Antique Woodworking
Planes,
Patented
Woodworking Planes & Wood Molding Planes
We can help you sell your Antique
& Collectible Tools!!
If you have antique woodworking tools similar to those
you see on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
with complete details and we will get back to
you ASAP.
Rarity & Demand
Below are
a series of pictures and general information about the types of vintage or antique woodworking planes that I am interested in.
The following pictures of vintage
and antique woodworking planes present graphic examples of some of the subtle differences that occur in
antique tools that affect values and create a price range from a
few dollars to many thousands of dollars for a given antique plane.
They may all look the same upon first glance or to
the casual observer but that is not what antique
collectible tools and their values are all about.
Condition, rarity, and desirability all
play a part in the scheme of value and all of these
factors are intertwined. This first plane shown is known as a Victor
block plane 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. This example dates from the late 1800's and is a
popular and desirable
collectible plane for several different reasons.
It was a product of Leonard Bailey who was a central figure in the
development of metallic patented planes in America.
A
later Stanley 101 block plane like those on the right, which is about the same size
and can date from the same era to right up to about 1980 and is somewhat
similar in appearance has trouble going to $40.
Whether you are looking to buy or attempting to sell,
I can
help. At our sister website
www.patented-antiques.com
we have many quality antique tools and other antiques
listed that are currently for sale, and I am always looking for new
additions to add to those sale pages.
I have a large inventory of antique woodworking tools
and collectible vintage planes available for sale on those pages that are suitable for both the collector and the user.
You can also use that site to check prices should you be looking for a
value for your planes or tools prior to selling them. Ebay is another good place to check
to see what certain tools typically sell for.
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
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
.
The
next photo shows an example of a desirable form of wooden molding plane. This plan
e 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.
When properly marked with a documented and desirable maker's name 18th century wooden molding planes such as
this can bring
from several hundred to several thousand dollars each in the antique tool marketplace.
The
market for them is not as strong as what it was 10 years ago, but they are
still popular with a small dedicated crowd and still bring good money in
the right venue. The bad news here is that this example, even though
it is made of yellow birch and is in good condition, has a proper looking wedge, and the characteristic heavy
chamfers of a 18th century plane, is unmarked and thus worth only about $20 or less if you can
find a buyer.
I sold my 20 best molding planes
for approximately $10,000 a number of years back, but have not had the
opportunity to obtain any more and the supply of rare wooden planes has pretty much dried up.
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.
The truth is that most later 19th century wooden molding planes with common
profiles or cuts like hollows and rounds, or rabbits are only
worth $10-$20 each on a good day.
Keep
in mind that without pictures and full
details, it is virtually impossible for me to have any idea
if your plane or tool would be of interest to me or if it is a valuable
example or a common one.
Changing Values
The antique tool market and the values for a given tool change
over time, often leaving a trail 
of short-lived wildly
high prices and sharply spiked price swings in its wake
that some people never seem to figure out.
Way back when, tool
collectors all wanted primitive
and hand forged tools, and some became quite expensive, bringing unheard of prices
for a while. Then
tastes changed and everybody wanted patented or manufactured tools and
planes, driving those prices to new highs,
then folding
rules were hot, or plumb bobs, or marking gauges, then levels, then wrenches,
and next year it will be ??? and so on.
In other words, the demand
for specific categories of antique tools ebbs and flows, and sometimes the
prices for specific groups go through
the roof, while other categories go right in the tank. It is a
science that does not take a degree in rocketry to figure out, just
a knowledge of the market, some insight, and a feel or sense for current market
trends to understand.
The plane pictured above on the left, a Stanley #340 furring plane and the #39 Dado Plane
on the right are prime examples of patented metallic
specialty
planes that continue to go up in value, slowly, and not much faster than
inflation. Both of these planes can still be had today for not much more,
or in some cases 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 still
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.
The next pictures are some more examples of popular and desirable patented metallic
planes that we typically deal in.
Condition is crucial. On the right is a Stanley #604 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 user to the advanced
collector for some of the rarer versions or model numbers of this Stanley Bedrock
series of planes. Their 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 or # such as the # 602 Bedrock plane.
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 are worth
double or more than their more common Stanley counterparts. The
differing values lie in the small details and the
condition. Both of which are vital to understand and consider when either
buying or selling old collectible or user tools.
The plane on the left is an early model Stanley #10 rabbet plane, and is a
variation that would add 
considerably to its value over a later
version #10 or 10 1/2 rabbit plane. They are the size of a standard
#4 plane, but thave the cut out sides to make them rabbit planes. Stanley is still making a version of this
plane in
England that sells for a bit more than $100.
This model 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 on 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.
Below is a compass or circular plane that was made by
Sargent Tool Co., thus
making it vastly more rare than its Stanley counterpart. It is
rarer, and harder to find, but
n
ot worth all
that much more, and in fact until recently most were worth far less. This
is because of 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.
A case in point, in reverse. I have had folks offer
me Sears marked planes (Fulton, Dunlop) claiming they are far rarer, and
they are, but if no one cares, and no one does, they are worth just a
fraction of the same plane made by and marked Stanley.
Select Antique & Collectible Tools
Previously Sold
*****Click The Links
Below for details*****
The above planes and tools are an example of the
caliber, condition and quality of antique tools that I am primarily interested in
helping you sell.
If you have quality antique tools or
vintage planes similar to those that you see
on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
providing me with as many details as possible. Thank you!!
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.
To see more example of past sales and values for antique tools
visit the past sales tool sale pages you will find there.
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