Manufactured: 1915 to 1943
Length: 6-3/4 inches
Blade Width: 1 inch
Construction: Cast iron
Finish: Japanned
Features: Adjustable fence and depth stop, spurs and removable nose piece for bull nose work
Uses: Rabbet & filletster plane. Also can be used as a bull nose plane
Average Dealer Price: $150 to $350
Average eBay Price: $160 to $320
Type 1: $200 to $400
Other Notes: Are often found without the proper fence, which has the hole for the adjusting rod in the center of it. Other fences are usually offset.

Updated: 25th July, 2006

Stanley No. 278 Rabbet & Filletster Planes on eBay right now…

stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Tuesday Jan-06-2009 14:00:00 PST
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nice-old-stanley-no-278-plane NICE OLD STANLEY NO 278 PLANE
US $33.00 (4 Bids)
Auction Ends: Tuesday Jan-06-2009 18:30:00 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 14:45:00 PST
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stanley-plane-278-type-1-v-fine STANLEY PLANE,#278, TYPE 1, V.FINE
US $91.00 (5 Bids)
Auction Ends: Thursday Jan-08-2009 12:39:03 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Thursday Jan-08-2009 15:30:00 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Friday Jan-09-2009 16:15:00 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Saturday Jan-10-2009 17:00:00 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Sunday Jan-11-2009 17:45:00 PST
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stanley-no-278-rabbet-&-fillester-plane-fine- Stanley No.278 Rabbet & Fillester Plane - FINE
US $51.00 (4 Bids)
Auction Ends: Sunday Jan-11-2009 19:10:00 PST
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stanley-94-278-101-piece-socket-set-new Stanley 94-278 101 Piece Socket Set NEW
US $59.95
Auction Ends: Monday Jan-12-2009 18:30:00 PST
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Sources: While many of the dealers prices for Stanley planes are largely set by John Walters’ book “Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools” it appears that eBay, while acknowledging the Walters guide somewhat, tends to march to it’s own beat and sets its own prices. For that reason - and the fact that eBay’s reach and customer base is huge - I’ve decided to include a separate eBay average price here. Other sources include: “The Antique Tool Collector’s Guide To Value” by Ronald S. Barlow, “Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools” by John Walter, “The Stanley Plane” by Alvin Sellens, “Patrick’s Blood & Gore” by Patrick Leach, various auctions and sales of collectable tools and my own compilations of prices realized, observations and notes over the past 20+ years.