So you’re a block plane aficionado as well? Here is a list of some of the rarest which fall into the “collector” category. Hard to know what the value is on some of them. Here are some value indicators from Jim Bode Tools:
- Bailey Defiance No.B (100% japanning) – $3000
- Bailey Defiance No.B (60% japanning) – $525
- Victor No. 1 1/4 block plane – $730
- Victor No. 000 – $351
- Bailey Little Victor – $341
- Metallic Plane Co. EXCELSIOR – $481
- Birmingham No.102 – $201
And also some from Antiques of a Mechanical Nature:
- Victor 12 1/2 – $650
- Victor 12 – $695
- Victor 0 1/2 – $395
- Stanley Type 2 No. 110 – $395
Bailey Tool Company: Defiance Planes
- B, D, E, F block planes
Fig.1: Defiance B/D block plane
Fig.2: Defiance E/F block plane
Victor Planes (Leonard Bailey)
- Block planes: 0, 0-1/2, 00, 000, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2, 2-1/4, 2-1/2, 2-3/4
- Pocket block planes: 12, 12-1/4, 12-1/2
- ‘Little Victor’ block plane: 50, 50-1/2, 51, 51-1/2, 52
Fig.3: Bailey “Victor” block planes
Ohio block planes
- 9-5/8, 15-5/8, 9-3/4, 15-1/2, 16, 17
Preston block planes
- 1343, 118, 1120, 1110, 1220, 1339, 1356, 1360
Sargent planes
- Type 1: 106, 107, 206, 207, 316, 317, 1316, 1317, 4306, 4307, 5306, 5307
- 316, 317, 1316, 1317
Fig 4: Sargent type 1 – 306/307
Birmingham Plane Co. (1885-1900)
- Iron block plane: 3-1/4″, 4″, 5-3/8″
- Adjustable iron block plane: 5-5/16″, 7″
Metallic Plane Co.
- 6, 6-1/2″, 7, 8, 9
Boston Metallic Plane Co.
- Iron block plane: 6-7/8″, 8 -7/8″
Knapp Iron block plane: 7″
Meriden Malleable Iron Co. (1883-1888)
- Adjustable iron block plane 5-15/16″
- Novelty toy size iron block 4-11/16″
Meriden Planes (Otis Smith)
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Chaplins
- #0, #1/2, #1 block plane
- Model Maker’s block planes (#0, #1/2, #1)
Standard Rule Co. (1883-1888)
- Iron block planes: 102, 103, 110, 120
Fig 5: Stanley “iron” block planes
Spiers
- Iron block plane 5″, adjustable iron block plane 6 1/2″
Fig 6: A pair of Spiers block planes (http://www.antiquewoodworkingtools.co.uk)
Companies like the “Birmingham Plane Co.” were in business for only 15 years, so it’s not surprising that their planes are rare. Knobs and lever caps are often quite ornate in older planes (pre-1900), as in the case of the Victor planes.
Fig 7: A knob from a Victor block plane.
working by hand 
Hi Mike. Do you know anything about Conway block planes? I acquired one along with a Sargent 207 type 3. It is the same as the one on this site. http://www.heathsoldwares.com.au/galleryPage20.html and priced at $90 Australian.
It is a very simple plane but quite heavy and solid.
Paul Chapman (uk)
Hi John,
No, unfortunately not… looks like a Stanley knock-off of some sort, there seem to be a multitude of these small tool companies, likely early to mid 20th century. There was a Conway Tool Co. in Conway, Massachusetts which operated until 1851 when it moved its operations to Greenfield, MA, and reorganized as the Greenfield Tool Company… but no-one was making these sorts of metal block planes at that time.
A$90 is kinda steep for this type of plane… but then the seller is also selling a rusty Stanley No.110 for $60, which is way too much.
Sorry, I can’t be much help, too often these type of planes don’t offer up much of a story.
cheers,
Mike
Hi Mike
Thanks for trying. I had checked out the Conway tool co, they just made wooden planes. I picked up the 2 planes on eBay uk for around $6 USD. I knew the Sargent 207 was worth a bit but had no info on the Conway. Paul.
Yeah, Conways are usually cheap when they turn up on eBay. These are later planes – Mid 20th Century, or thereabouts. $90 is way too much!
To add to your list, just off the top of my head:
Preston 1357 & 1358, and the Marples equivalents (The Duplex) – none of which were actually made by these companies, but more on that later.
Wingfield & Rowbotham block planes – All models.
Brattleboro/Steers type block plane.
Vaughan & Bushnell block planes – All models.
There’s quite a few American ones actually. I just can’t think of them right now? If I remember any I’ll add them to the list.