Mystery Plane

[steve-norrell]

The plane shown in the photos was given to me as kind of a joke gift, not meant to be used. The gold paint is also part of the joke.

However, the person who gave it to me said it was her husband's father's plane so it has got to be quite old (he is pushing 70). I have not been able to find any identifying marks on it except for the "05" on the front and what appears to be a engraved globe on the upper part of blade. These are shown in the photos, at least to the extent that I could show them.

I would appreciate it if anyone can supply some information about this plane, such as make, model and approximate age. I may consider restoring it.

Thanks in advance for your help. Regards, Steve

[LinuxRandal]

You actually have the model in the picture. It IS a #5 jack plane. I don't know (nearly) enough, to tell you if it is an Ohio tool plane, or if that is just an Ohio tool plane (should say blade, not plane), on a Sargent plane body that was probably sold as a store branded plane. But those two brands, should be a good starting point.

[pelligrini]

It's clearly a #5 with an Ohio iron. Are there any markings on the back side of the cap, on or under the frog? How about a frog adjusting screw? Any markings on the lateral lever?

[Knottscott]

That paint job is a shame. It's fairly old as evidence by the low profile mushroom shaped knob, and the long sweeping tail on the tote handle. Might be worth a complete rehab to bring it back to original condition. More pics of the frog, frog adjustment screw would be good.

[Hoover]

It appears to be a real Ohio plane. They used a numbering system 04, 05, 05 1/2, 06, etc.

[steve-norrell]

Hmmmm. This is beginning to get interesting.

I could not find any other markings on any of the parts of the plane -- except for the three lines on the side of the main body. There were no markings under the handle or on the bottom.

Here are some more pictures.

Again, thanks for your help. Regards, Steve

[Rich P]

The "No. 5" is actually from the Stanley numbering system. The corrugated sole is an interesting feature...not sure if other manufacturers did this or not. Check out this site, it has more info on hand planes than anywhere else in the known universe.

http://supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm

If you want to turn it into a "user" plane, there are good instructions on tuneup at FWW. Be careful though, these can get addictive.

[pelligrini]

A lot of the other manufacturers used similar numbering systems and sizes to correspond and compete with the Stanley planes. It's probably 14" long with a 2" Iron. I know very little about the Ohio lines.

Corrugated soles are fairly common, not as much as the flat soles though. I've got on old POS Capewell #4 that's corrugated and my Stanley/Bailey #8 is too.

The lack of a frog adjusting screw could put it somewhere around 1910, maybe. I know when Stanley started using them, but I'm not sure about Ohio. Sometimes the adjusting screw wasn't used on lower end products either.

That size plane is fairly common. Before I'd even consider restoring it I'd make sure it is really flat and square, no chips in the mouth, etc. I don't know how easy that paint will come off. If you've got the time and effort it could make for a decent user if there's not anything broken, cracked or warped. You might check ebay before you take the time though. That type of plane can be had fairly inexpensively.

[Hoover]

The "No. 5" is actually from the Stanley numbering system. The corrugated sole is an interesting feature...not sure if other manufacturers did this or not. Check out this site, it has more info on hand planes than anywhere else in the known universe.

http://supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm

If you want to turn it into a "user" plane, there are good instructions on tuneup at FWW. Be careful though, these can get addictive.

If there was just a "5" then it would be a Stanley, however, the "05" definitely makes it an Ohio plane. Yes other plane manufacturers used corrugated soles. Supertool is the go to site for Stanley info. This plane is an Ohio. Ohio's numbering system was in my first post. HTH.

The "O" before the #5 stands for Ohio tools,( Letter O not zero) then the 5 meant that it then used Stanley's numbering system. I got this info through the Pacific Northwest tool collectors Association.