Stanley H101P

Re: Stanley H101P

David Miller from Iowa

>Used to sell these in my Dad's hardware store, they just came in with the rest of the planes and were not billed as directed toward hobbyists. I used to make balsa airplanes and never even considered one of these, the xacto razor plane was the one for for that hobby.

Re: Stanley H101P

Tom MacGregor

>In 1877 Stanley first sold the cast iron miniature 101 as part of a "youth" tool set. It appears that enough Dads snagged them for handy apron pocket trim planes that they put it out as an individual item which remained in production until 1962. It was a popular design - I've collected copies sold by over two dozen makers from six countries on three continents over the last 127 years. The 101P, unfortunately, is another example of declining quality as they swithed from a cast to a stamped steel bed, and later to a stamped cap also. I like to use these little planes to relieve a sharp 90 degree edge by a few thousandths so it still looks crisp but doesn't feel sharp.

Hey Methuselah...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Been collecting planes for 127 years! Boy o boy you got me beat;). So this is where all the 101's go. Is there a lot of difference in quality and design in the ones you've collected?

Re: Hey Methuselah...

Tom MacGregor

>Most of them (I now have over 50 including #100 & 100-1/2 clones) differ only in color and/or blade logo, but there are a fair number of oddballs. The earliest 101 copy is a Marples with a Hibernia blade. That dates it to 1903 or before. There's a "Good Grip" with a Bakelite handle and an aluminum one from Scotland with a dome shaped cap and a factory brass sole. Hobbies & Kunz made green ones, Montgomery Wards made a bright blue "Powr-Kraft. They don't take up much room & make quite a display.