Leonard Bailey Split Frame Plane Foster Turntable Patented Plane Larry & Carole Meeker
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Antique
Woodworking Planes

Patented Woodworking Planes & Wood Molding Planes

We Buy
Antique & Collectible Woodworking Planes & Tools!!

Introduction

We own and operate the antique sales website www.Patented-Antiques.com in addition to this Stanley #45 Combination Planeinformational website www.AntiqBuyer.com.  It is one of the largest and best known sources for antique planes and tools on the internet. If you are looking to buy vintage and antique tools please visit that site. 

If you have antique woodworking tools similar to those you see on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at AntiqBuyer@gmail.com with details and we will get back to you ASAP. Stanley planes

On this page are a series of pictures and basic information about types of vintage & antique woodworking tools and planes that I buy, sell, and deal in.  The following pictures of vintage and antique woodworking planes speak to some of the subtle differences that occur in antique tools that affect values and prices from a few dollars to many hundreds of dollars for an antique tool or plane. 

They may all look the same upon first glance to the casual observer but that is not what antique collectible tools and their values are all about.  It is all about the details.

Rarity & Demand

Condition, rarity, and desirability all play a part in the value of antique tools. Bailey Victor Block Plane This first plane shown is known as a Victor block plane. This plane dates from the late 1800's and is a popular and desirable collectible plane for several different reasons. It was designed by Leonard Bailey and its value can run from a couple of hundred dollars to about $1000 depending on condition, finish, and other subtle differences. Stanley planes

 A Stanley #101 block plane like those on the right, which is about the same size, somewhat similar in appearance, and can date from just about the same era to right up to about 1980 have trouble getting to $40.

Whether you are looking to buy or attempting to sell antique tools,  I can help.  At our sister website www.Patented-Antiques.com we have many quality antique tools and other antiques currently listed for sale, and I am always looking for new additions to add to those sale pages. 

You can check prices of misc. tools we have sold in the sales archives or  past sales prices / Planes should you be looking for a value for your planes or tools prior to selling them.  

I am always looking to refresh my stock  of antique woodworking tools and planes.  If you have antique tools and planes you want to sell please contact me at AntiqBuyer@gmail.com

The next photo shows an example of a desirable form of wooden molding plane.  This plane 18th Century Molding Plane exhibits the proper characteristics that would lead one to believe that it is an 18th century American plane dating from the mid to late 1700's.  The clues include the shape of the wedge, the heavy chamfers, yellow birch as the wood, being over 9 1/2" long, etc.  When properly marked with a documented and desirable maker's names like Chelor or Nicholson, documented 18th century wooden molding plane makers, a plane like this can bring from several hundred to several thousand dollars in the antique tool marketplace.

The bad news here is that this example, even though it is made of yellow birch, is in good condition, has a proper looking wedge, and the characteristic heavy chamfers of a 18th century plane, is unmarked and thus worth $20 or less if you can find a buyer. I have seen the author of the books on this type of plane selling unmarked examples for $10.00 and less to move them along at antique tool swaps and auctions.

I sold my 20 best molding planes for approximately $10,000 a number of years back, and have not had the opportunity to obtain many more as the supply of rare wooden planes has pretty much dried up.  The days of them coming out of the barn, or from the attic are about over.  Again, they may all look the same to the casual observer, but when it comes time to sell yours, you better know which is which.  It is all in the details.

Changing Values

The antique tool market and the values for a given tool can change over time leaving a trail of short-lived wildly high prices and sharply spiked price swings in its wake. Way back when, tool collectors wanted primitive and hand forged tools. Tastes changed and next Stanley #39 Dado Planeeverybody wanted patented or manufactured tools and planes, driving those prices to new highs while prices for those primitive tools fell. Then folding rules were hot, or plumb bobs, then marking gauges, levels and inclinometers had their day, and before that it was wrenches, and next year it will be ??? and so on.

The  #39 Dado plane pictured on the right is prime examples of patented metallic specialty planes offered by Stanley.  # 39s can be had in 2022 for less than they bought 15-20 years ago during the heyday of Stanley plane collecting.

There are examples of patented antique planes and other woodworking tools that are not worth half of what was paid for them 20 years ago, and others that are bringing 10-20 times or more than what they used to back then. It is all in the details, and knowing what is "hot" or desirable now.  Added to that, there is no telling what will be hot or desirable next year.

Stanley Bedrock Planes

The next pictures are some more examples of popular and desirable patented metallic planes that we typically deal in and are always looking for.  Condition is crucial.  On the right is a Stanley #602Stanley Bed Rock # 602 Smooth Plane Bedrock. This is a later model and commonly referred to as a flat-top because of its distinctive side rail design.  These are considered the king of bench planes and their appeal runs from the current day user to the advanced collector for some of the rarer versions or model numbers.

Values can run from a low of $40 or so for a broken up parts plane to $1000 or more for a choice example in a hard to find size such as the # 602 C Bedrock plane. Other desirable size Bed Rocks are the 6051/4 C, and the 604 1/2.

When Bedrock planes were being produced between approx. 1898 and 1940 they cost only a quarter to a dollar more than the standard Stanley / Bailey #2-8 size bench plane counterparts. Today Stanley Bedrocks # 602 - 608 are worth double or more than their more common Stanley counterparts.

The plane on the left is an early model Stanley #10 rabbet plane. This adjustable throat model adds Stanley #10 1/2 Planeconsiderably to its value over a later version #10 or 10 1/2 rabbit plane. It is the size of a standard #4 plane, but has cut out sides to make them rabbit planes. The first model #10 plane's distinguishing feature is that the front sole piece has the ability to move to adjust the throat opening for different types of wood.

There have been exhaustive type studies done Sargent #74 Compass Planeon antique planes and their features, and this research has created a knowledge base which has led to the ability to closely determine the year of manufacture for various planes or other woodworking tools. This knowledge has allowed for the precise dating of various tools that to the untrained or uncaring eye all look the same. At times these details can seem tedious and unimportant, but a planes value can be greatly affected by these details.

Next is a compass or circular plane that was made by Sargent Tool Co., thus making it vastly more rare than its counterpart the Stanley #20 compass plane. It is rarer, and harder to find, but not worth all that much more, and in fact until recently most sold for far less. This is explained by demand. In this case, demand, not supply determines the value. This is not always the case though, and sometimes two planes that are nearly identical in appearance can command a price difference that is 10-fold or more.

 Sargent #74 Compass PlaneA case in point, in reverse.  I have had folks offer me Sears marked planes (Fulton, Dunlop) claiming they are far rarer because fewer were made, but if no one cares, and no one does, they are worth just a fraction of the same plane made by andSargent Lady Bug Rabbet Plane marked Stanley in today's market.  FACT. 

And finally, just above is what is considered a very rare Stanley rabbet plane. It is a Stanley 90A in the original box. One time about 20 years ago now, in one auction, on one day, a 90A in the box sold for over 10K. I have this one listed for sale on my page for under 3K for years and it never sells. There are several morals or stories that go with that fact, and the same stories or situations repeat time after time in all categories.


The above planes and tools are an example of the caliber, condition and quality of antique tools that I am primarily interested in buying.  #6 Chaplin Jack Plane

Standard Rule Co. No. 30 Transitional PlaneIf you have quality antique tools or vintage planes that you want to sell,  please contact us at AntiqBuyer@gmail.com providing me with as many details as possible.

To see examples of past sales and values for antique tools I have previously sold visit the past sales archive pages from the right column. 

To see examples of antique or vintage tools that I currently have for sale please go to our sister site at www.Patented-Antiques.com.

Thank you!!
Larry & Carole


 


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Larry & Carole Meeker