A blog entry dedicated to a Type of Stanley bench plane that gets no respect, the Cordovan line. My interest in them started because the plane I got from my Dad is a Cordovan smoother, a #4. A picture of his:
A beautiful example of the type is this Jack:
It came in a nice, stapled box with bumblebee graphics:
So, starting with the last couple entries in this post of early type study information:
Type 19. Planes made by Stanley 1948-1961.
All of the features of the previous, except:
The frog receiver, in the bottom casting, now is y-shaped.
Rosewood is re-introduced, and is often varnished so heavily that it almost obscures the grain.
"STANLEY" is now incised in a vertical direction on the lateral adjustment lever.
The original type study doesn't mention this, but on some of the models of this type "STANLEY" is stamped on both sides of the lateral adjustment lever. I've seen enough of these to convince me that's it wasn't accidental, or if it was, it was a big screw-up.
The knurling on the brass depth adjuster is now parallel on most examples.
Later examples have the familiar black paint on the hardwood tote and knob.
Type study doesn't mention this, but the cutters now have rounded tops instead of the angular top. This change happened in the mid-1950's, in my opinion.
Furthermore, the original type study doesn't mention the change in the finish applied on the forked lever. For a short while, some models had a nickel plated appearance on them as a finish rather than the usual black japanning. Where in the sequence of actual manufacturing this subtle change fits is unknown to me, but I've only noticed it on those planes equipped with rosewood knobs and totes and rounded irons.
Type 20. Planes made by Stanley 1962-1967.
All of the features of the previous, except:
All castings are now painted blue, instead of the black japanning used for over 100 years.
An example of a Type 20 Stanley #9 1/4:
Hardwood totes and knobs are now finished with a light colored stain.
The forked lever (the one that engages the hole in the lever cap) is now a cheesy two-piece pressed steel piece of junk.
The lateral adjustment lever is no longer a two-piece construction, but now is one piece with the thumb grip bent over.
"STANLEY" is no longer stamped into the lateral adjustment lever.
Stanley plane boxes had perforated steel corners.
The beginning of the end for Stanley bench planes, as we prepare for the Dawning of the Age of Norm, and Ellie Mae Clampett's yummy biscuit.
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Moving past the Type 20, then, I offer a rudimentary Type 21 description:
Type 21. Planes made by Stanley 1968-1981
All of the features of the previous, except:
All castings are now painted in the short lived and attractive red brown "Cordovan" color.
Top edges of benchplane totes are rounded, with bright metal (nickeled? aluminum?) adjuster knob knurling having a distinct 'divide'.
"STANLEY" in the lever cap is surrounded by a field of Canary Yellow paint.
These are purported to be the last of the Stanley planes made in the U.S.A. It's possible castings not sold as Cordovans were sold in Canada with an assortment of lever caps, irons, frogs and roughly-finiahed totes. There are also Cordovans cast in England and marked accordingly. Those feature raised ribs in the bed of the bed, and are very similar to still more Cordovans cast in Canada; those have a code "C559 B" cast into body of the plane. A raised rib Canadian plane looks like this:
USA Cordovan models include:
-#3 Smoother
-#4 Smoother (see above)
-#4C Smoother - This one spotted on an ebay listing of December 2021
-#5 (see above) and #5C Jack
-#5 1/4 Junior Jack
-#6 Fore
- #7 Jointer
-9 1/4 Block
-9 1/2 Block
-#60 1/2 Block
Yeah, it's English, but how could I not post a picture of a purple 78?? So cool.
-#78 Fillister
-#110 Block
-#118 Block
- #118P
-#220 Block
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And other planes and eval points that I'll add as I see them appear on eBay. Don't know if there's value here, but I feel better anyway.
This is original content, created by Smitty.
Thanks for looking!
Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -
Hooray for the misfits getting some attention! I had a craftsman no 4 that was basically a type 21 only it was painted a neat teal/green color. Once tuned up it worked wonderfully. Thanks for all the info on these
The only type 21 I've ever owned or used was a 9-1/2 block plane. With a little tuning it worked just as well as my pre-war 9-1/2. I still have a couple blue type 20 block planes in the till.
One of these days when I find a cordovan at the right price I'm going to give it a tune up and see how it does. I've tuned and restored many type 19s. They can be a bit rough around the edges as I find Stanley's fit and finish department was a tad drunk on the job but with a little love they are very fine performers.
