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No yard sale would be complete without a few old hand tools to be found among the bric-a-brac, and I've bought many a well-worn hammer, screwdriver, or chisel for use around the house. I'd never, however, given any thought to the collectibles value of hand tools until a chance conversation with a co-worker.
Her husband, a relative Newbie to the world of online auctions, had come home one recent Saturday with an old carpenter's plane, for which he'd paid a few dollars at a yard sale. He immediately listed it on an auction site.
The plane, an early Stanley, fetched over $1,000!
Luckily (for collectors), a perusal of online auctions would support the contention that there are still many people out there hosting yard or estate sales who do not appreciate the value of their father's or grandfather's hand tools and, thus, such "finds" are not all that uncommon.
Stanley planes comprise an especially popular segment of the collectible-tools market. Many of today's carpenters value old planes for their quality of construction, and for the fine feel and control of the "hands-on" approach versus the use of power tools. Collectors, too, admire their quality, along with their utilitarian aesthetics and rarity. Together, these two groups have generated a demand that has forced prices up far beyond whatever the tools originally sold for. Many of the rarer models, like the #12 3/4, 112, and 212, can command prices in the hundreds and thousands of dollars. But be forewarned: escalating prices have inevitably led to a number of forgeries. For a detailed description of these, and for identifying reproductions, no collector should skip Patrick Leach's Blood and Gore page (see below).
If you should come across a potentially valuable plane, remember that condition can be as much or even more important than rarity. And while it may be possible to obtain replacement parts for a damaged plane, a seller should be scrupulously honest at all times and inform a buyer of any defects and/or repairs.
There's also the question of cleaning, with some of the same caveats that apply to fine furniture. Made of metal and wood, a Stanley plane will have developed a patina that collectors value highly, and it is important that this not be removed. Several sites recommend using a soft cloth or brush to gently remove surface dirt only, and to let the buyer be responsible for more invasive procedures or professional assistance.
To learn more about Stanley planes, check out the following books and Web sites, and
Happy hunting!
Books
"Early 20th Century Stanley Tools," by Jack P. Wood
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895380102/auctionbytescom
"The Handplane Book (Taunton Books & Videos for Fellow Enthusiasts)," by Garrett Hack, John S. Sheldon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561583170/auctionbytescom
A "how-to" book about planes.
"The Stanley Catalog Collection 1855-1898: Four Decades of Rules, Levels, Try-Squares, Planes, and Other Stanley Tools and Hardware"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879335743/auctionbytescom
"The Stanley Plane," by Alvin Sellens
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961206802/auctionbytescom
Websites
Mid-West Tool Collectors Association
http://www.mwtca.org
"The World 's Largest Organization of Tool, Collectors, Historians, Craftspeople, Educators, & Preservationists." Articles, links, more.
The Stanley Bench Plane Dating Page
http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/dating
Easy-to-use hypertext flowchart based upon Patrick Leach's Plane Type Study.
Stanley Plane Dating Flowchart - ASCII version
http://homepage.mac.com/galoot_9/ascii_dating_chart.html
Print out this page and take it along with you to yard sales.
The Superior Works: Patrick's Blood and Gore
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0.htm
Quite probably the best site devoted to Stanley planes. Identification, tips, lots of pics.
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