Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Are there any old wooden plane collectors here?
Keith Newton
I’ve known of several people with fairly extensive collections of planes and other hand-tools from around here, and wondered what happens to those collections when the owners expire or just age out of the attraction if their descendants are not into tools? Are there other collectors following along, or Museum collectors?
What is the best way to determine the value of a collection, are there special appraisers for hire?
I met one
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
The Midwest Tool Collectors Ass. is the place that deals in old tools. Several yearly auctions are advertised in their publications. I met Martin Donnelly at a MWTC gathering. His auction house sells thousands of tools each year at their 3 yearly auctions. He was unpacking boxes from an estate he was auctioning later that year. He opened a box with a dozen similar marking gauges. He announced to no one in particular, "I deconstruct the compulsive obsessive". Summed it up nicely I thought.
I bought some wood planes thinking I would do some molding with them. The Stanley 55 router bit Collection from LV was a better plan. I got less than $10 each liquidating planes I bought for $25 or more. Unless there is something "collectable" about an old tool there is little demand and prices are half what they were some years ago. For example you can get nice # 4 &5 for less than $30 at a MCTC meet if anyone bothers to bring them.
Re: I concur
Ron in Sterling, CT
Hi Keith,
I attended the Martin Donnelly antique tool auction in Nashua, NH a couple of weeks ago. In the two days of auction he probably sold two to three hundred wooden planes of various sorts. Value depends on maker. Common molding planes bring little, but rare ones demand prices in the hundreds. I agree with Bill that Martin is a good source to start with. He can either answer your questions, or advise as who to contact. He is located in Avoca, NY & his # is 800-869-0695.
Ron
what did you buy?
Re: what did you buy?
Ron in Sterling, CT
Hi Bill
2 files and John Walter's "Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools" book followed me home.
Ron
Re: Are there any old wooden plane collectors here
John in NM
The guy who runs "thebestthings" website is also a collector I believe, but I don't know his name. Joel might be too, I don't remember.
Molding planes are really cool and fun, but they are not the way to do production work! 
Re: Are there any old wooden plane collectors here
ben d.
Watch the Democrat newspaper either in the machinery and tools or the antique classified, there is a guy from Searcy that advertises wanting to buy antique planes on occasion.
ben d.