I bought 2 planes today at garage sales.
1) A Bailey #5 for $2. It is in poor condition and I just bought it for the handle. Anyhow, it has a symetrical hole in the lever cap, so I presume it is pre-1932. It is also a rather flimsier casting than my other #5. Did they beef the casting up also?2) A Stanley Handyman for $3, somewhat smaller than the #5. I presume the Handyman is a lesser plane than the Bailey; is that correct? It is in reasonable condition; is it work tuning up?
Depending on what you mean by poor condition, you may have a pair of users there, congratulations on the prices, BTW. The #5 may have a lighter casting than your other one if your other one is a WWII era plane. That doesn't make it unusable by a long shot. You need to take a look at th etype study and compare it's other features to the study, that'll give you a better idea of its age. The Handyman series isn't as good as the Baileys, but that doesn't mean that it's just a paperweight. Tune it up and sharpen it up, then use it.
Dave in Fairfax
I agree with you on the Handyman assessment. A good friend of mine passed away of cancer last Feb. He knew he was going well in advance so he gave something personal to his friends. The gifts had no real monitary value, but rather something personal of his. He gave me a Handyman plane. It was in rather sorry shape, but as he explained he never could use any tools so when his father gave it to him, used, it just sat in his garage for some 25 years. It took some real work - the sole was far from flat, the iron was rusty (but not pitted) as was the plane itself. The knob and the tote were both cracked. I fixed it all up, made a new tote and knob of padauk and I have a nice working plane. I showed it to Leo befor he passed away and he was thrilled. The best part is that I have a constant reminder of a good friend.
Glen
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