Router planes have been around for years.  Many companies made/make them to include Stanley, Sargent, and even current versions by Lie-Nielsen.  As far as utility goes, I think router planes are really under rated and under used in woodworking.  Prior to the introduction of the electric routers that we are all very familiar with, the router plane was, and still is, extremely adept at smoothing the bottoms of dados, grooves, and other surfaces that run parallel to the face of a board.  As with any plane or cutting tool, a really sharp iron is key to obtaining great results.

One of my favorite router planes is the tiny Stanley #271.  It was manufactured by Stanley between 1926 and 1973.  It was only three inches long and supplied with a 1/4" wide cutting iron.  As you will see, the plane could be used in an open or closed throat application.  It's a fantastic tool for cleaning out the bottoms of tight dados, and can really get into the corners of stopped dados and grooves.  I've even seen the #271 used for cleaning out the background on small relief carvings. Most of the Stanley #271 planes that I've seen are usually nickel plated.  However, during WWII, Stanley stopped using nickel plating because nickel was being used in the war effort.  As a result, many of Stanley's nickel plated planes, to include its routers, were finished with japanning during the war.  These japanned planes are significantly more rare than the nickel plated versions.  There's absolutely no difference in how the japanned and nickel plated planes function.  User quality, nickel plated versions, are easily found at online auctions, flea markets, etc., for reasonable prices.  The #271 is certainly a handy little plane that I'd recommend.

Below I've included a few pictures of the Stanley #271 (WWII japanned version).  This particular plane was still in its original box and complete with an original Stanley Router Plane pamphlet when I found it.

Jim C. 

     

Great post, Jim!!
Some of us are in need of this kind of info, especially me. I have resisted getting into planes because there is so much to know about them, their functions, and the many different models and types.

Quote from: Papaw on October 01, 2011, 05:12:43 AM
Great post, Jim!!
Some of us are in need of this kind of info, especially me. I have resisted getting into planes because there is so much to know about them, their functions, and the many different models and types.

Papaw,

I could just as easily say the same things about wrenches and many other old tools.  I have no clue which ones are collectible, rare, or in some cases, what their intended purposes were.  The only thing I can say is that I enjoy looking at them and learning about them from reading the various threads and looking at the pictures posted by other site members.

If you're interested in planes, there's a ton of material out there, just like for wrenches I'm sure.  It's just a matter of educating yourself with the existing books, web sites, etc., and asking a lot of questions.  If you're buying planes to use, you almost can't go wrong.  Are the castings solid and without repair, do all the parts appear to be present and accounted for, are the wooden parts intact?  There's so many old, but still useable planes on the market, you can actually afford to be a little picky.  I totally avoid planes that were repaired or are damaged, are missing parts (unless I already have a spare part), or have damaged and/or repaired wood like front knobs and rear totes.  I want to use planes, not chase parts, or spend time making repairs.

Now if you decide to collect planes, just like wrenches, educating yourself is paramount for obvious reasons!  And just like anything collectible, condition and completeness are everything.  Buy the very best you can afford and shoot for the top, mint condition, new in the box, tools.  Those are the ones that will really hold their value in the long run.

Thanks for reading my post.

Jim C.     

Very true about being an  unknown or under used  type plane.     One of my favorite applications is for insetting  hinges,  after scoring in with a lay out knife. 

Quote from: BruceS on October 01, 2011, 09:17:46 AM
Very true about being an  unknown or under used  type plane.     One of my favorite applications is for insetting  hinges,  after scoring in with a lay out knife.

Absolutely BruceS!!!  That's a great application for a small router plane.  Stanley actually made a router plane specifically designed to cut shallow mortises for hinges, strike plates, etc.  It's the Stanley #171.  The #171 is a relatively scarce plane that's usually found without all of its original components and/or with some damage.  Another great plane for cutting hinge mortises and other similar recesses is the Rumbold butt mortise plane.  It's really handy but not well known.  Stay tuned.  I plan to feature both the Stanley #171 router plane and the Rumbold butt mortise plane in future threads.

Jim C.   

Unfortunately,  I only have the 71 1/2  with only the square chisel  and keep an eye open for the other two chisels especially the diamond point. One day!
I like to clamp culls on either side of the  routing to give me a bigger working platform when doing doors and the like.

Another fun plane is my old  woody plough  plane,  only have 3 irons now (ohio tool)   and still looking for more there too.   

Planes are addictive.  ;-)      My greatest fun is finding a flea market beater (Stanley or Sargent)  and making it better than new.

Got a spare #1 or #2  you want to GIVE away  ;-)

I picked up a 171 1/2 years ago.  Can't remember at all what I paid.  It came with the square chisel and the diamond, luckily.  I've used it and used it.  Picked up a 271 in the box, never used (blades never even honed).  I haven't used it either, but someday it will be the only tool that can do a job.

Took me a while, but the plow plane (Chapin, I think) has a full set of eight blades.  They come up once in a while.

Oh darn!  I just gave away my #1.  I did have a #2, incomplete (what do you expect for $5?) but traded it for something or other.

Quote from: BruceS on October 01, 2011, 06:59:59 PM
Unfortunately,  I only have the 71 1/2  with only the square chisel  and keep an eye open for the other two chisels especially the diamond point. One day!
I like to clamp culls on either side of the  routing to give me a bigger working platform when doing doors and the like.

Another fun plane is my old  woody plough  plane,  only have 3 irons now (ohio tool)   and still looking for more there too.   

Planes are addictive.  ;-)      My greatest fun is finding a flea market beater (Stanley or Sargent)  and making it better than new.

Got a spare #1 or #2  you want to GIVE away  ;-)

The Stanley #71 1/2 router plane is a great tool.  The plane came with three irons, and like most planes that were supplied with more than one iron, the ones not mounted in the plane frequently went missing.  If you're doing a lot of door hardware mortising, I still think the Rumbold butt mortise plane is the best for that type of work.  If you can't find an original, Lie-Nielsen makes an outstanding version of the Rumbold.  Unfortunately, the Lie-Nielsen is a little expensive, although a Rumbold could set you back a few bucks too.

Yes, planes are addictive for sure!!!!!  And no, I don't have a #1 or a #2 that I can GIVE away.

Jim C.

Quote from: BruceS on October 01, 2011, 06:59:59 PM
Another fun plane is my old  woody plough  plane,  only have 3 irons now (ohio tool)   and still looking for more there too.   

Bruce, there's a complete set of Howarth plow blades on ebay, currently at $8.57   They look excellent, and come in a great leather tool roll.
Item # 370547410942