Well, the stanley planes and other models with the same number are really hard to tell apart. I'm far from an expert.
I don't think stanley had red handles or screws on this model. (Again this is a LIMITED amount of knowledge). I have a 102 that I semi-assumed was a stanley. Although, there's a Fulton out there that looks the same to me.
From Patrick's site--- plane was 5 1/2 " long, and 1 1/4 " wide body. Although width changed: 1 3/8 " 1914 and later. 1 5/16" 1962. He doesn't have a great opinion of the 102 planes. But, I enjoy "throwing it in my pocket" for a few things. I think that the "rating of tools" can be irrelevant if the specific use isn't described. For instance, there's a major difference between "knocking off the edges of a board" verses planing exact chamfers or planing end grain. Just my opinion.
I keep a number of chisels, planes, saws, and even a cheap miter box to use for what I call "grunt work."
I then have my precision tools --- chisels, planes, saws, and miter box!
Which reminds me of a tool story...... of course. I have a cheap bright yellow Stanley miter box and the saw to go with it. It's pretty much the most generic thing you can buy in that department.
I also have three old pieces of wood that form a miter box from my grandfather. The wood looks like he pried it up from the barn floor and made it into a miter box. He's long gone.... never got to meet him. But, the box is probably 30 inches or so long. If I have to cut an accurate "miter" on something, I drag that box over to my bench---- it's more accurate then anything else.
I now have a dewalt miter saw. I'm lazy. So, I use it for a lot of things. But, it's hard (or stupid) to cut miters with a miter saw on a 5 or 6 inch long piece of wood (picture frames).
..... hmmmmm.... thinking of my grandfather, Nana (his wife, my grandmother... very much alive!) recently gave the grandchildren some things that he had made.... candle holders, jewelry boxes, carved animals, ect...
She gave me a broken box that he made. In my head I was thinking, "are you kidding me? Persons got gorgeous candle holders, ornate elephants...ect. , and I get a broken old box??!!"
She said, "Jenny, I always loved this tiny box (I guess for jewelery). I thought that you would be able to repair it. It has always been important to me."
Suddenly, I had the "best" of the things Nana distributed amongst the grand kids. More then that, Nana recognized my "trade" as the one her husband spent his life perfecting. I hope I'll eventually have half the talent that he had.
Cheers, bird
