I'm happy to have found this, thanks for putting it up. Now, I picked one up on E**y over here in France. It's missing the brass nut on the long tote screw. I stupidly thought I'd find a replacement screw and nut from a knackered Stanley or Record, or..... Yes, well, it turns out the thread in the sole is finer than found on other planes...24 rather than 20 tpi! I imagine it is Whitwoth though. I'd appreciate it if you could confirm, or not of course, that yours is the same. BTW, the front handle screw is 20 tpi. I might simply have come across a rogue example, who knows For information, a battered Shelton n° 9 (picked up for the < price of a coffee) seems to use the same thread...??? Anyway, I agree the Marples feels and works great, though I'm no expert in the matter.
Most of my knowledge is with Record planes, I only know a little about Marples. As far as I know there were 4 "types". The very early ones were black, with no numbers on the toe, only "Marples Sheffield". The next ones were red and sometimes two-tone with a black frog (maybe they decided on red due to Records blue colour having success, and to stick out as "different" from the Stanleys). The third type was all red and the first to have numbers on the toe. The last type was all red with the numbers but with the cheaper "Ogee" shaped frog. I could be wrong on some of that, I dont know these things for certain, I jus remember reading it somewhere. The frog is strange on this one, it's the old solid type flat faced frog, but it has the split yoke as you mentioned. The pawl on the lateral lever looks to be the type that "rotates" like the early Record frogs. Could parts of the frog have been changed through its lifetime maybe? It's rare to break the yoke tho, and the lateral could have been straightened if it got bent. The later frogs from around the 60s on most English planes (Stanley and Record for certain) will usually have a "Q" on the casting somewhere. This was from when casting was changed to a company called "Qualcast", these were thought to be lesser quality than the older versions, but these were usually the newer "ogee" shaped frogs with the raised sections. If I'm wrong on any if this someone teach me please and correct me 😁 It's an interesting plane. You done well to get that for 30quid lad, the thing looks immaculate 🤙
Nice reply. Yes, bargain! I'll add a bit more :). I think the Qualcast were more famous for their lawnmowers. Pretty sure my parents had an electric Qualcast in the 80's.
@@faceedgewoodworking I didnt even know they made things like that, I was only aware of their foundry and the castings they made for planes. I just got done cleaning up a War Finish Record No4...... something about the older tools that really appeals to me 😁
Hi. thanks another good vid. can you help, i have a marples x 4 it has an adjustable mouth and a wooden infill that the blade rests on. any info would be helpful thanks. Jack c/o my wife's email address
interesting that YT actually recommended this video to me. i.imgur.com/AuBkghe.jpg I got this plane a couple of years ago, it's the only 4 1/2 that I have. It was twisted in the sole pretty badly, but that could've been from some odd use habits. Heavy, hard casting (had to file it) and the reason that I bought it? I can't remember. It must've been inexpensive and not made like one of the cheesier marples designs - it is identical to the sorby 7 that I showed recently. Slim chance you'd have something unusual and I'd have the same thing, but better chance I guess when they are not sought after. This one is as heavy as any stanley 4 1/2 I've seen - or any 4 1/2 at all. A little too heavy for me (not for the initial effort, but what it's like to use side by side with a four in actual end-of dimensioning work. The 4 will outwork it when on the hand of a person for a length of time).
well...as a side note, I guess heavy is sort of the way for the sorby-ish planes. This picture is a sorby 7 and a record 8 - the latter too of the flat milled frog and not a later plane. They are almost exactly the same weight - by the scale, not just my feel. I would've assumed the record was heavier - and it is. by all of 8 tenths of an ounce. The smoother is 4lbs 14 oz. 3 ounces heavier than a 2 1/4" iron norris #13.
From what information I found out it seems the Sorby and early Marples are the same. Just a different paint job and branding. I sold it in the end. I didn't use it and although it's a delightful item it would just collect dust. I used the money to buy and infill that needs the handle repaired. Equally the infill isn't needed but enjoyable to experiment with.
@@faceedgewoodworking If it makes you feel any better, i got an older record 8 out that is my only 8. It has the same frog as the marples and sorby, and the same ledge, and as painful as it is for people to hear, stanley's late type design is better - the fine adjustment is better even though it's not that type of plane, and the adjustment is easier. I have the marples 4 1/2 because having a 4 1/2 and not using it usually keeps me from thinking I should buy another one. And it works fine, but if you or I would work with it with the cap set and work with a 4, the 4 will leave behind a higher weight in shavings, which is an outcome that counts. Increasing the difficulty of the wood makes things more in favor of the 4, and not less, which may be counterintuitive.
@@daw162 It's been very enlightening having someone say these things based on experience. Planes can be a very expensive entry point into woodworking and it's reassuring to know that a £20 No.4 is more the equal to a £300 version. I don't mind what people buy but it's right to acknowledge that later Stanley's are just perfect.
This looks like a solid plane. Looks very similar to my record 4 1/2.
Yes, a very good plane.
Yeah! People are so stuck on the STANLEY they forget that there were others out there floating around
There are some really good Bailey's out there. Just not all by Stanley.
Marples planes fantastic also the iron is a little thicker sharpen up real well I have a no 7 Marples love it
Hi Peter. Good to hear of your positive experience which is pretty much like mine. All the best!
I'm happy to have found this, thanks for putting it up. Now, I picked one up on E**y over here in France. It's missing the brass nut on the long tote screw. I stupidly thought I'd find a replacement screw and nut from a knackered Stanley or Record, or..... Yes, well, it turns out the thread in the sole is finer than found on other planes...24 rather than 20 tpi! I imagine it is Whitwoth though.
I'd appreciate it if you could confirm, or not of course, that yours is the same. BTW, the front handle screw is 20 tpi. I might simply have come across a rogue example, who knows
For information, a battered Shelton n° 9 (picked up for the < price of a coffee) seems to use the same thread...??? Anyway, I agree the Marples feels and works great, though I'm no expert in the matter.
Hi Roger. Thanks for the question. I'm really sorry, I don't have the plane any more. You've got a nice tool though, wish you all the best with it!
Most of my knowledge is with Record planes, I only know a little about Marples. As far as I know there were 4 "types". The very early ones were black, with no numbers on the toe, only "Marples Sheffield". The next ones were red and sometimes two-tone with a black frog (maybe they decided on red due to Records blue colour having success, and to stick out as "different" from the Stanleys). The third type was all red and the first to have numbers on the toe. The last type was all red with the numbers but with the cheaper "Ogee" shaped frog.
I could be wrong on some of that, I dont know these things for certain, I jus remember reading it somewhere. The frog is strange on this one, it's the old solid type flat faced frog, but it has the split yoke as you mentioned. The pawl on the lateral lever looks to be the type that "rotates" like the early Record frogs. Could parts of the frog have been changed through its lifetime maybe? It's rare to break the yoke tho, and the lateral could have been straightened if it got bent. The later frogs from around the 60s on most English planes (Stanley and Record for certain) will usually have a "Q" on the casting somewhere. This was from when casting was changed to a company called "Qualcast", these were thought to be lesser quality than the older versions, but these were usually the newer "ogee" shaped frogs with the raised sections. If I'm wrong on any if this someone teach me please and correct me 😁
It's an interesting plane. You done well to get that for 30quid lad, the thing looks immaculate 🤙
Nice reply. Yes, bargain! I'll add a bit more :). I think the Qualcast were more famous for their lawnmowers. Pretty sure my parents had an electric Qualcast in the 80's.
@@faceedgewoodworking I didnt even know they made things like that, I was only aware of their foundry and the castings they made for planes.
I just got done cleaning up a War Finish Record No4...... something about the older tools that really appeals to me 😁
@@whittysworkshop982 Me too, hate to see things going to waste.
In 1962 Marples were sold to C J Hampton who owned Record, this may be the reason for the decline of the Marples plane just a thought.
Very good theory. There's only so many versions of the same thing required.
I have a marples 78 rebate plane which is a pretty rare beast
Very much so. Hope you enjoy using it.
Hi. thanks another good vid. can you help, i have a marples x 4 it has an adjustable mouth and a wooden infill that the blade rests on. any info would be helpful thanks. Jack c/o my wife's email address
Hi Jack, thank you. I'm not familiar with that one. Is it a small block plane?
interesting that YT actually recommended this video to me.
i.imgur.com/AuBkghe.jpg
I got this plane a couple of years ago, it's the only 4 1/2 that I have. It was twisted in the sole pretty badly, but that could've been from some odd use habits. Heavy, hard casting (had to file it) and the reason that I bought it? I can't remember. It must've been inexpensive and not made like one of the cheesier marples designs - it is identical to the sorby 7 that I showed recently.
Slim chance you'd have something unusual and I'd have the same thing, but better chance I guess when they are not sought after.
This one is as heavy as any stanley 4 1/2 I've seen - or any 4 1/2 at all. A little too heavy for me (not for the initial effort, but what it's like to use side by side with a four in actual end-of dimensioning work. The 4 will outwork it when on the hand of a person for a length of time).
well...as a side note, I guess heavy is sort of the way for the sorby-ish planes. This picture is a sorby 7 and a record 8 - the latter too of the flat milled frog and not a later plane. They are almost exactly the same weight - by the scale, not just my feel. I would've assumed the record was heavier - and it is. by all of 8 tenths of an ounce.
The smoother is 4lbs 14 oz. 3 ounces heavier than a 2 1/4" iron norris #13.
From what information I found out it seems the Sorby and early Marples are the same. Just a different paint job and branding.
I sold it in the end. I didn't use it and although it's a delightful item it would just collect dust.
I used the money to buy and infill that needs the handle repaired. Equally the infill isn't needed but enjoyable to experiment with.
@@faceedgewoodworking If it makes you feel any better, i got an older record 8 out that is my only 8. It has the same frog as the marples and sorby, and the same ledge, and as painful as it is for people to hear, stanley's late type design is better - the fine adjustment is better even though it's not that type of plane, and the adjustment is easier.
I have the marples 4 1/2 because having a 4 1/2 and not using it usually keeps me from thinking I should buy another one. And it works fine, but if you or I would work with it with the cap set and work with a 4, the 4 will leave behind a higher weight in shavings, which is an outcome that counts. Increasing the difficulty of the wood makes things more in favor of the 4, and not less, which may be counterintuitive.
@@daw162 It's been very enlightening having someone say these things based on experience. Planes can be a very expensive entry point into woodworking and it's reassuring to know that a £20 No.4 is more the equal to a £300 version.
I don't mind what people buy but it's right to acknowledge that later Stanley's are just perfect.