Looking for a book describing vintage Stanley (and other) handplanes in detail? (Collectors guide?)

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

-- "I work so I can fish"!

It’s out of print and usually expensive used but John Walter’s Antique and Collectible Stanley Tools, Guide to Identity and Value is about 900 pages of all Stanley information. Many of the books about old tools that were available just a few years ago are now out of print. I didn’t buy as many of them as I should have.

i agree with Kickback.
That link is the best place to start. it’s a bit cumbersome but, as a hand plane collector myself, i refer to it often

JD

I have this link saved on my Iphone:
http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/start_flowchart.php

A very easy flowchart to follow when identifying planes. I’ve found it useful when i’ve come across an old plane for sale and want to date it mobile..

-- Will, Ontario Canada. "I can do fast, cheap and good, but you can only pick two... "

There is this old-fashioned thing called “inter-library loan.” You’d be amazed at what is available. Not only can you get John Walter’s book, you can also get both volumes of Roger Smith’s Patented Transitional and Metallic Planes in America. Frankly, you won’t find a lot of information that’s in these books anywhere on the Internet.

Thanks so much for all the help.

I knew about Superior Works and that whole site. Honestly, I have read (I think) every page on that site at least two, if not three, times. Just an awesome site.

Willeh, thanks for the link. Definitely interesting and helpful when dating a plane.

I will be researching and sourcing the books listed too. I’m very knowledge hungry, just the way I am. Finding all the information I can about my interests is something I love. And even totally useless info, as long as it pertains to my interests, is still fun for me to read and learn about.

Thanks again, you all are great.

-- Kenny