Re: Question on Millers Falls planes *LINK*
Patrick Gibbons, Houston, Tx
>I have 11 Millers Falls planes. Always the contrarian, I bought these instead of Stanleys because they were not as popular. Their consistant quality over a long period of production make them a good choice for Bailey-style planes. The frog is milled flat without the honeycomb so common in later Stanleys and Records. The first four types were all of good quality with mostly cosmetic differences. These all had the patented hinged lever cap that provided three points of contact. I have a type 5 my sister got for me. It's a step down as the hinged lever cap is gone and is chrome plated (the older models were nickel plated) and the frog is no longer adjustable. Still it is a heavy, well-constructed carpenters jack. The blades are about as thick as Stanley blades I have seen. I have read others here who insist that MF blades are thicker. I have not found that to be the case, though my experience is limited. The type 2 handle is not as comfortable to my hand as a type 3 or a type 4. The type 4 handle reminds me of the new Veritas plane handles in its shape. They were made of cocobolo and lacquered with a reddish orange finish that seems to be more desirable to ebay buyers than the more common type 3's. Todd H. doesn't think they have the fit and finish of the better Stanleys. I think he may be right but I also think that while Stanleys lessened in quality over time, MF planes remained the same in build and fit through about the early 1960's. In use, they hold their own with any other Bailey-style plane, except the bedrock design. I am limited in experience with other vingage planes and have always wished someone who had them would make a comparison test of Stanley vs. Sargent vs. Millers Falls vs. Record. Todd living in old tool heck would tell you $10 for a MF jack is too high. Here in Houston where they grow on trees, I would be ecstatic to find a good quality one for that price. You said it was a smoother #5 plane. MF used a different numbering system with 14 being their designation for that plane (a jack). The link below will give you the details.
http://www.public.coe.edu/~rroeder/mf.htm
