Bedrock look-a-like

Frog and it's seat.

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>It is along the lines of a the Vaughn and Bushnells. Not a solid ramp like a Bedrock.

Rough Casting

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>This is a shot to show the exit hole of the frog adjuster hole. Pitiful eh.

Another Rough Casting

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>Here is a fuzzy shot of the rough casting along one side of the "ramp". High quailty workmanship here huh? Sure makes you appreciate the planemakers that we know of dosen't it.

After Cleaning

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>Not the greatest cleaning job I've ever done, but still it's alot better than what it was.

A shaving

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>I did a down and dirty sharpening job and produced some shavings off of a piece of 1" wide pine.

If anybody would like to see more pictures of this good for a desk decorator plane feel free to ask and I'll try to get a shot of what you want. Thanks for viewing.

Re: Bedrock look-a-like

Rob Brophy Niagara Falls

>Hey Todd,

Found a Vaughn & Bushnell 905 in my pile and took it apart for a looksee...the casting is identical. The frog is the same right down to the '76' cast into the base. Looks like you found a V&B of some sort! Can you see 'drop forged' in raised letters on the toe?....Rob

Re: Bedrock look-a-like

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>No Rob, there is nothing on the toe, nor on the rest of the sole for that matter. One the cam lever there is a 54 stamped on mine--yours?

Also, the grinding marks on the face of my frog are so rough I could probably strike a match on them.

As a curiousity question Rob, what did you ever decide to make for a weathervane? I suggested a slick, but never heard back what you decided to make.

T.O.

Re: Bedrock look-a-like

Rob Brophy Niagara Falls

>Hi Todd,

Yup, '54' on the cap lever. And the machining is a hair rough. :-) You possibly have a later model V&B?

Still haven't made a weathervane...took a short tool hiatus to build my dream car (Triumph TR6) and work has been getting in the way but I am wandering back into tools again. Just finished another scratch built 'stanley plane with a twist' moments ago...my first in ages. I forgot how much fun they were to build.

Did Ernie ever finish (and post pix) of his workbench & drawer pulls?

Hmmmm...weather vane....wheels are turning.....Rob

Convert to a scrub plane?

Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)

>

Re: Bedrock look-a-like

R.J.Whelan (Eastern Sierra, CA)

>Bob .... can't be many Triumphs left on the road. I have a TR3 that I bought in '67 with just 15K on the odometer - 80K now. Seems like I've rewired that car about 20 times - it's a sweetheart when it's running though.

The secret to owning British sports cars is to own two; that way you will usually have something to drive whilst waiting for parts for the other one (made of that rarest of metals, "unobtainium"). I have a Sprite too - you should see me stuffing my 260# body into a seat made for someone half my size. I have to wear racing shoes or I can't operate the three petals with any degree of elegance.

Enjoy your TR ... rj

British vintage cars - OT

Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)

>RJ

They don't refer to Lucas as the Lord of Darkness for nothing! My '57 Porsche 356 may only have a 6 volt system, but at least it is reliable. :)

I love the 3 and 3A, nevertheless.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Looks like one allready. A fine Jack!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>

You forgot one JR...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>Never even try to start it when it wet or humid.

Where you bin or been JR?

I'm just impressed...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>...with how quickly you've grown accustomed to posting photographs. Way to vault up that learning curve, Todd-O!

'Course, this might be one of those seven signs... ;^)

Wait a minute

woodburnbob

>Todd, I think you are selling this plane short. If you fit the frog to the boss and ensure the sole isn't concave, I don't see why it won't function as well as any MIB Stanley Bedrock out there.

You can scrap or file the frog bottom flat to a blued reference surface plate. Then use the frog bottom to spot the boss for scraping or filing. You can easily precision fit one flat surface to the other.

This is nearly impossible to do with a Bailey frog-boss interface, where your goal must be fitting two intersecting planes with two other intersecting planes...which, in my opinion, is the key difference between the Bailey frog and the Bedrock frog.

You'd also need to do all the little things like check the fit between top of frog and the iron, methodically prepare the cutting edge, and so forth.

Everything else is just looks. Cosmetics. The wood seems great. I actually like the pockmarks and blemishes on the side walls; it almost gives the plane a hammered look. I think you got a great bargain for $10.

The idea of turning this plane into a bookshelf ornament, paper weight or scrub plane is heretical, if not blasphemous. Come on, Todd, don't send this venerable fellow to limbo.

Oops! I guess I kind of identify with that plane. A tattered second tier tool in a first tier world that only has time for glitter and fashion. Neglected, a little ugly, and discardable but fundamentally useful, capable of fine performance and eager to hold onto a meaningful survival. That's your plane. That's me.

Re: British vintage cars - OT

R.J.Whelan (Eastern Sierra, CA)

>Derek ... had one of those too.

Loved that car, but a neighbor finally wore me down and I sold it to him - he still has it, and drives it just about every dry weekend.

I don't know about OZ, but Speedsters are worth lots of money in California ... rj

Re: You forgot one JR...

R.J.Whelan (Eastern Sierra, CA)

>Scott ... I live in the ideal climate for a British car with Lucas electrics: Owens Valley, Eastern Sierra where the average humidity is 9%.

I swear the cars have the ability to tell how badly I need to get somewhere and start (or not) accordingly - drove the TR this morning. I have a secret weapon though; a Ford pick up that (touch wood) always starts.

RJ

Rob, which side of the river are you on?

Gary in Central NY

>

Re: The cold side :-)

Rob Brophy Niagara Falls Canada

>

Well Todd...

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>I think you got a good deal for $10.00 . It sure looks like a V&B bedrock design plane. You done good. I say tune it and use it.

I on the other hand found a 1917-28 Disston #16 for $10.00 . The apple handle is in good shape with only a chip out of the upper horn. The nib is still there and it has just the faintest etch wich will go away if I clean up the blade. Never even held one before.

Hope you are as happy as I am!JR

Have no fear Bob

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>This plane will not be converted into a scrub plane or any other type of plane for that matter, nor will it become an ornament of any type either. I guess I did bad mouth it kinda' hard, but I didn't make myself 100% clear. What dismayed me the most was that some manufacturer would let it go out their doors in such "rough" condition. Perhaps it was a low-dollar home-owners model which was needed to fill a ecomomic gap, where for some folks the cost of a new Stanley was either too much, or not necessary as the plane was not going to be used much. I'd say judging by the condition it was in that in fact it wasn't used much.

In the future I will clean this plane up a bit better, sharpen the blade a bit better and let it find it's niche in my shop. I was looking it over again today, and it's really growing on me. Trust me, I'm not much of a glitz and glam kinda' guy that's for sure, not saying that I don't appreciate the beautiful tools that some of us are making as I certainly do, but that's because I appreciate fine craftsmanship that was put into making them.

Todd O.

Stress sensor circuit

Bill Houghton, IT IS Spring in Sebastopol, CA

>Indeed, the stress sensor circuit is the only reliable Lucas part. It is so successful that they have sold it to the manufacturers of every copy machine made in the world.

Re: I'm just impressed...

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>Thanks Scott! I'm really enjoying being picture capable. So far I have yet to have one not work. Funny how it stymied me for so long, but once Hank layed it out to me in the format that he did it's been a piece of cake. (Would that be pudding in the U.K.?)

What are these seven signs in which you speak? Is dumbassitis one of them?

T.O.

Good job

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>I thought all the yankees left their heavy tools behind when they came down to sunny Florida. Being lighweight, this one made the trip. Nice rehab.