I picked up these three mongrels on eBay the other day for a grand total of $22.00 + $10.95 shipping. That’s just under $11 each for you fellow liberal arts majors. :-)
The one on the right intrigued me, because I’d never seen that particular craftsman logo before. It was pretty grungy, but as soon as I started cleaning it up, I could tell it was in excellent condition.
This is a #4 size, and I’m pretty sure it was made by Sargent because of the shape of the lateral adjustment lever and the fact that “409” is cast into the bottom of the frog. Because the japanning was virtually 100% intact, as was the chrome plating on the lever cap, I started to think this was a fairly recent plane, maybe some sort of anniversary edition. But everything I’ve been able to find indicates that Sargent only made early Craftsman planes.
So is anyone able to shine any light on the history of this little beauty?
Charlie, Can’t help you with the dating but you are really doing a great job cleaning up hand planes. I can’t remember exactly how many, but this should be the fourth or so in as many months. Lets see there was a transitional, the steel one, and now these three. I would love to see some documentation of your technique. I have some recent purchases that benefit.
I am very new to the world of planes so i can’t help you there. Excellent work on the Craftman #4, the logo is really cool. I don’t know that i’ve seen the “Craftman” logo written like that before. I also like that this model comes with the metal adjustment knob which i prefer to the rubber version. I just think it looks better.
Craftsman planes could have been made by Sargent, Fulton, Millers Falls, Stanley and probably some others out there. Craftsman pretty much contracted it out to whoever was the low bidder at the time. At least, back in the day, the options available were of better quality than typically found today. Truthfully, those planes could have been made by almost anyone. For what it is worth, the plane in the middle has a logo the same as a number 7 sized plane that I own which I believe to have been manufactured by Millers Falls. But, even at that, the one that I own is more similar to the lower end Millers Falls planes and not the premium line that they made.
Doc
-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc
Thanks for the info, Doc. I have not looked real closely at the other Craftsman yet, but I’m virtually certain the one I fixed up is a Sargent. I just have no idea how old or new it might be.
Charlie – I’ve read the numerous how to’s on plane rehab so I am not asking you for that dissertation. However, the tote and knob – are you stripping these and refinishing these or just buffing them out? They look great. I purchased a Stanely type 15 # 5 to get started on the rehab techniques. The tote and knob are finished almost black and I would like to lighten them up.
Looks like you are heading towards being a plane guru Charlie ;-)) Nice find and nice work on them.
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
Gotta say I don’t know squat about planes Charlie, other then the fact that you do one hell of a job cleaning them up ! Man, if there is reincarnation, I want to come back as an old plane showing up at your door !
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