OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

194161 "Jim Shaw" <jeshaw2@o...> 2009‑07‑28 RE: Who Made This Plane? SOLVED!
Were the Rockford planes any good?
Jim

> -----Original Message-----
> From: oldtools-bounces@r... [mailto:oldtools-
> bounces@r...] On Behalf Of Pete Bergstrom
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:49 PM
> Cc: oldtools@r...
> Subject: Re: [OldTools] Who Made This Plane? SOLVED!
> 
> Randy O wrote:
> > 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,
> 
> Thank you for your post! I thought that my R4 1/2 was from Wards because
> of the Lakeside blade, but I never knew who made it for them.
> 
> Pete
> (in St. Paul)
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