Plane Question

[gsmittle]

I started cleaning up an old plane today, one that I inherited from my father. It's a Stanley, and under the crud on the toe (?) of the plane it read "Bailey No 4." Also, the frog has an adjustment screw on the back, but to tighten the frog after setting the width, you have to remove the plane iron. It also has a "T" shaped guide on the frog.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

What I'm wondering is if this is a "Sweetheart" plane? How do I tell?

g.

[mikel]

I think the old stanley's have a heart on them somewhere near the number ?

It's been awhile since I've seen one...

...mikel

[mikel]

Found it... heart under the stanley logo on the iron blade...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting


...m

[mudder]

Try this link.



http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm#num4

[Anna]

Here's a neat website that will help identify your Stanley plane. Also, if you want to know more than you'd really care to, check out Patrick Leach's site, too. He's pretty comprehensive, and very chatty.

[gsmittle]

Update....

First, thanks to all for the helpful info.

No heart anywhere on the plane, so no Sweetheart. I think I got confused by the kidney-shaped hole in the lever iron.

Sorry for the lack of pix. I forgot the camera last time I was in the shop, and today while the wife's away the boys will play... (IOW, we just got back from Rockler.)

The plane doesn't look too bad--I got most of the gunk (LOTS of dirt and some surface rust). The body is in OK shape, a little pitted, but no cracks or deep rust.

According to Leach's site, since there's the kidney lever iron hole and a raised ring around the front knob, it was made sometime after the mid-thirties. I didn't realize how common a No 4 was--evidently it was manufactured until the mid-80s. Wow.

Anyway, thanks to Fangirl Anna--I didn't know about the hyperkitten site. Good find!

While I was cleaning the gunk off myself with some Goop, I had a brainstorm: since this stuff takes the gunk off my skin so easily, maybe it will work on the plane. I squeezed out a little on a rag and tried it--nope, didn't work that well. Back to the messy, old-fashioned way.... a Dremel with a wire brush.

Wish I could afford those nice premium planes... Color me green, Anna.

g.