Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a classic cast iron woodworking hand plane featuring a wooden rear tote and front knob, designed for flattening and smoothing timber. Planes of this design revolutionized carpentry during America's industrial boom, shifting woodworking from wooden-bodied tools to precision-engineered iron machinery.
Story
Patented designs by Leonard Bailey in the 1860s transformed woodworking forever. Instead of wooden wedges, a turn of a brass wheel micro-adjusted the blade, building the homes and furniture of modern America.
Maker / Origin
Stanley Rule & Level Co. (later Stanley Works) acquired Leonard Bailey's patents in 1869, creating the legendary Bailey line of hand planes that became the global gold standard for carpenters and cabinetmakers.
Condition & Value
Shows extensive surface rust, patina, and chipping/loss to the horn of the wooden rear tote. While structurally intact, the tool requires derusting, sharpening, and tuning to be a functional user plane, which lowers collector value by roughly 40-50%.
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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.