle murph]

I haven't seen a thread dedicated specifically to vintage Stanley Levels, so I thought I would show some love & start this one. If there already is one, I apologize for missing it. My Grandfather was a bricklayer, so from the time I could walk I was getting in trouble playing with his levels stacking them like Lincoln Logs out in his garage. He had every length you could imagine & every single one of them was a Stanley. My dad used them too. I collect & use a lot of different vintage tools, but I've never really ran into some nice Stanley levels...until yesterday! I bought a nice mahogany 30" Stanley No. 30. When I seen it, it brought back a lot of memories. This one is in great original condition & it's accuracy is spot on with all floats working perfectly. You can't beat the look of all the brass on a beautiful piece of mahogany. To be honest, I think I could get hooked on looking for these to do restoration projects. I chose this one over a 24" Cherry wood Stanley with a bad float. According to what is called the "V" stamp, it looks like this one was made from 1912-1918, even though the patent stamp is 5-8-06. I was surprised to find out it wasn't easy to find a good reference that shows all the Stanley models & info at one place online...unless I'm missing it...which is extremely possible for me. Post up your Stanley Levels & anything you know about them. I only know enough to be dangerous about vintage Stanley Levels, so I'm looking forward to learning more so when I see the next one out in the wild, I'll know what I'm looking at.

I am not alone!

 

[d42jeep]

I dug a couple out of my Kennedy carpenter’s box in my basement.
-Don

 

[BruceMc]

I've tentatively dated mine as 1914 - 1934, based on catalogs here

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

The 1914 details the various features. A further digging might extend or contract the range

Stanley Tools Catalogue No. 34 : 1914 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

149 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks for that link. I've got a variety of tools I inherited (try squares, bevel, folding rules, marking gauge) that I found there. Most have patent dates around '96. They've been in the family since new, but I don't know much of their history. My level: