A Stanley Bailey bench plane can be dated surprisingly closely, but only when several clues agree. A logo by itself is weak evidence. The bed casting, frog, lateral adjuster, depth-adjustment wheel, lever cap, screws, tote, knob, and patent marks form a sequence of manufacturing changes known as a type study.
The method works best on common Bailey bench planes, especially the No. 4. It is not a universal key for Bedrock planes, transitional wooden-bodied planes, block planes, or every regional production variation.
Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash.
First Identify the Model, Then the Type
The model number describes the plane’s size and purpose. The type number is a collector’s classification for a manufacturing period. A No. 4 can therefore be Type 7, Type 11, Type 16, or another type. Do not confuse the two numbers.
Look behind the frog or near the toe and heel for cast model marks. Measure the sole if marks are missing. Confirm that the plane is a Bailey-pattern bench plane before using the timeline.
The Most Useful Clues
Bed Casting
Study the ribs, raised rings, patent dates, lettering, and shape around the frog seat. Casting changes are difficult to swap and therefore stronger evidence than a replaceable lever cap.
Frog and Adjustment Mechanism
Note whether the frog adjustment screw is present, how the frog seats on the bed, and the form of the lateral-adjustment lever. Small changes in these parts divide several types.
Lever Cap and Iron
Logos, kidney-shaped holes, keyhole forms, and cap finishes help, but blades and lever caps are frequently replaced. Treat them as supporting evidence.
Tote and Knob
Height, profile, wood species, screw arrangement, and finish can narrow the period. They are also easy to replace, repair, or reshape, so they should not overrule the casting.
Patent and Trademark Marks
Patent dates establish that a part cannot predate the mark, but they do not prove the whole plane was made in that exact year. Trademarks on irons changed often and are most useful when the blade appears original.
Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash.
Stanley Bailey Type Date Reference
| Type | Approximate dates | Type | Approximate dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1867–1869 | 11 | 1910–1918 |
| 2 | 1869–1872 | 12 | 1919–1924 |
| 3 | 1872–1873 | 13 | 1925–1928 |
| 4 | 1874–1884 | 14 | 1929–1930 |
| 5 | 1885–1888 | 15 | 1931–1932 |
| 6 | 1888–1892 | 16 | 1933–1941 |
| 7 | 1893–1899 | 17 | 1942–1945 |
| 8 | 1899–1902 | 18 | 1946–1947 |
| 9 | 1902–1907 | 19 | 1948–1961 |
| 10 | 1907–1909 | 20 | 1962–1967 |
These dates are approximate collector ranges, not factory serial-number records. Adjacent types may overlap, and wartime production can show substitutions.
A Reliable Identification Order
- Confirm the Bailey bench-plane family and model number.
- Photograph the sole, bed, frog seat, frog, lateral lever, depth wheel, lever cap, iron mark, tote, and knob.
- Start with permanent casting details.
- Use the frog and adjusters to narrow the range.
- Check handles, cap, and blade as secondary confirmation.
- Stop at the narrowest range supported by multiple original-looking parts.
Beware of “Harlequin” Planes
Many useful old planes are mixtures assembled from parts made in different decades. A broken tote may have been replaced, a better blade fitted, or two incomplete planes combined. This does not make the tool bad. It only means the plane cannot be dated honestly from its youngest or oldest single part.
Photo by Jon Moore on Unsplash.
Age Is Not the Same as Value
Condition, completeness, rarity, and usability matter more than an early date alone. Inspect the sole for cracks and deep pitting, check the mouth, verify that adjustment parts move, and make sure the frog seats firmly. A later plane in sound condition may be a better worker than an earlier example with serious damage.
The best conclusion is sometimes a range rather than an exact type. A careful “probably Type 10 or early Type 11” is more useful than false precision based on one logo.