Premium Number 18
Millers Falls No. 18/18C Fore Plane
|
Manufactured: |
1929 to 1971 Corrugated(1967) |
| Sole: | Smooth and Corrugated |
| Sole Length: | 17-7/8" |
| Sole Width: | 2-7/8" |
| Iron Width: | 2-3/8” |
| Weight: | 6.5 lbs |
| Bedding Angle: | 45 Degrees |
| Type: | Bailey Design |
| Cross Reference: | Stanley No. 6 / 6C |
| Sargent No. 418 / 418C | |
| Record No. 06 / 06C |
The No. 18 premium fore bench plane was produced for over forty-two years across six different types.
Type 1 (1929 to 1935)
The only change to the type 1 while in production 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 lever caps were stamped with the patent number.
The type 1 features include the rosewood knob and tote, brass waist nuts, high support rib, and the name and number cast on the bed. This plane does not have the patent number stamped on the lever cap face.
Looking from the back side is the brass depth adjusting nut, embossed model number and the red painted cast iron yoke.
Type 2 (1936 to 1941)
The No. 18 type 2 will show one new feature for this period. The casting gates will be seen near the end of the thirties. This feature helps to determine when the plane was manufactured.
This type has the rosewood knob/tote, brass waist nuts, and the “Since 1868” trademark with a triangle not touching the shape above it.
This type 2 had all the features outlined in the type study. Note that this plane does not have any casting gates which put this plane in the early type 2 timeframe.
Rosewood knob and tote, brass depth adjusting nut and the name and number stamped on the cheek.
For a brief time in the type 2 later years, the company added a 1" depth adjusting nut to a limited number of planes. The standard diameter of the adjusting nut is 1-1/4" This No. 18 has the 1" nut.
Type 3 (1942 to 1948)
The type 3 will have the hardwood stained knob and tote secured with a single nickel or blued bolt. This type will always have the casting gates at the toe and heel. The iron will be a “Since 1868” trademark with the triangle touching the shape above it.
A note on removing and replacing the knob. The groves on the bottom of the knob are an exact match to the ribs on the bed. To replace the knob, first turn the knob until the groves mate with the ribs. Hold the knob in this position and tighten the bolt. I read many time not to tighten the bolt, or you will split the knob - wrong! Just do it correctly.
Breakdown of a No. 18 type 3 plane.
Profile of the No. 18 type 3
Taking a closer look at the plane from the previous picture, there are two features that put it at the very early release of the type 3. The first is the brass depth adjusting nut. The type 3 had either a nickel or blued adjusting nut. The second is the trademark on the iron. The triangle is not touching the shape above it. This is an indication of an early release.
Type 2/2 (1949 to 1952)
Millers Falls returned to using brass and rosewood knob and totes at the end of the forties. To identify this type, the trademark on the iron will be stamped “SOLID TOOL STEEL” .
This version has the return of the brass recessed depth adjusting nut.
The type 2 second release will have the rosewood knob and tote secured with brass waist nuts.
This release will always have a "Solid Tool Steel" trademark iron and casting gates on the toe and heel.
Type 4 (1953 to 1965)
The type 4 plane will have the black frog and a full brass depth adjusting nut. The tote has a new design with a change in the angle and a shorter horn. A new finish was applied to the goncalo alves wood that replaced the rosewood on the knob and tote.
The Type 4 fore plane had a shorter horn.
A No.18 with the original box.
This plane had a distinct solid brass depth adjusting nut that uniquely identifies it as a type 4.
The type 4 ran from 1953 to 1965.
Type 5 (1966 to 1971) Corrugate (1966 to 1967)
The corrugate model was only sold for one year under the type 5 configuration, whereas the smooth sole version would go until 1971. Anyone looking to collect this type should look for the earlier versions before the castings were outsourced.
This is a good example of a transition plane with the one piece lever cap (type 5) and the brass waist nuts (type 4). Keep in mind that the threads on the body of the type 5 changed from 7/32x20 to 7/32x24. The knobs on a type 4 will not fit on a type 5 body, so the body on this plane is a type 4.
An example of a cheek stamp with the original font
This stamp has the lower case letters and the reverse of the "B" and "G".
This is a government issue type 5 No. 18.
No. 18 type 5