No. 700 Manual Adjustment Block Plane

Manufactured:

1931 to 1964

Sole Length: 7”
Iron Width: 1-5/8”
Weight: 1.2 lbs
Bedding Angle: 20 Degrees
Adjustments: Manual
Lever Cap Type: Tension Wheel
Casting Number Body: 84, 493, 493A
Casting Number Cap: 386
Cross Reference: Stanley No. 1247

No. 700

The No. 700 is a basic block plane that is manually adjusted for the depth of cut and the lateral adjustment. The cap is leveraged with a rod controlled with a tension adjustment wheel. The plane has a fixed mouth and is bed at 20 degree with a bevel up configuration. Millers Falls used the same body of the No. 87 for the initial release of the No. 700. A short time later a separate casting was created for the No. 700 which was 1/8 inch shorter and had a slightly different cheek profile at the back of the plane. This new body would have a casting number 84. The 84 casting number would last until the external screw was added to the knob in 1944 which would change the casting number to 493. The casting numbers on the body are important because Millers Falls did not stamp the model number on the cheek.

The 700 series was marketed as a good quality plane with less detail to the overall finish thus bringing a plane to the market at a lower price point. From the initial release to the mid-forties, the plane was sold under the Mohawk Shelburne brand. During the Mohawk Shelburne years, this plane had three different trademark changes on the iron and several hardware changes that occurred to all the fixed mouth planes sold under the Millers Falls name.

For whatever reason, the company decided to end the Mohawk Shelburne trademark around 1944/1945 and replace it with the “Millers Falls Co.” trademark. This new trademark would continue until 1949 when the company standardized on the “Solid Tool Steel” trademark across every plane manufactured at the company.

Type 1 configuration – 1931 - 1944

  • Initial release - Lever cap painted red on the top and black on the bottom.

  • Initial release - trademark “Mohawk/Shelburne” on the iron.

  • Initial release - the No. 87 body casting is used.

  • Initial release - solid iron landing.

  • Initial release - hardwood threaded knob painted black.

  • Initial release - the mouth is very narrow - 7/64”

  • Approx 1932 - new trademark “Mohawk/Made In USA/Shelburne” on the iron.

  • Approx 1934 - new body casting is used with a casting number 84.

  • Approx 1934 - the mouth increases to 13/64”

  • Approx 1934 - the iron landing is now recessed.

Type 2 configuration starting 1945 to 1964

  • The lever cap is painted black.

  • Black knob is secured to the bed with a 10-24 flat head machine screw.

  • Mohawk trademark is replaced with “Millers Falls Co./Greenfield Mass.”

  • One example was found with “Millers Falls Co./Millers Falls Mass.”

  • New casting number on the body - 493 or 493A .

  • In 1949 the iron trademark was changed to include the words “Solid Tool Steel”.

  • In 1956 the lever cap and body are painted gray.

  • 1964 - The May 1964 catalog no longer lists the No. 700.

This is the Mohawk Shelburne version. The early versions will have the iron trademark without the "USA"., a solid iron landing, a narrow mouth and a body that matched the #87. Later versions will have the "USA" in the trademark, a recessed iron landi

This is the Mohawk Shelburne version. The early versions will have the iron trademark without the "USA"., a solid iron landing, a narrow mouth and a body that matched the #87. Later versions will have the "USA" in the trademark, a recessed iron landing, a wider mouth, and a body with the #84 as the casting number. The cheek does not have a stamp with the model number.

Because the No. 700 is a manual adjust block plane, a strike button is cast at the heel. The strike button is a feature found on wooden body planes to retract the iron. The same principle can be used on a metal plane when a 3 oz BRASS hammer is used

Because the No. 700 is a manual adjust block plane, a strike button is cast at the heel. The strike button is a feature found on wooden body planes to retract the iron. The same principle can be used on a metal plane when a 3 oz BRASS hammer is used to strike the button.

The box on the Mohawk Shelburne only had a sticker applied on the end. Inside the box on the bottom is an ink stamp "BOXXX".

The box on the Mohawk Shelburne only had a sticker applied on the end. Inside the box on the bottom is an ink stamp "BOXXX".

The initial release of the Mohawk Shelburne No. 700 on the top used the body of the No. 87 which had a narrow mouth, and a solid iron landing. A short time after the initial release, a new casting was created for the No. 700 with a casting number 84

The initial release of the Mohawk Shelburne No. 700 on the top used the body of the No. 87 which had a narrow mouth, and a solid iron landing. A short time after the initial release, a new casting was created for the No. 700 with a casting number 84 shown on the bottom. This new casting had a wider mouth and a recessed iron landing. You can see that the new casting is 1/8" shorter than the original release body.

Like the Mohawk Shelburne planes, the Millers Falls Co. trademark plane will not have a cheek stamp.

Like the Mohawk Shelburne planes, the Millers Falls Co. trademark plane will not have a cheek stamp.

When the MOHAWK SHELBURNE trademark ended in 1944/1945, it was replaced with a simply "MILLERS FALLS Co. / GREENFIELD MASS / MADE IN USA" trademark. This new trademark would last until 1948. Two other changes are seen, the body has a new casting numb

When the MOHAWK SHELBURNE trademark ended in 1944/1945, it was replaced with a simply "MILLERS FALLS Co. / GREENFIELD MASS / MADE IN USA" trademark. This new trademark would last until 1948. Two other changes are seen, the body has a new casting number and the knob is secured with an external screw. The early version will have a gray tension wheel and end with a nickel finish.

After 1949, the iron trademark is the "Solid Tool Steel" stamp. No model number is stamped on the cheek.

After 1949, the iron trademark is the "Solid Tool Steel" stamp. No model number is stamped on the cheek.

In 1949 Millers Falls standardized on the "SOLID TOOL STEEL" trademark across all planes under the Millers Falls name.

In 1949 Millers Falls standardized on the "SOLID TOOL STEEL" trademark across all planes under the Millers Falls name.

Around 1956, Millers Falls changed the color of the lever cap and body to gray. This plane was in a box with a November 1955 date.

Around 1956, Millers Falls changed the color of the lever cap and body to gray. This plane was in a box with a November 1955 date.

From left to right; Early Mohawk Shelburne with the No. 87 body. The paint under the cap shows it had the red and black paint. Next is the commonly found Mohawk Shelburne plane with a body casting number 84, wide mouth, and recessed iron landing. Th

From left to right; Early Mohawk Shelburne with the No. 87 body. The paint under the cap shows it had the red and black paint. Next is the commonly found Mohawk Shelburne plane with a body casting number 84, wide mouth, and recessed iron landing. The middle plane is the Millers Falls Co plane with the external knob screw. The next plane has the Solid Tool Steel iron. The last plane on the right has the all gray bed and lever cap.