Grandads Planes

[Slim]

Have just been going through a box of my grandads tools, and i found these two planes.

The one on the right is a no.90J apparently, not sure about the other one.
I cant imagine my grandad owning any tools newer than 1970's.

Can anyone tell me: what these planes are, how old they are, if they're any good and what they might typically be used for.

Many thanks

 

[Alf]

Slim,

Inherited tools - you can't beat them. The one on the left is a #75; I think Mr Leach is actually the only person I recall ever reading who likes it. The man's an enigma - he hates the combination planes but likes this? Bizarre... Sorry, that's not very positive I fear, but hey, it may be you like it too. Of course it could be you have the #90J as well 'cos your Grandfather didn't get on with the #75 either - they both do much the same job, albeit the #75 does it bevel down while the 90 is bevel up. Viz: cleaning up rebates and such like, the bullnose being particularly with stopped cuts in mind where a longer nose cannot go. Like this:

Very handy tweakers of joinery, once you get in the way of dealing with the short nose. I quite often use a bullnose for block plane kinda jobs where the extra height is a benefit, fwiw. I assume they're both made in England models so they're post-1936; you're own family knowledge of a likely date is probably going to get you closer to a date for them 'cos they didn't change much. Both were still in production until recently, iirc - ah, the #75 still is it seems. Nice handy tools to get hold of, and doubly nice to have the family connection.

Cheers, Alf

 

[dchenard]

The one on the left is either a Stanley 75 as Alf said, or it could be a Millers Falls #4. I have the MF and it looks the same as the one in the picture, although the pic isn't clear enough to say for sure.

DC

Interesting tidbit about the 75/4 is that the bullnose part of the sole is not coplanar with the rear part (think tailed jointer). Not too many planes exhibit this feature.

 

[Slim]

Alf, Thanks very much for the comprehensive response. You obvioulsy don't like the 75, but would you say that the the 90j is worth having around the workshop?

Dare I say it, but I am much more of a power tool and machinery man, but I would like to learn some hand tool techniques and build up a small array of tools.

dchenard, it is a stanley. I have had a closer look at it and you are right the bullnose part is recessed slightly like a jointer.

 

[Alf]

Alf, Thanks very much for the comprehensive response. You obvioulsy don't like the 75, but would you say that the the 90j is worth having around the workshop?

For accuracy it'd be fairer to say I've read an awful lot from other people who don't like the #75 - I haven't tried it. The #90J is certainly worth having, indeed it'll compliment your power tool use rather nicely, I reckon.

Cheers, Alf