DID YOU KNOW…

The descriptive terminology used by planemaker’s and collectors can be somewhat confusing to the beginner. For example there was never any real standardization of the various parts of a plane as such, but the names tended to follow the same general pattern.


Stanley No. 118 Block Plane

Manufactured: 1933 to 1983
Length: 6 inches
Blade Width: 1-5/8 inches
Construction: Steel
Finish: Japanned
Features: Virtually unbreakable
Uses: General purpose block plane
Average Dealer Price: $10 to $50
Average eBay Price: $10 to $40

Other Notes: Pressed steel design won’t crack when dropped onto a hard surface


Updated: 26th April, 2006

Stanley No. 118 Block Planes on eBay right now…


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.