Steel bolt heads on my #6 Stanley

[ZippityNZ]

Where can I find some information about the types of knob and handle bolts used on a Made in the USA #6 Stanley hand plane?

Today after I had taken apart the plane for cleaning, I discovered that both bolts had short steel heads and that the handle screw had been replaced with a cut down bolt

At the moment, the plane bottom and frog are soaking overnight in a vinegar bath, while the remaining parts are soaking in EvapoRust

The adjusting nut is not brass, but rather something? on steel.

I'm guessing I have bought a WWII model Stanley.

 

[AndyT]

There's more information than most people need in a couple of articles from The Traditional Tools Group here

http://tttg.org.au/php/DocView.php?DocId=140

And here

http://tttg.org.au/php/DocView.php?DocId=141

 

[ZippityNZ]

Andy,

Thanks for your reply and the links to two very informative articles.

Unfortunately, neither article makes reference to the brass nuts that were used on some Stanley planes.

I am trying to find out in what period were the brass nuts replaced or substituted with steel nuts.

 

[Bod]

I assume you are referring the "Adjuster Nut" which sets the depth of the blade.
Generally these were brass, until the shortage of brass, during the 2nd World War. After the war as brass supplies increased, the nut returned to brass. (It is possible to find genuine WWII planes with brass nuts.) Until the production costs made steel cheaper, when steel nuts reappeared, approx mid 1970s, along with plastic handles.

Bod

 

[ED65]

I'm guessing I have bought a WWII model Stanley.

There shouldn't be any need to guess, the features tables and dating flowcharts should allow you to identify which model you have with US-made planes. The various details of the frog and body castings are usually enough to be definitive without having to refer to the lever cap, adjuster wheel and lateral adjuster.

If you have a plated-steel adjuster you could well have a type 17, but individual replacement parts are of course always a possibility. And sometimes more than one in Frankenplanes! If your wheel is steel and it's of smaller diameter it's from wartime production. If it's steel and of normal (larger) diameter it's from later and/or from another production centre.

Handle screws, are they like the ones in this pic?

 

[ZippityNZ]

Both the bolts and the adjusting nut are identical to those in the pic.

The handles are wooden.

 

[Bod]

https://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanl ... #Type%2013
Scroll down to "Type 17"
I think that describes your plane .

Bod

 

[Phil Pascoe]

... but individual replacement parts are of course always a possibility. And sometimes more than one in Frankenplanes!

One site I looked at refers to them as "harlequins".

 

[ED65]

... but individual replacement parts are of course always a possibility. And sometimes more than one in Frankenplanes!

One site I looked at refers to them as "harlequins".

I think I've heard that before but hadn't remembered it; I like it for factory planes made up using random pieces from inventory. Frankenplane feels a better fit for planes cobbled together by an owner from bits and pieces they've collected over the years.

Not that we can always tell which was the case!