Hi all,
im a new member but have referred to this place many times in the past. For that I thank you!
im not sure if this is the place to ask, but I’ve recently bought another old stanley no. 4, I got the same as the one I’ve had for years which is a type 13.
im aware that this was the sweetheart era, and am aware that whilst there are collectible tools from this era they are not worth an enormous amount.
I buy them to use them, Im not a collector and I believe my newest purchase to have some rare attributes and I’m wondering if it would be an idea for me to sell this one and buy another non collectible user plane AND an old no. 10, another on my want list.
it has, along with the original sweetheart blade, a lever cap with nothing on the top but a sweetheart and Stanley logo on the underside.
a quick google leads me to believe this lever cap is a rare feature, and along with the original blade and the rest of the plane in good condition may be worth considerably more than I paid for it (£25 posted)
anyone with any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated, again a quick google showed me people asking around £30 for an original SW blade and £80 for that lever cap!
So if them combined with a nice, working, good condition no. 4 could get £80-£120 I would happily part with it and get a couple more that are less desirable.
thanks in advance
t
Replies
Did you check out the wood and shop Stanley dating tool?
Sweethearts obviously go for a bit more in the Bailey world, and while Bailey's of certain eras are good tools there isn't imo a great market for them. A full plane will likely sell for less than the sum of it's parts. I bought a 1911 era Bailey no7 for 50 bucks cad in an antique shop because it was missing the proper blade. Lever cap and the rest was all there but this guy in this case totally missed the mark on its value because it wasn't a complete original. ( It had a period correct Miller's falls blade). Now to me I'm changing that blade anyway! As a user I'm not sentimental about it being totally original. I care that it's in good shape and true. Am I a bit sentimental about using a plane from 1911 to work in my shop at home which was also built in 1911? Sure a bit. But by changing the blade to a hock or lee Valley or whatever I'm getting the best and most out of the tool. Now a collector would have probably spent another 50 bucks or more on a period correct and matching blade.
The ironic thing about hand planes is that collectors think they're worth more than they're worth and overpay. Users and wood workers who actually know the tools and how to tune them up know their true worth and value them lower.
Bedrocks are a whole other ballgame... They're valuable to collectors and users alike. The reality is you can get a good Stanley Bailey #4 that's in good shape and ready to work for well under $100.
If you want to sell it that's your choice certainly. And with the sweetheart logos you probably could get someone to (over)pay for it.
I've picked up planes in the past for that very reason, but never #4s or other common bench planes. I've scored on carriage planes and other rarities.
I guess you don't really have anything to lose by listing and hoping someone will bite. If you've already got a good 4 then give it a shot.
hyperkitty.com
supertool.com
My gut tells me there's nothing super special about it, but check it out.
OTOH if its a Bedrock, now you're talking.
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