Bailey Type Study
The chart below provides a brief summary of the key distinguishing changes identified in Roger Smith’s widely publicized Type Study of Bailey Iron Bench Planes and my own research over the past several years. I have edited the study considerably to the key distinguishing points in order to have an at-a-glance table. I have found that this generally provides enough information to get started when dating bench planes. For more detailed information on Bed Stamping, Frogs and Receivers, Lateral Adjustment Lever stamping, and Lever Cap design, please check the Bailey Identification page.
Please note that all type studies are approximate as production variations throughout the manufacturing years were quite common. Also keep in mind that Type Studies are present day references, time-lines that map changes in the design and features of tools manufactured in the past. Understand that neither Stanley nor any other manufacturer followed type studies. They didn’t exist at the time. In fact, it is only in the last 30 years or so that type studies have been assembled through historical research and the physical inspection of hundreds or thousands of tools made over the years.
| Bailey Distinguishing Features By Type |
Dates |
||
|
Pre-Lateral |
Type 1 | Cap has banjo-shaped spring, solid nut w/Bailey, Woods & Co. Boston |
1867-1869 |
| Type 2 | Rect spring, Bailey’s Patent Aug. 31, 1858, Aug. 6, 1867 on nut |
1869-1872 |
|
| Type 3 | Recessed nut and lever cap, frog smaller & seat has vertical rib |
1872-1873 |
|
| Type 4 | T3 frog abandoned, flat seat, foundry numbers 73, 71 |
1874-1884 |
|
|
Low Knob |
Type 5 | 1 Piece Lateral Lever with 2 Dates, Hole in Iron Moved to Top |
1885-1888 |
| Type 6 | 2 Piece Lat Lever w/ 3 Dates, Grooved Frog Receiver, Adj Nut LH Threads |
1888-1892 |
|
| Type 7 | S Foundry Mark, # Spaced Apart at Toe |
1893-1899 |
|
| Type 8 | B Foundry mark, 1 Date (7-24-88) on Lateral Lever |
1899-1902 |
|
| Type 9 | Straight Frog Rib – 2 Pat Dates Behind Frog, No Frog Adjustment Screw |
1902-1907 |
|
| Type 10 | Arched Frog Rib – 2 Pat Dates – Frog Adjustment Screw, S or T Logo |
1907-1909 |
|
| Type 11 | 3 Dates Behind Frog, T or V Logo |
1910-1918 |
|
|
SW Era |
Type 12 | 3 Dates Behind Frog, High Knob, 1-1/4″ Adj Knob, SW Logo |
1919-1924 |
| Type 13 | 1 Date Behind Frog, Notched Logo on Lever Cap |
1925-1928 |
|
| Type 14 | 1 Date, Raised Knob Ring, Made in USA behind Knob |
1929-1930 |
|
| Type 15 | No Dates, Bailey Behind Knob, Made in USA at Rear |
1931-1932 |
|
| Type 16 | Raised Rib Toe/Heel, Kidney Hole in Lever Cap, Ogee Shaped Frog |
1933-1941 |
|
| Type 17 | Heavier Casting, Rubber/Steel Knob, Painted Hardwood |
1942-1945 |
|
| Type 18 | Diagonal Knurling on Depth Adj Knob, Painted/Varnished Hardwood |
1946-1947 |
|
| Type 19 | Y Shaped Receiver,Stanley stamped Vertical on Lateral Lever, Heavy Varnish |
1948-1961 |
|
| Type 20 | Blue Japanning |
1961-1967 |
|
Virginia Toolworks 
I have a rather odd plane I sort of inherited when I bought an old house. Just under 14 inches long and a tad over 2 1/2 inches wide. Cast iron body with no markings other than an underlined 6, the tote sits close to the back and the knob sits around 2 1/2 inches from the front. No other markings on any part of it, except the blade which has a logo that reads “Bailey Tool Co.” on top and “Woonsocket, R” underneath, with what appears to be a halberd between the two. Below this logo is “Pat. Mar. 14 1871.”
The frog is odd, in that is doesn’t look like any frog I’ve ever seen, has two grooves on its front which fit two nubs in the body. Their is no lateral adjusting lever and the adjusting nut also doesn’t resemble others that I’ve seen. Neither the frog nor the adjusting nut have any markings or information.
I’ve tried researching this plane, but have gotten nowhere. Can you help me?
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Send some good detailed photos to vatoolworks@gmail.com and I’ll take a look.
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What you have is a c. late 1870s Bailey Tool Co. ( maker was Selden Bailey) fore plane. It appears to have possibly been shortened (perhaps due to a break) and the lever cap is a likely home-made replacement. Certainly the bolt is not original.
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Kewl … any idea where I can purchase the proper lever cap?
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I’d try eBay, although it could take a while.
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Have Stanley bailey 4 1/2 BAILEY stamped behind knob 4 1/2 in front MADE IN USA towards back 10″ long 2 7/8 wide STANLEY stamped on frog pat no 1918750 on back w a U and a 1 ? Date
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http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/dating_flowchart.php#Types%201-20
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I have a Stanley Bailey 4 1/2. Bailey behind the knob but “Made in England” behind the frog. Raised ring under the knob, black japanning. I haven’t seen any reference to the Made in England behind the frog. Thoughts
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Not uncommon at all. The Made in England planes were produced from the late 1930s on.
Type 1 1937-1939
Type 2 WW2, hard rubber adjusting nuts
Type 3 Postwar – steel bits
Type 4 Ribs appear on the beds (about 1972)
Type 5 Beds are marked 12-00X?
Type 6 1983-present. The G12-00X planes
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Hi, I have a Bailey #4 that I’m very certain is a type14 because it has the “No” and the “4” on either side of the front knob. “Bailey” is cast behind the front knob and “Made in the USA” cast into the toe. As I’m sure you know, this was the only type with this casting. What I find strange is there is no patent date behind the frog. Any explanations?
Thanks
Bruce
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The Type Study is just an approximate delineation of features and age. Strictly speaking, yours is more like a Type 15 and falls within the early 1930s time frame.
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