What plane is this?

4/14/04, 6:11 PM #1

Paul M. in San Diego
Guest

What plane is this?

Paul M. in San Diego

>I just received a #5 sized plane from a friend who found it while going through a relative's tools. It's pretty rusted, but probably salvagable. The only identification I can find is the number "1414" cast into the toe of the plane, and the text "HERCULES" and "made in USA" on the top of the blade. The frog and lever cap look like standard stanley issue, so this isn't obviously a rarity.

It's got a broken tote and lots of surface rust, but nothing that looks like deep pitting. I'm just wondering if this is worth the bother of restoring as I already have a perfectly good #5.

Re: What plane is this?

4/14/04, 6:45 PM #2

Bob Nelson
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Re: What plane is this?

Bob Nelson

>Sargent & Co. made planes marked HERCULES ca. 1927-1954. Not sure if the fact that only the blade is marked might mean something different. Bob

Re: What plane is this?

4/14/04, 6:49 PM #3

Tom MacGregor, Vermont
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Re: What plane is this?

Tom MacGregor, Vermont

>Sargent introduced the Hercules brand in 1927 and made planes under that name into the 1950's. It was an economy line without the fit & finish of the VBM's. It may tune up well, but it wouldn't be my first choice to invest a lot of restoration work. I'd probably use it for rough work to save wear & tear on my better planes & blades.

Re: What plane is this?

4/14/04, 9:02 PM #4

Angelo in Cornwall, NY
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Re: What plane is this?

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Most of the Hercules planes I've seen have stamped steel frogs, and a kind of 5 star adjusting knob. As others have said, it was an economy plane. Might not be worth the trouble, but you could learn alot by tuning it up, and then keep it for rough work.

Re: What plane is this?

4/15/04, 12:01 AM #5

Paul M. in San Diego
Guest

Re: What plane is this?

Paul M. in San Diego

>This one has what looks like a standard Stanley frog and the typical adjuster wheel. It would probably make an OK user, but I already have one of those. I guess it will sit around until I get sick of it, as it doesn't seem worth the time to fix it up.

Maybe I'll donate it and the generic #5C I got along with it to my woodworking school for the handtool students to fix up.

Re: What plane is this?

4/15/04, 3:02 AM #6

Bill Houghton
Master Craftsman
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8,480 posts

Registered: 1/1/70

I am reminded

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>that they used to say, back when air-cooled VWs were sold new, that the VW was an excellent car on which to learn how to maintain a car.

True: you spent so much time with your head in the engine compartment or lying under the car, adjusting valves and doing other constant maintenance, just to keep the thing from exploding or imploding, that you got pretty good at using tools.

I've picked up some economy planes in the past and spent time on them. Not worth it.

What plane is this?

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