Premium Number 10
Millers Falls No. 10/10C Smoothing Plane
|
Manufactured: |
1929 to 1961 |
| Sole: | Smooth and Corrugated |
| Sole Length: | 10"(type 1),10-1/4"(post type 1) |
| Sole Width: | 2-7/8" |
| Iron Width: | 2-3/8” |
| Weight: | 4.9 lbs |
| Bedding Angle: | 45 Degrees |
| Type: | Bailey Design |
| Cross Reference: | Stanley No. 4-1/2 / 4-1/2C |
| Sargent No. 410 / 410C | |
| Record No. 04-1/2 / 04-1/2C |
The No. 10 premium smoothing bench plane was produced for over thirty-two years across five distinct types.
Type 1 (1929 to 1935)
While the type 1 planes were in production the patent for the hinge lever cap was stamped on the face of the lever cap. The patent was approved on September 8, 1931. You will find type 1 planes with a patent stamp, but the majority of the lever caps do not have this stamp.
Type 1 - Identify by the name and number cast in the bed
Type 1 - Cocobolo knob/tote
(Body), Name & Number cast into bed, high support rib, no bed knob ribs - (frog), cast iron yoke, no yoke pin recess - (knob), six inside lathe marks.
(lever cap), cam lever spring large rivet head, interlocking tabs - (screws), filister locking screws, brass waist nut with double threaded rod - (iron), no-touch triangle.
Type 2 (1936 to 1941)
The type 2 will follow all the changes outlined in the type study.
Type 2 - Cocobolo wood and the "Since 1868" iron trademark
Type 2 - Name and numbers on cheek, brass recessed depth adjusting nut.
Type 2 - The locking tabs have been eliminated, "Since 1868" no touch triangle, Brass waist nuts and pan head frog locking screws.
Type 2 - Name and number stamped on the left cheek, bed knob ribs with matching knob groves, high support rib, and a steel yoke with a yoke pin recess.
Type 3 (1942 to 1948)
The No. 10 was available in both a smooth and corrugated sole. The type 3 configuration was a result of the limited supplies that were available to the tool industry. Because of this, Millers Falls scaled back the sale of the No. 10 corrugated sole versions to the public during the type 3 years. If enough examples are found of the type 3 with a corrugated sole, this could indicate that Millers Falls was producing this configuration under government contract only.
At the start of the type 2 second release, the corrugated sole version was back in full production.
The features on a type 3 will have a single bolt securing the straight grain hardwood knob and tote. A recessed depth adjusting nut that was switched from brass to nickel or a blued surface. On the cap, the background around Millers Falls was not painted for at least the first half of the period. The frog remained red and the stamp on the iron will have the Since 1868 trademark.
Type 3 -Is easy to identify with the steel bolt heads securing the stained knob and tote.
Type 3 - No brass used on the type 3. One piece bolt securing the knob and tote.
Type 3 - Except for the hardwood stained knob/tote, there are no changes seen on the body and frog.
The text and numbers on the back of the lever cap were difficult to read. As seen in this picture, the no-touch "Since 1868" triangle is still seen on the No. 10.
Type 2/2 (1949 to 1952)
Millers Falls returned to the look of the type 2 using the redwood knob and tote secured by a brass waist nut and double threaded rod, a red background on the lever cap and a brass depth adjusting nut. To identify this type from the original type 2, the trademark on the iron will be stamped “SOLID TOOL STEEL” .
Type 4 (1953 to 1961)
Production ended on the No. 10 nine years into the type 4 period. Why was this plane eliminated? Was it that this plane was never on the rebrand list, or it was not on the government buy list, or that it drew the short financial straw because of bad management decisions? If you get the chance to buy a No. 10 you will not be disappointed with it as a user.
It is easy to identify a type 4 plane with a black frog, full brass depth adjusting nut, the Solid Tool Steel trademark iron, and the Goncalo knob/tote secured with brass waist nuts.
The type 4 No. 10 would have been packaged in the red box until around 1959. For around two years you may find it in the "Since 1868" red background box.
The type 4 had the brass solid depth adjusting nut.
The Goncalo wood was a great alternative to the Cocobolo rosewood knob and tote. Also note the short horn on the tote
This is a complete breakdown of the type 4 No. 10 plane.