Hi Don and all
The frog is definitely a Birmingham (or Derby)
"B" plane. The rectangular box at the base of the lateral lever is the
tip-off.  The chip breaker is proper. Both
of my number 5 sized B planes have low squatty
front knobs with heavy beads at the base. And
oddly enough one had its original cutter
replaced with a Sweetheart era one.
Chuck Zitur
Billings, MT

I asked this question once before, but got no replies.  I figured it was,
therefore,  a stupid question.  It probably still is, but I'm still curious.
I have a plane marked "birmingham."  it's similar to a stanley#4.  It is
also marked "WS."  Is it a "Birmingham" plane; or merely made in Birmingham,
England ?  What does the "WS" stand for?  I got it from a fellow from New
Zealand.  Anyone?  TIA,
                                                                Ross
Nideffer

Nideffer asks :

>I have a plane marked "birmingham."  it's similar to a stanley#4.  It is
>also marked "WS."  Is it a "Birmingham" plane; or merely made in Birmingham,
>England ?

I have one just like this except that it's a No A7 (or is it A07 ?), a
no 7 size jointer.  WS on the lever cap (which is solid brass, kind of
neat) and Birmingham at the heel.  Handle and tote are beech, plane is
blue.  This is not one of the pricy Birmingham planes that tool
collectors go crazy over.

>What does the "WS" stand for?

I have no idea.  I've wondered if the W was not for Woden, which was a
English Stanley/Record clone manufacturer.

Paul Pedersen
Montreal (Quebec)

Ross,

Roger Smith gives several pages of coverage to the Birmingham Plane
Manufacturing Company of Birmingham, CT (1885-1900) in Vol 1 of PTAMPIA.
The information includes a history of the company and several photos of
planes.  Two of the planes pictured are of the Stanley Bailey type.  The
references to markings that I can find in the text only mention stamps
appearing on the cutters.  Apparently there are two types of stamps, the
first one being "B. Plane PAT'D Oct.22.1889" and the second one being
"Birmingham Plane Manufacturing Company."  No mention is made to markings
appearing on the body of the planes, nor are any marks discernible in the
photos.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

At 12:55 PM 7/25/99 -0700, Nideffer wrote:
>I asked this question once before, but got no replies.  I figured it was,
>therefore,  a stupid question.  It probably still is, but I'm still curious.
>I have a plane marked "birmingham."  it's similar to a stanley#4.  It is
>also marked "WS."  Is it a "Birmingham" plane; or merely made in Birmingham,
>England ?  What does the "WS" stand for?  I got it from a fellow from New
>Zealand.  Anyone?  TIA,
>                                                                Ross
>Nideffer
>
>--

---------jgrot@t...

Nideffer wrote:
>
> I asked this question once before,
> I have a plane marked "birmingham."  it's similar to a stanley#4.

Hi,

I am no expert. but PTAMPIA lists Birmingham as a plane manufacturer,
which aftr their notable T-shaped carriage-makers planes made a line of
planes similar to or OEMed from Stanley. The notable difference was that
the lateral adjust lever moves the adjusting yoke from side to side, and
I have observed examples "in the wild" with this adjuster.

Hope this helped.

Bill

I took my mystery plane to the SWTCA meet.  Did get some opinions on it.
The blade and cap iron are Stanley (this was obvious), smooth lever cap is
Stanley.
But the rest raised some eyebrows.
The front low knob is beaded at the base but is not Stanley.  The tote is
not Stanley.
The frog has a twisted lateral that is either craftsman modified or is from
the Birmingham possibly Union plane company.  The frog's lateral adjusting
lever matches a picture of a Birmingham plane in PTMPIA.
The plane is about #4 size (9.5 inches in length)  The cross wise ribbing is
curved in a concave shape not straight across the body of the plane.  (in
front of the mouth on top)

Disregarding the other photos and my speculation about the other aspects of
the plane I do have a photograph of the frog at:  (There is a picture of the
frog mating surface too that is different from Stanley's)

http://members.home.net/dscreen/woodworking.htm

See if it matches your Birmingham plane and let me know..okay?  Thanks.

Don
Allen, TX
SWTCA

> Nideffer wrote:
> >
> > I asked this question once before,
> > I have a plane marked "birmingham."  it's similar to a stanley#4.
>
> Hi,
>
> I am no expert. but PTAMPIA lists Birmingham as a plane manufacturer,
> which aftr their notable T-shaped carriage-makers planes made a line of
> planes similar to or OEMed from Stanley. The notable difference was that
> the lateral adjust lever moves the adjusting yoke from side to side, and
> I have observed examples "in the wild" with this adjuster.
>
> Hope this helped.
>
> Bill
>
> --
>

Serendipity strikes!

Bill Fissell, regarding the Birmingham Plane Mfg. Co. of Birmingham (now
Derby), Conn. writes:

>I am no expert. but PTAMPIA lists Birmingham as a plane
>manufacturer, which after their notable T-shaped carriage-makers
>planes

It just so happens that I've quite recently  struck up an e-mail
correspondence with Darrell Chapnick, who is currently reproducing
the "Birmingham T-Shaped Carriage Makers's Bronze Rabbet Plane."

I'm unsure of the functionality of these planes and haven't seen
one in person, but they are very singular in appearance.  For those
who are curious and don't own PTAMPIA, a photo can be seen at
"Plane Classics" in the "New Old Tool" listing on the Electronic
Neanderthal website.  (Click on small photo for a larger image.)

Or, go directly to:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~alf/en/newold/chapnick1.jpg

Don McConnell
Knox County, Ohio