Stanley 8c and 5 1/2 planes

[jimwrench]

 Moved these over from wrench forum as they fit better here.
Got these at auction thurs (had to leave for funeral and got a friend to bid for me with instructions not to go over $35 on 8C and $15 on 5 1/2. When I returned and paid out found she had paid $5 for each of them.
Haven't finished typing them but 8C has (T) trademark on iron and 7-24-88 patent date on lateral adjuster and (B) casting marks on frog and lever cap. Maybe a type 8 with type 10 iron ? will add photos as time allows.

[BruceS]

I will gladly double your money ;-)    Good find !   Good bidding friend!

[Jim C.]

Looks like both are in top user condition.  I think you'll find that both sizes are pretty useful around the shop.  Your #5 1/2 might need a new iron soon.  The iron looks like it might be getting a little short.  That means a prior owner must have been getting some good use out of that plane.  That's a good sign.  He must have liked it because it cut nicely.

The #5 1/2 is one of my favorite sizes to use for general planing.  I actually like it a little more than the standard #5.  It's got some length, width, and weight.  I also like the #6 for the same reasons.  You got a great deal only paying $10 total for both.  I hope you get some good use out of them.

Jim C.   

[jimwrench]

 These came from same source and were evidently used quite a bit as both have newer irons.
5 1/2 has triple patent date on lateral adjuster which should be type 6 (1888-1890) but has AA trademark on iron which should be 1923-1935. Assume original iron used up and replaced.
No 8C has one patent date on lateral adjuster which should be Type 8 (1899-1902) but iron has Type T trademark which should be 1907-1909
This info gleaned from Roger Smith type study in Walters book.
I wish they could talk as I'd sure like to know where they have been and what they have done. Took some photos of the frogs but I'm out of focus today. May try again later.

[rusty]

>used quite a bit as both have newer irons.

I wonder how many linear feet of wood it takes to wear away an inch of iron...

>I'd sure like to know where they have been and what they have done

Half the reason I collect tools, sometimes you can look at an old tool, and a breif image of someone using the tool flashes in your head....
In that instant, you get a glimpse of life in another time and place...

[Papaw]

Half the reason I collect tools, sometimes you can look at an old tool, and a brief image of someone using the tool flashes in your head....
In that instant, you get a glimpse of life in another time and place...

Exactly!!!!

[anglesmith]

exactly, exactly!!
Great quote.
Graeme

[Branson]

I generally don't like "me toos" but this is too rich to pass by.  Exactly!  You nailed it, Rusty.

[Papaw]

Check out the Quote of the Day for 10-17.

[BruceS]

Half the reason I collect tools, sometimes you can look at an old tool, and a brief image of someone using the tool flashes in your head....
In that instant, you get a glimpse of life in another time and place...

Exactly!

Ditto !!   But do any of you also Talk to your tools ?  I often do and dream that they could give me a vision of their past owners.
              I know for sure my old tools appreciate what I've done for them,  some of the orphans had a pretty rough life.

[stanley62]

When I find a short iron, I usually think that its previous owner didn't know how to sharpen the iron properly and wore it away by abuse, not use.  May not be the case, but thats always my first thought.
  Jim

[scottg]

When I find a short iron, I usually think that its previous owner didn't know how to sharpen the iron properly and wore it away by abuse, not use.  May not be the case, but thats always my first thought.
  Jim

You n me Jim
I have a SW #3 I have been using 30 years now. Probably more.
It still has 90% of its iron, and I baby it, but not all that bad.

  Man that 5.5 is going to be sweet!!
  I had a 605 1/2 once, but it got lost.  I sent it to a really early restorer (before I had ever re-japanned a tool of my own) and the guy had the bad manners to go and get himself killed in a freak accident. Moving truck backed over him.
   An early Bedrock round side 605 1/2 and a later slab side 604 1/2C were both lost.
Still sad about that occasionally. 
yours Scott