Premium Number 22
Millers Falls No. 22/22C Jointer Plane
|
Manufactured: |
1929 to 1967 |
| Sole: | Smooth and Corrugated |
| Sole Length: | 21-3/4" |
| Sole Width: | 2-7/8" |
| Iron Width: | 2-3/8” |
| Weight: | 7.2 lbs |
| Bedding Angle: | 45 Degrees |
| Type: | Bailey Design |
| Cross Reference: | Stanley No. 7 / 7C |
| Sargent No. 422 / 422C | |
| Record No. 07 / 07C |
The No. 22 premium jointer bench plane was produced over thirty-eight years across six distinct types.
Type 1 (1929 to 1935)
The No. 22 type 1 incorporated all the features found on the type 1 study. The No. 22 did not have any casting changes during the type 1 years. The only change to the plane was the addition of the patent stamp on the lever cap sometime after the patent was approved on September 8, 1931.
The No. 22 type 1 plane
Closer look with all the type 1 features. The lever cap does not have the patent number stamp.
Type 2 (1936 to 1941)
The changes to the type 2 planes allowed Millers Falls to consolidate their production so that the same body and frog castings could be used on both the premium line and the Craftsman rebrand line. The bed on the early type 2 planes did not have casting gates. It is not clear when the casting gates first appeared on the type 2 planes, but a best guess is sometime around 1938/1939.
The early type 2 planes do not have casting gates. After 1938, the type 2 planes over 10 inches will have casting gates. This type 2 is an early version and does not have the casting gates.
Closer look of the standard type 2 features.
This type 2 has the type 2 lever cap. It also has features found on a type 1 such as the folded lateral adjustment lever and no frog face relief. Combine these features with no casting gate and this plane would be an early type 2 release.
The type 2 features with a rosewood knob and tote and the brass depth adjusting nut. During the first half of the type 2 production, no casting gates will be seen on the toe and heel.
Type 3 (1942 to 1948)
The start of World War 2 limited the use of brass and the import of cocobolo. As a result of the shortages, the company switched to a single steel bolt to secure the stained hardwood knob and tote. Examples have been found that shows the nickel plated bolts and screws used on the previous type are now blued. Unfortunately, improper cleaning and “restoring” can remove the bluing from the surface.
This type 3 follows all the features for that type.
Stained hardwood, single steel knob/tote bolt, nickel/blued depth adjusting nut.
Type 2/2 (1949 to 1952)
Millers Falls returned to using brass and rosewood knob and tote at the end of the forties. To identify this type, the trademark on the iron will be stamped “SOLID TOOL STEEL” .
No. 22 type 2 second release.
Closer look at the features on this plane.
Type 4 (1953 to 1965)
The type 4 No. 22 like all the other type 4 bench planes will have the knob and tote shaped from Goncalo tropical wood. The wood will be secured with brass waist nuts on a double threaded 12-20 rod. The tote horn on the jointer planes will be shorter than the finishing planes. The frog will be painted black for the first time with a brass non-recessed depth adjusting nut. The type 4 iron will have the "SOLID TOOL STEEL" trademark at the top. This plane will be the last type to have a hinged lever cap.
This type 4 has all the type study features found for this time period.
The No. 22 type 4 with the Goncalo knob and tote
The type 4 was the last type to have a frog adjustment screw.
The profile of the tote shows the shorter horn. The type 4 would be the only type to have a shorter horn on the jack, fore and jointer planes.
Type 5 (1966 to 1967)
It may be difficult to find either the smooth or corrugated models with either a 22B or 22CB cheek stamp. The August 1965 price listing has both the No. 22 and 22C listed. The June 1966 catalog only lists the No. 22. By the June 1967 price listing, the No. 22 is no longer listed.
The type 5 has a one piece lever cap, Goncalo knob and tote with 12-24 threaded one piece bolts. The frog locking screws were also changed to the 12-24 thread. The iron on the type 5 has the shorter chip breaker slot and eliminated the trademark stamp, but you may find the trademark on some of the irons. The type 5 no longer has the frog adjustment screw.
The type 5 with Goncalo wood, Philips single 12-24 bolts and a one piece lever cap.
The type 5 does not have a frog adjustment screw. The depth adjusting nut has a nickel finish.
The June 1966 price listing no longer lists the No. 22CB. This plane had a June 1966 stamp inside the box. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!
This type 5 has the shorter iron with the SOLID TOOL STEEL trademark iron.
No. 22CBG
The No. 22CBG was never referenced in a Millers Falls catalog, so it is hard to tell when they started, but we do know that in 1968, the model number changed to 22-01BG. You will find the same features on the CBG as the CB.
Government version of the corrugated No. 22. This plane was not available in the Millers Falls catalog.
This plane has the original font stamped on the cheek.
Early version of the No. 22CBG. The tote and knob bolts have the two washers and the metal around the lever cap screw has not been removed.
No. 22-01-GD
The No. 22B and 22CB ended production to the public in 67. The company continued to provide the No. 22CB planes to the government past the 1968 date when the company changed the “C” (corrugated) to “-01” on the model number. This next example shows the dash number on a government issued plane. What is new on the cheek stamp is the letter ”D”. It may stand for the black knob and tote we see for the first time on the No. 22.
The 22-01-GD is a corrugated sole plane furnished to the government under a contract. It is clear the contract to furnish this plane ran beyond the 1968 catalog number change which changed the corrugated "C" to the dash number "-01". Not sure what the "D" stands for at this time. There are examples of other planes with the same "D".
Does the "D" on this No. 22-01-GD have anything to do with the black knob/tote?
This government issued plane was produced after 1968 with the -01 corrugated stamp.