Stanley made some spokeshaves with raised handles and some with flat
handles.  The No. 51 was a raised handle model with a 2 1/8 inch blade and
the No. 52 was the flat handled version with a 2 1/8 inch blade.

 

The No. 64 was a smaller light  duty shave with flat handles and a 1 3/4
inch blade.  I picked up a spokeshave over the weekend and an antique coop
that is pretty identical to a Stanley No. 64 but has raised handles and
marked No. 17.  It was $8, which was a little high for my taste but the $4
Disston No. 12 panel size saw offset the sticker shock some.

 

Here are some pictures comparing the two:

 

The one in the foreground is a Sweetheart No. 64

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2545.jpg

 

Showing the raised handle compared to flat

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2546.jpg

 

Showing the back center, on the No. 64 it says STANLEY and is blank on the
other

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2547.jpg

 

Showing the mark of the No. 17 and No. 64 (Note the o is high and underlined
on the No. 64 and not on the No. 17)

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2548.jpg

 

Shows the STANLEY and blank area

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2549.jpg

 

Shows they are both marked MADE IN U.S.A. in similar spots

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2550.jpg

 

Showing the blades, caps and screws, the parts swap between each other and
whatever slight differences there are I could attribute to different
vintages.  The No. 64 has the sweetheart mark on it and the No. 17 is
unmarked

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2551.jpg

 

The backs of the parts (the depth of the U cutout is not as deep on the No.
17 as the No. 64

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2552.jpg

 

Showing the handle fronts have the same flute down the center

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2553.jpg

 

Shows the same general recess behind the blade

https://www.edoii.com/auction/oddstanley/img_2554.jpg

 

I have Tom Lamond's Manufactured and Patented Spokeshaves & Similar Tools
and he says on page 213:

"Although most spokeshaves manufactured by the Stanley Rule & Level Company
were marked, many were not.  Included in this that were unmarked were those
that were distributed by hardware concerns and catalog houses.  Many of
those unnamed shaves were depicted in the catalogs put out by the hardware
companies.  Some actually had cutters with the markings of the company while
still others had unmarked cutters in addition to the unmarked castings."

 

My working theory based on the extreme similarity of the two is that the No.
17 was made by Stanley for sale in hardware stores.  I am perplexed and
curious as to why they would make a new spokeshave that they did not offer
and not sell it themselves.

 

If you google No. 17 and spokeshave you find other examples, but no
provenance.

 

I looked for a spokeshave in this form from Union, Sargent, Millers Falls,
Ohio, Keen Kutter, Winchester, etc. and got no hits.

 

Anybody have any thoughts?

 

Ed O'