What you have there is a Rockford R3. The Rockford Tool Co. was a sister 
company to the H.C. Marsh Co. and both companies occupied the same building 
in Rockford Illinois. Rockford made bench planes in sizes R3 through R8 
including R4 1/2 and R5 1/2. They did not make an R1, R2 or R5 1/4 size 
planes that I have been able to identify (yet?). All sizes were available in 
smooth and corrugated bottoms. No block planes or specialty planes were made 
and sold by Rockford.

The planes are characteristically marked with the R and plane size cast into 
the base at the toe or heel, or in front of the rear tote behind the frog. 
The only other markings were typically on the cutters which was stamped with 
Rockford TMP Rockford Ill and the blade width for planes marketed and sold 
under the Rockford Tool Co name. These planes are often found with cutters 
simply stamped Lakeside in script text which are also correct for the 
planes. Apparently Montgomery Ward was a big customer for Rockford because 
most of the planes you find will have the correct Lakeside cutters. These 
were never sold with Stanley cutters. Other classic features of these planes 
are frog adjusting screw, walnut totes & knobs, unmarked lateral levers, 
small diameter brass blade adjuster with 3 rings, lever caps have the blade 
width cast into the back. The design of the frog to base is the classic 
Marsh design which differs from Stanley and all other planes. Front knobs 
are typically walnut with low knob styles for the earlier planes and high 
knobs on the later planes.

All of these planes are fairly scarce and some sizes and models are down 
right rare. I hope this helps everyone understand the Rockford planes 
better.

Randy Osborne
Clyde, NC

>> I'm trying to buy a #3 size bench plane. The only mark I can
>> find is R3. I'm
>> thinking something like K3 or W3, but a tool seller beginning
>> with R escapes
>> my feeble memory. Does anyone know this mark?
>>
>> Bill Rittner
>> Manchester, CT
>
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