‘tis a sad day in north central Massachusetts with the recent

official announcement of an American institution’s passing, Union

Products of Leominster (also the home of my dear ball and chain).

 

  It’s a good bet that 99.99% of you have never heard of the firm,

but nearly all of you, including you global subscribers, recognize

their product, the iconic plastic pink flamingo.

 

  Yes, the company known for its cheesy plastic gnomes, santas,

elves, and flamingos, ceased production of those 2006, but the final

nail in the coffin is the Chapter 7 liquidation about to occur in

federal court. The firm is not merely dead, it’s really most sincerely

dead.

 

  To allay the sorrowful news, there’s lots of quality stuff on this

list, which, so far, has outlasted the plastic and concrete kitsch

found on lawns worldwide.

 

  So weep not for Union Products, operators are standing by to take

your order........

 

  If you have questions about what the Stanley numbers are, you can

look the planes up on Blood&Gore:

 

         http://www.supertool.com/stanleybg/stan0.htm

 

  If there is anything in particular that you're after, do ping

me as there is a lot of stuff here that isn't on the list; the

list just represents a snapshot of the previous month's haul with

none of the stuff having appeared on a previous list.

 

  Please email me prior to sending money so that you can be sure

the tool is still up for grabs. Also, prices do not include shipping,

which is the exact amount that it takes to go from me to you.

 

  This list goes out to many people on the first Monday of the month.

So, if you see something you want, it's the quickest finger on the

trigger that wins the duel.

 

  Also, due to the nature of selling over the wires, tools are sold

on a first come, first serve basis. The first person to say "I'll

take it", gets it. I have to operate this way as some will take a

few days to get back to me with their interest in a particular item,

and it's unfair to keep others waiting who are willing to buy immed-

iately.

 

  I reserve the right to correct typographical errors, after the

list goes out. I rarely make them, but when I do, they can be

major ones.

 

  If you’re the kind of person who puts a straightedge to the sole

of a #40, to check for flatness, or who tosses a plane on a scale

to weigh it against what it states in the Stanley catalogues, you’ll

need to take your business elsewhere. I’ll wish you luck finding

perfection in something that was never made, nor intended to be,

perfect. You guys know who you are, and it’s best for both of us

that our paths don’t cross.

 

  Lastly, and I hate to have to mention this, but if you tell me

that money is on the way for something you want, and you never make

good on it, we won’t be doing business in the future. It’s unfair,

actually downright discourteous, to others who want the same thing,

and I tell them it’s sold. Pull this on me, and you’re exorcised

from the list. Sorry, but I don’t tolerate this behavior well at

all.

 

  Don't forget the cool new tools that I'm making - a jazzy layout

knife being used by professionals (made cover of Feb '98 FWW!); a

detachable block plane handle designed to fit your 20 degree

block planes, and the finest bench plane in production today, the

Bed Rock #601. You can see all this at:

 

  http://www.supertool.com/newtools.htm

 

  Finally, remember that you don't have to be a connoisseur (did

I spell that correctly?) to shop here. You can be a wirehead, a

metalhead, a zipperhead, a propellerhead, a deadhead, a cokehead,

or even a knuckle-dragging oaf, just like me, to shop here, as

long as your dinero is green.

 

  Thanks for shopping, and remember, no letters/words were injured

when writing this list...

 

  FEATURED TOOL OF THE MONTH

  ******** **** ** *** *****

 

  FT1  The most amazing pile of complex molding planes I’ve

       ever seen, all by Gleave of Manchester and each with

       the same owner’s stamp; most are infinitely complex

       massive blocks of wood, these were used for the most

       formal work; finding one alone is extra special, but to

       find a matching group of 17 is unheard of; all are as

       found, several with missing irons and/or wedges, but

       save for one, they are in little used shape with no

       worm or rot; once restored, you’ll be the envy of users

       and collectors around the world, they will easily be

       worth the bargain price now; simply amazing, I’ve snapped

       an image of each from the heel, in no particular order,

       and added a brief description of its condition and

       stock width (not the width of the profile):

 

         The entire pile:

           http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f1.jpg         $3850.00

         1)  Double iron toted cornice style plane, 4 1/8”

             wide, missing one iron and wedge:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f2.jpg

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f3.jpg

         2)  Double iron, 3 3/4" wide, missing both irons and

             one wedge:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f4.jpg

         3)  Double iron, 2 7/8” wide, missing an iron and a

             wedge:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f5.jpg

         4)  Single iron, 2 5/8” wide, complete and not a

             rework:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f6.jpg

         5)  Double iron, 2 1/8” wide, missing one iron and

             wedge, the other wedge is snapped off:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f7.jpg

         6)  Single iron, 2 5/8” wide, complete:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f8.jpg

         7)  Double iron, 3 5/8” wide, both wedges, missing

             both irons:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f9.jpg

         8)  Double iron, 3 7/8” wide, complete:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f10.jpg

         9)  Double iron, 3 5/8” wide, complete, helper

             hole drilled through stock:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f11.jpg          

         10) Single iron, 2 3/8” wide, complete, some

             superficial work damage to sole:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f12.jpg          

         11) Double iron, 3” wide, both irons and two

             wedges, one of those is from another plane

             in the set:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f13.jpg          

         12) Single iron, 2 3/8” wide, the only rework

             of the load:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f14.jpg          

         13) Double iron, 2 7/8” wide, complete:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f15.jpg          

         14) Double iron, 2 1/2" wide, both irons and

             wedges, one snapped off:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f16.jpg          

         15) Single iron, 2 1/4" wide, missing wedge,

             iron present:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f17.jpg          

         16) Single iron, 2 3/4" wide, original profile:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f18.jpg          

         17) Single iron, 1 3/4" wide, complete:

             http://www.supertool.com/forsale/f19.jpg          

 

 

  STANLEY

  *******

 

  ST1  Clean and damage free #93 cabinetmaker’s rabbet; made

       in the US, from the 1920’s, with sweetheart logo stamped

       in disk, it’s all original with nearly all plating, that

       shows a small area of rubbed loss where the palm grips

       it; no longer being made anywhere, just hone it and

       start planing; top

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t2.jpg            $195.00

  ST2  The mate to the previous (it came from the same shop),

       but the smaller #92; just some minor plating wear, a

       fine worker, a honing has it up and running; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t2.jpg            $145.00

  ST3  #271 mini-router; US-made model, with nearly all

       plating, all original, and no longer in production;

       a fine worker for smaller stuff with its 1/4" wide

       iron; right:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t3.jpg             $60.00

  ST4  Clean #4 1/2C oversized corrugated smoothing plane; all

       original parts on this “B” casting that dates from ca.

       1905; 95% japanning, no damage, nicely cleaned, and in

       far nicer than usual shape; hone and go with it; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t7.jpg            $145.00

  ST5  #66 beader in great wooden box; with both original

       fences, and a pile of cutters (a few extras), it’s a

       sound worker that has no damage, just honest plating

       wear; missing the router cutter; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t12.jpg           $125.00

  ST6  #18 sliding bevel with butt locking screw; 8” blade,

       in fine worker shape, with most nickel plating; a

       very popular model; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t23.jpg            $35.00

  ST7  Extra nice type 11 #2 smoothing plane; with all original

       parts, no damage, V-logo on the iron, this ca.WWI model

       will compliment your growing collection of Stanley

       bench planes; 99% japanning, full length iron, it’s far

       nicer than what’s normally found:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t24.jpg           $285.00

  ST8  Rosewood and boxwood body #24 transitional plane; a

       reproduction by renaissance man, Jim Moon, who when

       not removing an appendix, spleen, or liver, turns to

       high end woodworking, this is one of his creations

       based on the Stanley originals (only about five known)

       where the body is rosewood with a dovetailed boxwood

       section; never used, Jim went a bit beyond Stanley’s

       effort by plating the cast iron making this a unique

       creation; the originals cost several thousand dollars,

       here’s a bargain in comparison and made much better

       than Stanley ever did; stamped on the toe with his mark,

       these come along once in a blue moon;

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t27.jpg

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t27a.jpg          $295.00

  ST9  Bed Rock #605 1/2 oversized jack plane; while this

       one make look like it was dredged up from a riverbed,

       it’s actually a diamond in the rust with 98% japanning;

       barely used, it sat for decades unused and developed

       superficial rust; will clean to be a great example, it

       has all original parts and no damage, it dates to ca.

       1930:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t29.jpg           $235.00

  ST10 Bed Rock #608 jointer; with all original parts, this

       ca.1930 worker has 90% japanning and no damage; an 1”

       of iron life left to it, it only needs a honing to be

       put back to work; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t35.jpg           $255.00

  ST11 A nearly mint Bed Rock #607 jointer; with 95% of the

       original decal on the tote, 99% japanning, full length

       sweetheart iron, great patina on the exterior, if this

       one was used, it was just once or twice; for the guy

       who only wants the best condition; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t35.jpg           $385.00

  ST12 Extra clean and rare #101 1/2 bull nose miniature

       thumb plane; the cleanest I’ve owned, with 95% plating,

       all original parts, and absolutely guaranteed to be

       original and proper; never listed in any Stanley

       propaganda, they found favor over in the UK:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t37.jpg           $655.00

  ST13 Uncommon #31 1/2-F folding boxwood shrink rule; used

       by patternmakers to calculate shrinkage as metal cools,

       this one 3/16” per foot; in used, but never abused shape,

       the joint is fine, no owner’s marks, this model is far

       less common than the standard non-folding model; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t39.jpg            $95.00

  ST14 Clean and complete #55 combination plane; with all

       cutters, and nearly all nickel plating, this one is

       a bargain worker as I bought it reasonably; no damage,

       the only thing it’s missing is the original screw

       driver and instructions; these things really do work,

       contrary to my online tongue-in-cheek slapping, you

       just need to be patient with their set-up and

       selective in the stock you use:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t43.jpg           $490.00

  ST15 #42 saw set, brand new in original box with original

       instruction; the most popular and easiest to use saw

       set, all you need do is add the saw; missing the

       circular saw blade attachment, most guys chucked that

       when they realized it was easier just to buy a new

       one, you’ll never need that; left:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t47.jpg            $45.00

  ST16 #60 1/2 low angle block plane; an extra clean and

       damage free example with all original parts; a 1950’s

       example that has nearly all japanning, just some

       localized superficial rust on the sole, which will

       clean quickly; a very handy and popular plane with

       the lowest angle of any Stanley plane; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t52.jpg            $55.00

  ST17 #7 jointer; a clean sound worker that dates from ca.

       1895; with all original parts, it’s developed that nice

       brown patina on the exterior; japanning is 95%, iron

       is full length, perfect rosewood, the lever cap has

       some chipping on the leading edge (a lesson for you –

       don’t use it for unscrewing the cap iron); top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t72.jpg           $135.00

  ST18 #5 1/4 junior jack plane; a 1950’s example with all

       original parts, 99% japanning, and in little used

       condition; a very handy plane for cleaning up smaller

       areas; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t72.jpg            $85.00

  ST19 #602 Bed Rock smoothing plane; being offered as a

       bargain worker as half the back tab has been snapped

       off, a common thing for #2-size planes, and there is

       some chipping on the lever cap; the tote bolt is still

       securely attached; plane needs a cleaning, it’ll be a

       good worker for those who don’t want to dump the extra

       dinero on a perfect one:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t73.jpg           $385.00

  ST20 #39 7/8” dado plane; a ca.WWI model, with all original

       parts and no damage; in need of a cleaning, the wider

       dado planes are nearly as easy to find as the narrower

       ones; japanning 95%, patent date embossed in handle;

       top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t78.jpg           $145.00

  ST21 #39 3/4" dado plane; a ca.1910 model with all original

       parts, no damage, and nicely cleaned, all you need to

       do is hone the iron and start working with this one;

       perfect size for today’s stock thickness; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t78.jpg           $160.00

  ST22 Good #198 double arm marking gauge with rosewood fence;

       the upscale model of the popular #98, it has the pizza

       wheel roller scribes as well as the conventional pin

       scribes at each end of the graduated arms; usual dings

       in the head, still a fine worker; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t81.jpg            $85.00

  ST23 #40 scrub plane; a better than usual example, from the

       1920’s, with sweetheart logo on iron; no damage to the

       wood other than wear along top edge of horn, 90%

       japanning, a perfect worker for preparing the wood

       prior to the fine planes; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t83.jpg            $75.00

  ST24 #39 1/2 type 1 6” level; with the graphic casting, the

       vial plate has the patent date stamped in it and has

       nearly all plating; no damage, original vial, a nice

       example; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t88.jpg            $55.00

  ST25 Pair of #1 bronze trammels mounted on a brass bar; the

       smallest size offered, 3 1/4" long, all original parts

       including the sweetheart marked points; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t88.jpg            $65.00

  ST26 #85 boxwood razor edge spoke shave; the best spoke shave

       made, the iron attacks the wood at the lowest possible

       angle; the mouth can be set for finer/thicker shaving

       easily; 2” wide blade, this one saw use, has the usual

       hang hole, no chipping on the body, it’s a perfect

       worker for the finest work; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t89.jpg            $80.00

  ST27 Scarce #63X spoke shave; with a 1 1/2” wide blade and

       a curved sole (front to back), this one was designed

       to be indestructible and found favor in trade schools;

       all original parts, sweetheart marked iron, 90%

       japanning, it’s ideal for curved work; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t89.jpg            $65.00

  ST28 Super clean #923 brace; used just a few times, still

       with the decal on the head, this top of the line

       brace is in top condition; 10” sweep, all the fine

       features expected on a quality brace, it’s ready to

       use out of the box; Stanley’s best brace; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t90.jpg            $95.00

  ST29 Bed Rock #606C corrugated for plane; with all original

       parts, including the “BED ROCK” embossed lever cap,

       this ca.1915 example has 99% japanning, and saw hardly

       any use; no damage at all, with the nice brown patina

       to the exterior, the way we wish all of them are, it’s

       as nice an example as I’ve owned; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t93.jpg           $215.00

  ST30 #71 router with maple knobs, in the original box; a

       clean and little used example, with all original parts,

       it has the earlier maple knobs, which I favor over the

       black painted ones on the later models; it pre-dates

       the introduction of the V-cutter, a later one was

       added, it’s also earlier than the fence; box is in

       fine shape, with usual hole puncture on the top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t94.jpg           $110.00

  ST31 Very scarce type 1 #49 match plane; the japanned

       finish, patent date embossed below the floral handle,

       beaded knob, and the tiny steel screws set this one

       apart from the later model; in fine shape, with no

       damage, japanning is 90%; owner neatly stamped his

       name in the knob, the cutters are original, including

       the wider one that came with the plane for increasing

       the working capacity of the tool; a great example of

       a very hard to find model; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t95.jpg           $190.00

  ST32 Good #82 scraper with rosewood sole; with good length

       to the original sweetheart marked blade, nearly all

       original nickel plating, and uniform thickness to the

       rosewood sole; a fine worker, with owner’s marks in

       the plating, it’s not an easy tool to find in this

       shape; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t99.jpg            $85.00

  ST33 1 1/2" Everlasting chisel; a difficult to find size,

       this one saw little use, and has no damage; usual

       localized tarnish on the blade, and bang marks on

       the metal end, it’s a quality chisel that measures

       11 1/2" long; bottom:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t99.jpg            $95.00

  ST34 #19 knuckle joint block plane; as-found, with no

       damage, only needs a cleaning to get back to work, it

       dates from ca.1915; one of Stanley’s best planes; top:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t102.jpg           $45.00

 

 

  WOOD PLANES

  **** ******

 

  WP1  Fine bead cluster; an uncommon profile, this one cuts

       three adjacent 1/4" diameter beads over an arc for a

       delicate accent; professionally made, but unsigned,

       with usual owner’s stamps, it’s a ca.1800 plane that

       just needs a honing to have it up and running; a fine

       plane:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t4.jpg            $135.00

  WP2  One of the nicest molders I’ve had in some time, this

       a rabbet style complex molder by Greenslade; in nearly

       brand new condition, it cuts a 1 5/8” wide profile

       that’s typically used on paneling; no owner’s marks,

       no nail holes, it’s a great chunky plane that’s sure

       to become a real favorite; two inconsequential chips

       at heel of boxing strips is only ‘apology’, it’s

       otherwise new:

         http://www.supertool.com/forsale/t5.jpg            $355.00

  WP3  As fine a moving fillster as I’ve owned, this a fully

       dovetail boxed one by Mar