Block & Specialty Models 07 through 37

Much of the information provided below is derived from a study of Millers Falls catalogs. Please realize that the collection used as a resource is not comprehensive and that M-F catalog copy could be astonishingly inaccurate. Understand that the Stanley equivalents listed are what might be termed "close matches" and that some details of the planes are not necessarily identical.

No. 07

Adjustable Block and Rabbet Plane

Features a screw-operated cap clamp and screw-type depth adjustment. The removable right side allows for conversion to a rabbet plane. Skew iron is bedded at 20 degrees. Body is black-enameled and cap is nickel plated. Earlier production features rosewood knob—tropical hardwood comes later.

1. 1929—manufacturer's name cast into bed around knob, model number cast into back of bed.
2. by 1936—manufacturer's name and model number stamped on left cheek rather than cast into bed.
3. by 1949—knob is attached to body by an externally visible screw.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 07	No. 140	7 inches	1 3/4 inches	1929	1970

No. 3

Non-Adjustable Block Plane

A small, squirrel-tailed block plane favored by model and instrument makers. Screw-operated cap clamp. Sides are not milled. Iron is bedded at 45 degrees. Body is black-enameled.

1. 1929—cap is painted red.
2. by 1936—cap is painted black.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 3	No. 100	3 1/2 inches	1 inch	1929	by 1944

Nos. 4, 4-01, 4-02

Bull Nose Rabbet Plane

A small plane for working in close quarters and up into corners. Non-adjustable, with screw-operated cap clamp. Iron is bedded at 45 degrees. Body is black-enameled.

1. 1929—cap is painted red.
2. by 1936—cap is painted black.
3. 1969—renumbered 4-01.
4. 1971—renumbered 4-02 and production switched to England.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 4	No. 75	4 inches	1 inch	1929	1974

No. 5

Non-Adjustable Block Plane

A small plane with a screw-operated cap clamp. Sides are not milled. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Body is black-enameled.

1. 1929—manufacturer's name cast into bed around front button, model number cast into back of bed.
2. by 1956—manufacturer's name no longer cast into bed around button, model number no longer cast into back of bed.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 5	No. 102	5 1/2 inches	1 3/8 inches	1929	1964

Nos. 9 1/2, 10 1/2

Scrub Plane

A non-adjustable plane with a screw-operated cap clamp. Designed for the rapid removal of stock. Sides are not milled. Heavy-duty iron with rounded cutting edge is bedded at 20 degrees. Manufacturer's name cast into bed in front of knob. Body is painted black.

Catalogs indicate that handle and knob are mahogany-finished hardwood. Models with red caps and cocobolo handles and totes have been observed.

1. 1929—cap is painted red.
2. by 1936—cap is painted black.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 9 1/2	No. 40	9 1/2 inches	1 1/8 inches	1929	1942
No. 10 1/2	No. 40 1/2	10 1/2 inches	1 1/2 inches	1929	1942

No. 16

Adjustable Block Plane

Equipped with adjustable throat, cam-lock cap, lateral adjustment lever, post and wheel depth adjustment. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Body is black-enameled.

1. 1929—cam-lock cap is painted red. Manufacturer's name cast into bed in front of adjustment knob.
2. by 1936—cam-lock cap is painted black. Manufacturer's name stamped on left cheek rather than cast into bed. Model number stamped on left cheek.

The Millers Falls Company used the illustration of the No. 17 to depict this plane. The author has done so as well. Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 16	No. 9 1/2	6 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	1971

No. 16-CG

Adjustable Block Plane

Equipped with adjustable throat, cam-lock cap, lateral adjustment lever, and screw-type depth adjustment. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Body and cap are black-enameled.

Did not appear in catalog. Produced under contract for United States government.

Author's photograph.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 16-CG	none	6 inches	1 5/8 inches	ca. 1966	ca. 1972

No. 17

Adjustable Block Plane

Equipped with adjustable throat, cam-lock cap, lateral adjustment lever, post and wheel depth adjustment. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Body is black-enameled.

1. 1929—cam-lock cap is painted red. Manufacturer's name cast into bed in front of adjustment knob.
2. by 1936—cam-lock cap is painted black. Manufacturer's name stamped on left cheek rather than cast into bed. Model number stamped on left cheek.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 17	No. 15	7 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	1964

Nos. 26, 27

Adjustable Block Plane

Equipped with an adjustable throat, cam-lock cap, lateral adjustment lever, post and wheel depth adjustment. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Body is black-enameled. Nickel-plated cap.

1. 1929—manufacturer's name cast into bed in front of adjustment knob.
2. by 1936—manufacturer's name stamped on left cheek rather than cast into bed. Model number stamped on left cheek.

The Millers Falls Company used a single illustration to depict both planes. The author has done so as well. Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 26	No. 16	6 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	by 1944
No. 27	No. 17	7 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	by 1944

No. 33

Non-Adjustable Block Plane

A small plane with a screw-operated cap clamp favored by model and instrument makers. Sides are not milled. Iron is bedded at 45 degrees. Replaced by No. 9033.

1. 1929—body is black-enameled, cap is painted red.
2. by 1936—cap is painted black.
3. ca. 1952—body is gray-enameled, cap is painted red. Shipped in a box with the V-Line (Value Line) label from 1956 to 1960.

Illustration from 1949 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 33	No. 101	3 1/2 inches	1 inch	1929	1974

Nos. 36, 37

Adjustable Block Plane

Equipped with adjustable throat, lateral adjustment lever, post and wheel adjustment. Iron is bedded at twenty degrees. Fitted with a nickel-plated, knuckle-joint lever cap. Body is black-enameled.

Jointed lever caps, prone to unlock with careless use, were referred to as "knuckle busters" by generations of woodworkers. Identical to Nos. 26 and 27 save for knuckle-joint cap.

1. 1929—manufacturer's name cast into bed in front of adjustment knob. Trademark stamped on lower front of lever cap.
2. by 1936—trademark disappears from lever cap. Manufacturer's name stamped on left cheek instead of cast into bed. Model number stamped on left cheek.

The Millers Falls Company used a single illustration to depict both planes. The author as done so as well. Illustration from 1938 catalog.

Model	Stanley Equiv.	Length	Cutter	Start Date	End Date
No. 36	No. 18	6 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	by 1961
No. 37	No. 19	7 inches	1 5/8 inches	1929	by 1961

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