te: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:29:59 -0400
From: Brian Welch 
To: oldtools@s...
Subject: [OldTools] Stanley 92 shoulder plane type study?
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Brian Welch wrote"
"So now I have two Stanley 92s.  I took a picture of them side by side.
They look roughly the same, although the casting is rougher on the newer
one and the placement of the "92" moved from the nose to further up on the
top.

http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10113/stanley_92
_comparison.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10113/st
anley_92_comparison.jpg

"I am trying to figure out a rough date for my grandfather's 92.  I think it
is unlikely that he bought it any later than 1970, but I could be wrong
about that.  Are there any type studies out there?  Any hints or clues
would be appreciated."


According to Patrick's Blood and Gore, for most of the history of the #92 the
front piece was not solid; rather, to avoid warping of the casting, there was a
cylindrical hole in the front of it, filled with a loose steel cylinder, and
sealed in front with a round piece with a period-appropriate logo on it. Toward
the end of production, says Patrick, they switched to a solid front piece
without a logo, probably for reasons of cost.
My copy of the 1959 Stanley catalogue seems to show the roundel in front, though
the picture is a bit vague and it might be an old photo. A picture reproduced
from the 1967 catalogue by Sellens (The Stanley Plane p. 111) doesn't show the
roundel. Neither of your planes seems to show the roundel. Neither of your
planes has the roundel. It looks like your grandfather's plane was made between
1959 and 1967---though the 1959 date could use some beefing up.
Tom Conroy