Bench Planes

[Paul]

I was out of state this past week in South Carolina. I was out in a rural area off HWY 52 and noticed a small junk shop. I got a chance to stop by and went in to take a look. Sitting in the back room on a shelf was a row of metal planes. This is what I found. A 18C Miller Falls(circa 1940), #4 Bailey (circa 1950),
#5Bailey (circa # 1900), #4 Sargent (circa ?), 60-1/2 Stanley block plane, and a couple of names I didn't recognize...Shelton #5, Goodall #2? and an unmarked #5 (knock off Stanley). I may be wrong about the dates but from what I could find on the web, I believe the dates are close. I just could not force myself to see them wasting away on that shelf. Now these were not mint condition plans but I saw through the grime and rust and fell in love. Some cleaning and scrubbing and I've got a nice complement of planes for less than $130. What is it about tools that is so addicting that you just can't get enough? Anyone out there familar with the Shelton and Goodall brand of planes. I did a web search and couldn't find much about them.

[Bob Smalser]

Log on to this traditional tools forum and the "neanderthal" section of these woodworking forums.

Lotsa knowledgeable tool collectors out there...a few of them even know a little bit about joinery.

http://host65.ipowerweb.com/~traditi2/forum/index.php

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

http://www.woodcentral.com/newforum/msgset.shtml

[Bruce Hooke]

A Price Guide to Antique Tools (third edition -- 2001) lists Shelton Smoother planes as being worth $12-20, but it provides no further details about the planes or the company. It does not list Goodall planes at all (although it does talk about Goodell-Pratt levels).

[ken mcclure]

Bench planes usually sell in the $25 to $35 range in the junk shops. Sounds like you got a great deal! That's how I got most of mine - including a Stanley #45 complete in the original wood box (circa late 1800's) and a Stanley #55 in the original metal box circa early 1960's.

[skuthorp]

Paul, it's a sad thing about hand tools, you can never get enough. Iv'e seen a tool I already may have several of, been strong, drove away. Then found myself doing a U turn and going back. Sigh, what is it about old steel, brass and wood?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: