1939 and 1948 Catalogs
I used, and still use, more Stanley (vintage) hand tools than any other make.
Why the 1900-1950 time frame? Well, my primary research resources consisted of catalogs from this period.
PLANES
Stanley metal bodied bench and block planes were especially popular although British made Record planes were also used. It seemed most apprentices and craftsmen always had a Stanley No. 4 Bailey smoothing plane in their toolbox.
Stanley No. 4 Bailey smoothing plane - Type 16
(1933-1941)
I think block planes (often wooden) were widely used for the various finishing operations on the cabs in work on the shop floor.
Stanley No. 60½ low angle adjustable mouth
Block plane
Stanley No. 78 Duplex Rabbet and Filletster
Plane
Apprentices didn't own specialized tools such as Stanley Rabbet, Dado, Router and Scraper Planes - instead, they borrowed them when needed from the older craftsmen who were always forthcoming. One of the most used specialized planes was the Stanley No. 78 Duplex Rabbet and Filletster Plane. I didn't own one of these until quite recently.
NAIL HAMMERS
Stanley 7 oz. plain neck claw hammer
Stanley Nail Hammers were much used by apprentices and craftsmen. I personally used the lighter model Stanley claw hammers -- 7 to 10 oz. -- for cab building/finishing work.
Stanley 16 oz. round neck and poll claw
hammer
I used a 16 oz hammer for flat bed body building.
WOOD CHISELS
Stanley bevel edged paring (butt and pocket) chisels were popular with apprentices and craftsmen for general purpose use.
No. 50 "Everlasting" socket butt chisel (3"
long blade)
Older Stanley chisels such as the "Everlasting" socket chisels were still quite popular after WWII.
This very durable chisel certainly lived up to its name and had a very long production life.
No. R40 Heavy Duty Pocket Chisel (4½" long
blade)
This, along with the similar No. R50 Heavy Duty Butt Chisel and the No. R55 Glazier Chisel, were essentially No. 40, No. 50 and No. 55 "Everlasting" chisels with black rubber composition/plastic handles. The "R" prefix was an early 1930s designation -- it was dropped in 1949. These were very rugged, high quality chisels that could withstand a great deal of heavy use and abuse.
No. 60 tang butt chisel (3" long
blade)
This, along with the similar No. 61 paring chisel, was introduced in the early 1930s pretty much concurrent with the introduction of the No. R50/R40 and 700 series chisels. What made these chisels distinctive was the use of "Stanloid" -- Stanley's much touted plastic -- for the handles. These were rugged, high quality chisels that held up well under heavy use.
No. 750 socket butt chisel (3½" long
blade)
Stanley seven hundred series socket chisels were also popular. I think the No. 750 butt chisel was the type most used.
No. 161 tang butt chisel (2.5" long
blade)
It think most apprentices and crafstmen had at least one wide butt chisel in their tool box. This type of chisel was very useful when installing hinge plates in cabs and making lap joints such as those on flat bed truck bodies.
Some collectors believe that these No. 161 chisels, were made for Stanley in Sweden by Berg. Nevertheless, the stamp on the brass ferrule states MADE IN USA.
MEASURING, MARKING & LAYOUT TOOLS
Stanley measuring, marking and layout tools - boxwood folding rules, marking gauges, try squares, T bevels, etc. - were also very popular. I think apprentices usually bought the simplest and least expensive rules and marking gauges such as the No. 61.
Left to right:
No. 20 (6") (Rosewood) Try Square
No. 61 (beech) Marking Gauge
No. 61 (boxwood) Folding Rule
No. 25 (6") (Rosewood) Bevel
NOTES AND REFERENCES
-
Rex Mill bench plane type study
-
Hans Brunner's Stanley planes by numbers
-
Patrick
A. Leach's The Superior Works
- 1898, 1914, 1934, 1953, 1958 Stanley Tools catalog
(PDF) downloads are available at this Rose
Antique Tools web page
- Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools: Guide to Identity & Value -- John Walter, Second Edition 1996, The Tool Merchant, Marietta, Ohio, 2000.
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