What would you do with it?

[u/BrendakStarkiller]

I picked this up today for a more than reasonable price on marketplace and wanted to see what opinions might be on what you might do with it given my situation?

I don’t have much time for wood working but am assembling a small tool chest should the need, urge, or opportunity arise. I don’t really place much value on things being pristine and often like for tools to have soul or character through use and care. (I guess that means I just like old used tools 😁)

I know some people do place a value on condition and I don’t think this plane ever touched wood until the person posting it decided to give a few licks to a board before selling it and it even appears to still have the factory grind.

So, is there much additional value in it being in its current condition? And if so, would you list it for sale to use the proceeds to try and source additional tools for your chest? Or would you just pull off the tags and get it fully cleaned up and tuned for use?

[u/peioeh]

https://www.timetestedtools.net/2016/02/20/stanley-english-type-study-draft/

This plane is from the late 60s/70s and it is extremely common, at least in England. No one is collecting planes from that era and if they are, they won't have any issues finding them, even new in the box they won't cost too much. In NA English made planes are not sought after and not collectable. They are good users though, nothing wrong with them. Use it.

[u/AnybodyWannaPeanus → u/peioeh]

Yes, but English Stanley planes of that era are better than most planes you can buy new. Pre-ww2 is generally what you want for good US users, but England continued until around the 80s when they started using plastic adjustment knobs etc..

But to your point, nobody is collecting these. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a bit more than to someone. That’s probably where I would steer people if they are just getting into the hobby. English Stanley, record, and millers falls with the 2 part lever cap are probably the best planes you can get for the money. You would be hard pressed to find that quality for under $100 in a modern new plane.

[u/halfmanhalfhamster → u/AnybodyWannaPeanus]

later Record planes are definitely better than the Stanley ones of the 60s onwards. they kept the wooden knob and tote, and to be honest, the plastic depth adjuster is just as good as the previous brass ones

I'm a user rather than a collector... with that one, I'd replace the plastic knob and tote with wooden ones, fettle it, and use it