Premium Number 11

Millers Falls No. 11 Jack Plane

Manufactured:

1929 to 1970

Sole: Smooth
Sole Length: 11-1/2"
Sole Width: 2-1/8"
Iron Width: 1-3/4”
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Bedding Angle: 45 Degrees
Type: Bailey Design
Cross Reference: Stanley No. 5-1/4
Sargent No. 411
Record - None

The No. 11 premium jack bench plane was produced for over forty-one years across six different types.

Type 1 (1929 to 1935)

There were two distinct changes what can be found while the type 1 planes were in production. The first is the change to the frog face around the lever cap screw. Extra metal was added around the screw to possibly eliminate stress cracks to the thin wall. Based on looking at the Mohawk-Shelburne and the rebrands, the best guess is that this change happened around 1931. The second change was the stamping of the patent number to the face of the lever cap. The patent was approved on September 8, 1931. Sometime shortly after that date, the press was setup and ready for work.

This is an example for a No. 11 with a mix of type 1 and type 2 features. The type 1 name embossed around the knob and the type 2 name and number stamped on the cheek.(hard to see)

This is an example for a No. 11 with a mix of type 1 and type 2 features. The type 1 name embossed around the knob and the type 2 name and number stamped on the cheek.(hard to see)

This plane has a patent number on the lever cap which was first added during the type 1 years.

This plane has a patent number on the lever cap which was first added during the type 1 years.

No. 11 produced at the transition time.

No. 11 produced at the transition time.

Type 2 (1936 to 1941)

The type 2 bench plane has many changes over the type 1 plane. One change that occurred sometime in the 1938 timeframe was the addition of the casting gate on the toe and heel of the No. 11.

The trademark on the iron is another feature to help determine a time range. A no-touch triangle is early and a touch triangle is a later production period. This only works if the iron is original to the plane.

The trademark on the iron is another feature to help determine a time range. A no-touch triangle is early and a touch triangle is a later production period. This only works if the iron is original to the plane.

This plane was made during the second half of the type 2 period based on the casting gates found on the bed.

This plane was made during the second half of the type 2 period based on the casting gates found on the bed.

Type 3 (1942 to 1948)

The type 3 will have the single bolt securing the stained hardwood knob and tote. During the type 3 years, Millers Falls was bluing the screws, bolts and depth adjusting nut.  It is not clear how long this was being done, but examples have been found with the metal blued. Unfortunately, improper cleaning and “restoring” can remove the bluing from the surface.

The type 3 has a single nickel/blued bolt securing the knob and tote. The type 3 should not have a brass adjusting nut, but this plane has one which could be a surplus supply from the type 2 transition.

The type 3 has a single nickel/blued bolt securing the knob and tote. The type 3 should not have a brass adjusting nut, but this plane has one which could be a surplus supply from the type 2 transition.

The trademark on the type 3 irons will be the "Since 1868" triangle, but you may find some irons with just "1868" in the triangle.

The trademark on the type 3 irons will be the "Since 1868" triangle, but you may find some irons with just "1868" in the triangle.

This type 3 No. 11 has all the features found in the type study.

This type 3 No. 11 has all the features found in the type study.

No brass on the type 3 and stained hardwood.

No brass on the type 3 and stained hardwood.

Type 2/2 (1949 to 1952)

Millers Falls returned to using brass and cocobolo wood at the end of the forties. To identify this type, the trademark on the iron will be stamped “SOLID TOOL STEEL” .

Type 4 (1953 to 1965)

It is easy to identify a type 4 plane with black frog, full brass depth adjusting nut and the change in the knob/tote to Goncalo wood with an orange base finish.

The type 4 is the last version that will have the hinged lever cap, brass hardware and a trademark on the iron

The type 4 is the last version that will have the hinged lever cap, brass hardware and a trademark on the iron

The type 4 will always have the "Solid Tool Steel" trademark iron.

The type 4 will always have the "Solid Tool Steel" trademark iron.

This is a breakdown of the stamps and embossed characters you could find on the type 4 No. 11 plane. The frog will probably have a upper case "A" next to the casting number. The "A" is common from the early forties to the early sixties and can be fou

This is a breakdown of the stamps and embossed characters you could find on the type 4 No. 11 plane. The frog will probably have a upper case "A" next to the casting number. The "A" is common from the early forties to the early sixties and can be found on the No. 8 body and frog, No. 9 body, No. 90 body and the No. 900 body. Unlike the No. 8 body, the No. 11 has a single template number under the tote.

The wood used on the type 4 is known as goncalo alves which is a hard, heavy and dense wood from Central and South America.

The wood used on the type 4 is known as goncalo alves which is a hard, heavy and dense wood from Central and South America.

Type 5 (1966 to 1976)

The type 5 period was the "one size fits all" approach to save money in a "too little too late" environment.

No. 11B type 5 bench plane

No. 11B type 5 bench plane

Even near the end of production, the 11B had lost its edge on performance with all the cutbacks , but with some help, it was able to get back into the game.

Even near the end of production, the 11B had lost its edge on performance with all the cutbacks , but with some help, it was able to get back into the game.

This breakdown of the 11B shows all the early changes that went into the type 5 planes. Starting with the single Philips head bolt to secure the knob and tote. Metal was removed around the lever cap screw on the frog face. The lever cap is one piece

This breakdown of the 11B shows all the early changes that went into the type 5 planes. Starting with the single Philips head bolt to secure the knob and tote. Metal was removed around the lever cap screw on the frog face. The lever cap is one piece to secure a shorter iron. The horn on the type 5 goncalo tote is back to a normal size with a pin to secure the tote toe.

This plane was stamped as part of a government contract, but it's not clear if these planes were sold to the general public.

This plane was stamped as part of a government contract, but it's not clear if these planes were sold to the general public.

This plane is a cross-over example of a type 4 iron and brass depth adjusting nut with the type 5 body and lever cap.

This plane is a cross-over example of a type 4 iron and brass depth adjusting nut with the type 5 body and lever cap.

There probably was no specification sheet on how to set-up and stamp the cheek.

There probably was no specification sheet on how to set-up and stamp the cheek.