Stanley's Adjustable Cabinetmakers' Rabbet Planes

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, Mar 2006 by Jacob, Walter W

The Stanley Rule and Level Company1 by 1897 was moving ahead and expanding its plane line with new models for special purposes, including a line of cabinetmakers' rabbet planes. Developed by Stanley in the late 1890s, the planes were designated nos. 90, 92, 93, and 94 and were meant for use by craftsmen where extreme accuracy in rabbet cuts was desired. These planes utilized Justus A. Traut's August 3, 1897, design patent for the "handy" feature on the side of the plane (Figure 1) and his patent for a cutter adjustment mechanism (Figure 2). Although the application of this patent was filed on December 10 1897, the patent was not granted until March 15, 1900. It was used by Stanley on a variety of planes including its rabbet planes series.

The first of the cabinetmakers' rabbet plane series to be advertised to the trade, in 1898, was the no. 90, a bull-nose variety (Figure 3). With its stubby shape, the plane could be worked close in tight spots. One inch wide and 4 inchies long, it was completely adjustable and had an adjustable throat to control the thickness of the shaving. The adjustment of the throat was achieved by making the top portion of the plane, including the "pony tail," a separate casting. This casting had an adjustment screw hidden on the underside of the casting to control the throat opening by seating against the screw, which held the casting to the plane body (Figure 4). By removing the top casting, the plane could also be used as a chisel plane. The first models have "8-3-1897," a reference to the "handy" feature design patent, and "3-13-1900," the date of Traut's patent, marked on the blade. The planes were nickel-plated with "STANLEY" stamped on the rear cutter adjustment screw in a circle.

In 1902, Stanley added three more cabinetmakers' rabbet planes to the line. These were the no. 92, with a ¾-inch cutter width; the no. 93, with a 1-inch cutter width; and the no. 94, with a 1¼-inch width (Figure 5). These three planes were longer than the no. 90, at 5½ inches, 6½ inches, and 7½ inches respectively. All were manufactured with the sides and bottom square with each other, and they could be used right or left. They were nickel-plated and had the "handy" feature on the sides. The model numbers were cast in the front top facing the rear of the plane.

The first models of the nos. 92, 93, and 94 planes are marked with the two patent dates on the cutter and have an adjustment screw with "Stanley" cast into it (Figure 6) or are similar to the first model of the no. 90, which had the company name stamped into the adjustment screws.

To reduce their weight, the early versions of the nos. 92, 93, and 94 models had their top castings cast with a cavity or hollow front nose with no sole. A ¼inch cast sole plate was fitted to the nose and pinned to the sides (Figure 7). The hollow nose also stabilized the casting, making it remain flat, which was essential to the proper operation of the plane.

Apparently, placing a sole-by way of a separate operation-onto the hollow front end was time consuming and/or expensive. In 1910, Stanley changed to a cored casting, which was cheaper to manufacture and worked just as good. With a cored casting in this case, a sand core or mold created a hollow cavity. After the cast-the plane-was cool, the sand was poured out of the hole in the front of the plane. This hole was subsequently hidden by the plug, a steel disc. This disc was stamped with the Stanley logo of the early 1900s, a triangular-shaped mark known as the "V" trademark (Figure 8). The "V" trademark was used from 1910 to 1920 .

At the same time, all of the nos. 92, 93, and 94 planes had an additional cast bar added to the top casting (Figure 9). After 1910, some models exist with the cast model number with an orange painted background. (An example of the painted background is shown in Figure 18.) Starting in 1910, the cutter adjustment wheel was changed to a smooth-face with knurled sides instead of cast sides (Figure 10). In 1920, Stanley began placing a casting number on the top casting under the neck on the top (Figure 11). Also, in 1920 the Stanley Rule and Level Company and Stanley Works, two separate companies started by two branches of the same family, merged. With the merger, the logo on the stamped disc on the front was changed to the Stanley Sweetheart (Figure 12). That logo was used on the planes until 1936 when it was changed to Stanley's cut label (Figure 13). All other features on the planes remained the same until 1942.

In 1937, Stanley introduced two medium-priced cabinetmakers' bull-nose rabbet planes with nonadjustable throats and a one-piece body. These were numbered 90J and 90A.

The no. 90J (Figure 14) was a black japanned plane with polished sides and bottom made square to each other so that it could be used on its side. It had a 1 1/8-inch cutter and existed in two side profiles. The earliest version is illustrated in Figure 14. It had a cyma curve, sloped on the rear, and was 4¼ inches in length. The second profile no. 90J is 4 inches in length, and it had the form shown in Figure 15. These planes were marked with "Stanley" and "Made in USA" cast into the "pony tail." These planes were discontinued in 1943, although the second profile type of the no. 90J was made in Fngland until recently.