I'm trying to navigate the differences between Stanley planes made in England and those produced in the US, especially regarding their quality and usability. I've heard to steer clear of US Type 17 and older models because of a decline in quality, but I'm curious how the Type 16 and older compare with the English versions. Is there a specific cutoff date I should keep in mind? I'm specifically looking for a No. 3 plane, and widening my search to include English models could open up more options. For context, I already own a Record No. 4 and 4 1/2 from around 1956.
3 Answers
I've got a couple of English Stanleys from the 1980s, and they've worked great with just a minor tune-up. However, I did notice that after the 2000s, the quality seemed to drop, especially with the plastic handles and the rougher machining. Records also took a hit in quality after Irwin took over; just something about that blue paint change seemed to signify lower standards.
From what I’ve seen, English-made Stanley planes generally maintained their quality much longer than the US versions. A common misconception is to avoid Type 17 and 18 planes, but they can actually be very good users. Just stay away from anything with maroon or blue japanning or labeled as 'Handyman'—those are usually not up to scratch.
I can't really comment on UK planes, but I think a lot of folks mistakenly criticize Type 17 and earlier models. Actually, Type 11 to 15 are seen as some of the best Bailey planes. On the flip side, if you find a Canadian or English-made plane, they’re usually just as good as US ones in terms of quality—just not as valuable to collectors.