A couple days ago I mentioned that I had recently seen a pretty good hand plane related article in the most current issue of Fine Wood Working magazine. One of the planes featured in the article was a plow plane. Well, after I read the article I got to thinking that I hadn’t thoroughly featured a plow plane here on the Hand Plane thread yet. Earlier in the thread, Les (Lewill2) was kind enough to show us several from his amazing collection, and I still really appreciate that. Les, if you’re reading this, we're always happy to see more! Anyway, today I thought I’d feature one of Stanley’s basic, yet most functional and reliable plow planes….. the #50. I gave some thought as to how I’d like to present the plane to you, and concluded that with its collection of parts and cutters, it might be best to break the topic into two, or possibly three separate posts. Although it’s not any where as complex as the #45 and/or #55 combination planes, the #50 is still worthy of more than a few pictures and one long winded explanation from me. Also, the plane depicted below has a story. Often times, I’ll buy a plane at an auction, or off of someone’s display table at a tool meet/show. But not always. That’s where the story begins……
Several years ago, not too long after I started chasing NOS planes, I was at an auction in the Midwest. I had my eye on a few different planes and took my seat in the gallery with the other attendees. I got into a couple scrums but dropped out when it became clear that two other guys wanted the planes more than I did, and furthermore, they were both willing to slug it out to the point of overpaying for them. It’s not unusual to pay the hammer price plus an additional auctioneer’s premium of 10% - 15% at such events. After missing out on a few good ones, and nearing the end of the auction, a gem mint, still in the box, japanned (think WWII version) #50 came up. The bidding got under way with four or five of us going at it. Well, eventually it boiled down to me and one other gentleman, and my ego had already carried my last bid beyond the plane’s actual value. I looked across the room at my opponent, and as we made eye contact, he sort of smiled and then blurted out a number that was WELL beyond my determination to have the plane and beyond my budget. It was definitely the knockout punch. So I had to let it go for two reasons. First, I didn’t think the plane was worth going any higher (not to mention the additional 15% auctioneer’s premium) and second, I didn’t have the money in my pocket to go any higher. (Looking back I guess that was a blessing.) I was most certainly disappointed, but also a little relieved to be honest. We both got a little round of applause and that was that. Deflated, I sat through the rest of the auction and didn’t place another bid.
When the auction ended, I got up from my chair, said goodbye to a few friends and started heading for the door. Two steps into the parking lot, an older man approached me and said he had been watching the auction. He told me I was smart to let the other guy have that #50 and then asked if I had a second. Sure. So he lead me to a pretty tired looking pick up truck out in the lot with a cap over the bed. I had no clue where he was going with this, other than the fact that he said he wanted to show me something. We walked to the rear of the truck where he swung up the cap door and lowered the tailgate. He then pulled back an old blanket and I could see a few good sized heavy duty cardboard boxes beneath it. As he rooted through the boxes, I caught a glimpse of what I knew were Stanley boxes. After just a few seconds, he turned around and handed me a box… a yellow Stanley box with a green label on it. He closed up the back of the truck and told me, “Hang on to this.” He walked past me, opened the driver’s side door and got in. He started the truck, and backed out of the parking spot. When he pulled even with where I was standing, he rolled down the window and told me to “take care of that.” He pointed to the box in my hands and then just drove away. I never saw that man again. What he handed me is the #50 you see below. A gem mint, NOS in the box, Type 9 (1936 – 1942) #50 Stanley plow plane. He didn’t stick around long enough for me to get his name or to even thank him. I regret that. When I pull out this plane, I think of him and wonder why….. Then I wonder what ever became of that kind old man.
Stanley #50 (part 1):
In this post, I’d like to just introduce readers to the #50, which was manufactured by Stanley between 1884 and 1962. Most were nickel plated except those made during WWII. As we’ve discussed in the past, WWII versions of many traditionally nickel plated tools were japanned. Over the years, the #50 was supplied with between seven and seventeen cutters. The cutters that I've seen are usually stamped with their respective sizes. As one can see, it was produced with several small parts that were not all necessary to use the plane during various operations. You know what that means. If the parts weren’t physically connected to the plane, the chance of them being permanently misplaced (lost) was fairly high. If you’re considering one of these planes for your shop, do your homework. In an effort to help you, not only did I photograph the parts, but I also included pictures of the original instruction manual (that was in the box with the plane) so its parts could be identified and the plane’s functions could be described. Sometimes it’s easier if Stanley tells you how to operate the plane, and what parts to use during various operations, versus me trying to do it and then confusing the heck out of you. In Stanley #50 (part 2) and possibly (part 3), I’ll set the plane up and try to show you generally how it functions.
Jim C.
