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Stanley Router Plane Type Studies |
by Lars Larson, Jim Price and Roger K. Smith, © 1993,
1996
Production History
The No. 71 Router plane, introduced in late 1884, was originally a closed-throat
type. In 1892, it was redesigned with an open throat. This feature was
advertised as"giving more freedom for chips and a better view of the work
and cutter."
In late 1895, Stanley decided to reintroduce a closed-throat router.
It first appeared in an 1896 update of the 1892 catalog. Since Stanley
had already reassigned the number '71' to the open throat router, they
designated the new router as No. 71-1/2.
This study outlines the changes in both router planes until the No.
71-1/2 was discontinued in 1949. Although the No. 71 is still manufactured
by Stanley in England, nearly 110 years after it was introduced, there
have been no significant production changes since 1974.
Type Studies
Since production records, etc. are non-existent, a study such as this can
only be accomplished by careful and long-term observation of multiple specimens
with identical features. Only "pure" specimens with all original parts
were used for this study. It is impossible to pinpoint the exact production
dates for design changes, casting marks, trademarks, etc. However, it is
believed that the dates given are accurate to within one year.
Acknowledgements
These three co-author's names are in alphabetical order only. All three
provided equal effort to complete this study. Lars Larson provided most
of the routers for study and coordinated the efforts of the artist, Jim
Price, who created all the supurb line drawings presented. Because of his
experience with other type studies of Stanley planes, Roger K Smith studied
the artifacts and put together the details of this study. If the reader
finds any omission, errors, or variations, please send them to Roger K.
Smith, P.O. Box 177, Athol MA 01331, for any revised study that may be
published in the future, if warranted.
Appreciation is extended to John Wells of Berkeley, California and Bob
Kaune of Port Angeles, Washington for providing data on router planes in
their collections.
