What Is a Type Study?
Purpose
A type study is a systematic classification of a tool's manufacturing changes over time. By examining specific physical features — frog design, lateral lever style, brass nut markings, casting codes, trademarks on the iron and lever cap — collectors and restorers can identify when a plane was made and understand its place in Stanley's century-long production history.
Origin
The foundational research was compiled by Roger Smith in Patented Transitional & Metallic Planes in America. Patrick Leach later reformatted and extended it based on hands-on experience with thousands of planes. Joshua Clark's hyperkitten.com converted it into hypertext form. All subsequent studies build on this foundation.
Scope
This study covers the Bailey-pattern bench planes: sizes #1 through #8C. These are the classic smoother, jack plane, fore plane, and jointer that define Stanley's legacy. The Bedrock series (#600s) is a related but separate study, summarized in its own section below.
International Variants
Stanley manufactured planes in Canada, England, and Australia. These international variants often don't match the American type study — they may share some features but have different casting marks, trademarks, or timing. This study covers American-made planes only.
Production Timeline
Click any segment to jump to that type. Hover for year range.
All 20 Types
Stanley Trademark Stamps on Irons
The trademark stamped on the iron (blade) is one of the most reliable dating aids. Each mark covers a defined production window. Note that overlaps occur, especially during transitions, and Canadian production used different marks on different schedules.
Market Prices by Plane Size
Realized sale prices from Jim Bode's Value Guide to Antique Tools. Prices vary by manufacturing type (1–20), condition, and era. Based on 450 historical transactions. All figures in USD.
Rare — no user-grade market. All examples are collector pieces regardless of condition.
Moderately scarce. Small size limits woodworking use; primarily a collector piece.
Most common Bailey. Abundant supply keeps typical prices low.
Most-sold size in the dataset. Value closely mirrors No. 4 across all condition grades.
Less common than No. 4/5; slight premium over those sizes in comparable condition.
Larger size commands a consistent premium. One pre-Stanley Bailey Boston example sold for $1,500.
Largest standard bench plane. Size premium is consistent — even users sell above No. 4/5 fine examples.
Source: Jim Bode's Value Guide to Antique Tools. Historical realized sale prices — not a guarantee of current market value.
Bailey Bench Plane Specifications
All standard Bailey-pattern bench planes produced by Stanley. Specs are: sole length × cutter width, weight. Production years indicate American manufacture. Corrugated variants (C suffix) have lengthwise grooves on the sole to reduce friction.
Type Identification Wizard
Answer each question about your plane to narrow down its manufacturing type. Based on the decision tree from Hyperkitten's Type Study Flowchart.
Quick Reference Table
| Type | Years | Era | Lateral Lever | Frog Receiver | Key Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading reference data… | |||||
Feature Quick-Find Index
Spot a specific feature on your plane? Find which types it appears in. Use this to quickly narrow down an unknown plane's type.
Notable Design Changes Explained
Why Did the Iron Hole Move? (Type 6, 1891–92)
The original hole near the top of the iron created a problem: as the blade wore down through sharpening, that hole would eventually fall directly into the space where the lateral lever engaged the blade slot — making the lever useless. Stanley relocated the hole near the cutting edge in 1891, allowing blades to be used to the last inch of their life. Stanley patented this (No. 473,087, April 1892) and sued Ohio Tool Company for copying it. Ohio used a hexagonal hole instead; courts dismissed Stanley's claims in 1902.
Why the High Knob? (Type 12, ~1920)
The taller "high knob" introduced around 1919–1920 provided better hand clearance and leverage during planing. However, the increased height also meant more force on the knob base during pushing, causing stress fractures at the base. This problem wasn't solved until Type 14 (1929–30), when Stanley added a raised ring cast into the bed as a receiver — distributing the load and preventing splitting. The high knob base either tapers (later) or remains uniform (earlier) where it seats in the ring.
Orange-Painted Frogs (Types 13–16)
Some planes from the 1920s–1930s have bright orange paint applied over the normal japanning on the frog sides only. The purpose remains uncertain — theories include institutional ownership identification (schools, shops) or competitive positioning against Millers Falls, which introduced red-frogged bench planes in 1929. Similar orange treatment appears on Bed Rock planes and some #78 rabbet planes of the same era.
The Frog Adjustment Screw (Type 10, 1907)
The ability to move the frog forward or backward without removing the iron — thus adjusting the mouth opening — first appeared on the premium Bed Rock series. Stanley added it to standard Bailey planes starting with Type 10. The screw is accessible directly below the depth adjustment nut and engages a fork attached to the frog. Some Type 17 wartime planes have the tapped hole but no screw installed, as a cost-saving measure.
Stanley Bedrock Series
Stanley's Premium Bench Plane Line · 1898–1943
The Bedrock series (#602–#608) is Stanley's premium alternative to the Bailey line, with a fully machined frog seat for greater rigidity and reduced chatter. Produced across 12 manufacturing types, it shares irons, lever caps, and handles with the Bailey line but commands a consistent collector premium.
View full Bedrock reference — type study, specifications & market prices →
Understanding Type Studies — Important Caveats
Before using this guide to date a plane, understand these five fundamental limitations shared by all type studies, as articulated by multiple researchers.
Type Studies Are Modern Tools
These classification systems were developed by collectors after the fact. Stanley never followed a type study — they simply made periodic design modifications. The categories are our analytical framework imposed on their manufacturing history.
Dates Are Approximate
Old parts stock was used until depleted. A plane "dated" to 1902 might have a frog from 1900 inventory. Feature changeovers sometimes took months or even years, producing transition planes with features from adjacent types. Always use multiple features together, not single markers.
Type Studies Are Model-Specific
The No. 4 type study is often incorrectly applied to other sizes. Each plane size has distinct features — for example, the #2 never received a frog adjusting screw, and the #1 never got a lateral lever. Always verify which size you're examining.
The eBay Effect
Early type studies were compiled before online marketplaces made rare planes commonly available. Items once considered very rare turned out to be common, requiring substantial updates to rarity classifications. Modern collectors have access to far more data points than early researchers did.
Variations Exist Within Types
Type 17 (wartime) is the most extreme example: planes from 1942–1945 show inconsistent brass vs. steel hardware, rosewood vs. painted hardwood, and variable frog mechanisms — all classified as Type 17. No type study captures every variation.
Restored Planes Are Tricky
Many planes for sale have replacement parts, creating "Frankenstein" planes with components from multiple eras. Some sellers unethically modify components to pass items off as rarer types. Examine japanning consistency, casting texture, and screw holes to detect mismatched parts.
Vintage Tool Resources
A curated directory of active websites for antique and vintage tool research, buying, and collecting. Ranked by cross-reference count across eight major tool collector link directories.
Patrick's Blood & Gore
The definitive illustrated Stanley Bailey plane guide by Patrick Leach — covers every Bailey plane from #1 to #608C with production dates, defects, rarity, and restoration warnings.
supertool.comEarly American Industries Association
The oldest tool-collecting organisation in the US, dedicated to celebrating trades, crafts, and tools in American history — publishes The Chronicle and Shavings.
eaia.usMid-West Tool Collectors Association
National organisation with regional chapters holding meets, swap sessions, and auctions focused on antique and traditional tools.
mwtca.orgCRAFTS of New Jersey
Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society — ~350 members, publishes The Tool Shed journal, and holds regular meetings and auctions in the New Jersey area.
craftsofnj.orgPATINA
Potomac Antique Tools and Industries Association — active Washington DC-area club with regular auctions, meets, and events through 2026.
patinatools.orgPacific Northwest Tool Collectors
Growing organisation of 500+ men and women across the Pacific Northwest dedicated to tool collecting, education, and enthusiast activities.
pntc.websiteOhio Tool Collectors Association
Active Ohio-based organisation with meetings held four times yearly at various locations throughout the state — 2026 schedule confirmed.
sites.google.com/site/ohiotoolRichmond Antique Tool Society
Virginia-based club for makers, users, and collectors of antique tools — regular meetings with opportunities to learn about, buy, sell, and trade historical tools.
richmondantiquetools.comHand Tool Preservation Association of Australia
Australian organisation meeting on a bimonthly basis, dedicated to the preservation and study of hand tools — active since 2000.
htpaa.org.auNew Zealand Vintage Tool Collectors Club
Non-profit organisation promoting the collection and presentation of vintage and antique tools in New Zealand — established 1987, 200+ members.
nzvtcc.org.nzAmbacht en Gereedschap
Dutch membership organisation dedicated to crafts and tools — active with scheduled events including biannual collector gatherings.
ambachtengereedschap.nlJim Bode Tools
Active dealer since 1997 with daily Stanley plane inventory updates. Publisher of the Jim Bode Value Guide to Antique Tools — the realized-price reference used in the Prices section of this study.
jimbodetools.comMichael Rouillard Antique Tools
Specialist dealer since 1994 with a focus on rare patented and early Stanley planes — inventory updated multiple times weekly, with an emphasis on collector-grade pieces.
michaelrouillardtools.comThe Superior Works (Supertool)
Patrick Leach's antique tool dealership — one of the first antique tool sellers on the internet, active since 1987. Buys and sells vintage woodworking tools and runs bi-annual consignment auctions. Also hosts Patrick's Blood & Gore, the landmark Stanley plane reference.
supertool.comHyperkitten Tool Company
Specialist dealer in vintage woodworking and machinist tools, with an emphasis on usable pieces over pure collectibles. Inventory includes tools, parts and restoration projects, and vintage tool books and catalogs.
hyperkitten.comJon Zimmers Antique Tools
Portland, Oregon dealer in antique and user-grade hand tools and tool books, established 1995. Known for accurate, complete descriptions and type-correct listings. Includes a bargain bin section for lower-grade tools.
jonzimmersantiquetools.comNH Plane Parts
Online shop with 2,500+ replacement parts for vintage Stanley and antique planes — blades, frogs, screws, totes, and knobs for restoration projects.
nhplaneparts.comCan I Have It — Vintage Tool Auction and Sales
Facebook auction and sales group for vintage hand tools — a community marketplace for buying and selling antique planes, Stanley tools, and related items through member-run listings.
facebook.com/groups/CanIHaveItToolAuctionsJust Plane Fun — The Parts Division
Facebook group focused on buying, selling, and trading vintage hand tool parts — a community resource for sourcing replacement components for Stanley and other antique plane restorations.
facebook.com/groups/just-plane-funSources & Further Reading
Patrick's Blood & Gore (Supertool)
Patrick Leach's landmark reference covering #1 through #608C in exhaustive detail. One of the most comprehensive bodies of Stanley plane research. Covers all sizes with individual commentary.
supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.htmlThe Plane Dealer — Bailey Type Study
Mark Nickel's well-organized quick-reference guide to all 20 types, with additional pages on Stanley trademarks, Bedrock planes, and L. Bailey's history.
plane-dealer.com/bailey-type-studyTime Tested Tools — Bench Plane Typing
Practical dating guidance covering both American and English Stanley planes, with active development of the English-made type study draft.
timetestedtools.netHyperkitten — Stanley Bench Plane Type Study
Joshua Clark's hypertext type study (credited to Roger Smith and Patrick Leach), including a plane dating flowchart and complete feature timeline across all 20 types.
hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/A Plane Life — Links & Information
Curated directory of plane research resources, including Bedrock type studies, English Stanley references, and specialty plane information.
aplanelife.us/links-plane-informationThe Valley Woodworker — Bob's Illustrated Study
Bob's two-part illustrated type study (Types 1–20) with detailed photos and commentary, plus companion posts on type dating methodology and the iron hole relocation story.
thevalleywoodworker.blogspot.comVirginia Tool Works — Five Confusion-Busting Facts
An accessible overview of the five most important caveats for using type studies correctly — essential reading before attributing a precise date to any plane.
virginiatoolworks.comRoger Smith — Patented Transitional & Metallic Planes
The original academic foundation underlying all modern Stanley type studies. The definitive scholarly reference on the subject.
Book reference (not online)