In 1850, the Stanley Rule & Level Co. of New Britain, Conn. began manufacturing rules and soon thereafter, levels, try squares, T-bevels, and hardware. Leonard Bailey a Boston, Mass. tool maker, began patenting plane designs in 1855. In 1869, The Stanley Rule & Level Co. purchased the patent rights to manufacture Bailey's line of planes. The most well known of these planes is the Stanley Bailey bench plane. Although it has undergone many subtle changes over the years, this plane has become the defacto industry standard in bench plane design.
The Stanley company has been manufacturing the Bailey series of bench planes since their acquisition of the Bailey patents in 1869. Stanley has released various sizes of this plane from the very rare #1 smoothing plane (5 1/2" length) to the #8 jointer plane (24" length). For more detailed information on the different models offered over the years, take a look at The Superior Works #1 - #8 page. Design changes over the years are commonly identified using a Type Study. Each Type is associated with a span of years during which that design was manufactured. For more information on the different Types, take a look at the Stanley plane dating flowchart and Type definitions These planes were made mostly of iron with rosewood tote and knob handles. However, many shortlived variations have been made with bodies made of steel and aluminum and handles made of plastic, painted hardwood, aluminum, and even hard rubber. With the exception of the #1, all of these planes were offered with either a smooth sole (bottom) or a corrugated sole to reduce friction. The #1 was never offered with the corrugated option.
My interest in the Bailey series of bench planes was sparked by a dinner conversation with my Cousin's Husband, Chris. It seems that when Chris' grandfather passed away, Chris recieved his great grandfather's Stanley #8C. After dinner, Chris and I began researching the age and details of this plane. After a bit of digging, we found that this plane is a Type 8 (1899-1902). That's all it took. I was hooked. I immediately began researching and collecting these planes on my own. Through my research, I have become very interested in the Type 12 through Type 15 planes, known as the "Sweatheart" series because of the SW heart logo that appeared on the planes' irons during this period. I have focused my collection on these Types, especially Type 13. Type 13 planes feature these characteristics:
SW-Sweatheart iron logo
Tall style front knob (no support ring cast in the bed)
One patent date cast in to the bed (directly in front of the tote)
Embossed STANLEY logo on the lever cap (with no backgound paint)
Keyhole shaped mounting hole in the lever cap
"Sweetheart" Logo (Type 12 - Type 15)
My Collection:
I now have a complete set of Type 13 Stanley Bailey bench planes, minus a #1 and a #2. The combined value of these two planes is between $1500 and $2000. So, it will probably be quite some time before I can complete the set. Here's what I have so far...
This Sweetheart era plane is 15" in length with a 2 1/4" iron and weighs 6 3/4 lbs. I purchased this plane for parts, but it will probably replace my other 5 1/2C in my collection.
This Sweetheart era plane is 9" in length with a 2" iron and weighs 3 3/4 lbs. I purchased this plane as a parts donor for my #5 1/4 and my other #4 type 13. It may end up out in the workshop or back on the auction block. Only time will tell.
This Sweetheart era plane is 9" in length with a 2" iron and weighs 3 3/4 lbs. I purchased this plane for parts and will turn it into a daily user out in the workshop.
This Sweetheart era plane is 15" in length with a 2 1/4" iron and weighs 6 3/4 lbs. I purchased this plane as a perminent part of my Type 13 Sweetheart collection, but it will probably be replaced by one in better condition. It will then be relegated to daily use out in the workshop.
A Brief History:
