INTRODUCTION AND
OVERVIEW
Skip and go to Description
& Nomenclature
Stanley No. 203 Block plane circa.
1937
This plane was designed for use in manual training. Over the years many aspiring woodworkers learned the fundamentals of hand planing and honed their techniques using this plane.
From 1929 Stanley Catalog
The diminutive (5½" long) Stanley No. 203 Block plane shares with the No. 1 Bailey and the No. 101 Block plane the distinction of being the smallest adjustable Stanley plane. Its production lifespan was from 1912 to circa. 1961.
The pleasing lines and balanced proportions of this little plane have made it a desirable collector's item. Additionally, it has found good utility as a handy finishing plane for small woodworking projects.
DESCRIPTION & NOMENCLATURE
Exploded diagram/parts list
-- with nomenclature --
from 1950 Stanley Tool Catalog (No. 203 Block
plane)
Disassembled post-Sweetheart
era/pre-WWII period No. 203
Block plane -- matching the above Catalog
depiction
Nomenclature in accordance with the Stanley Tool Catalog parts list stayed consistent throughout the production life of this plane with only two exceptions: Part No. 4 was called "Lever Cap" and part No.6 was called "Frog Complete" in the early Catalogs. I will use "Lever Cap" for part No. 4 and "Adjusting Slide" for part No. 6 here as being the most suitable and meaningful descriptions.
PARTS ILLUSTRATIONS & FEATURES
Plane iron marking
Type A: as illustated above
Type B: STANLEY - NEW BRITAIN - CONN - USA
Plane iron marking
Type C: as illustated above
Type D: STANLEY - SW - MADE IN USA
Plane iron marking
Type E: as illustated above
Lever Cap profile
Type A: as illustrated in top image above (low: 1"
baseline to apex)
Type B: as illustrated in bottom image above (high:
1.125" baseline to apex)
Lever Cap boss
marking
Type A: as illustrated above
(Turnbull's Patent:10-12-1897)
Type B: no marking
Lever Cap (underside)
marking
Type A: as illustrated above
(203: model No.)
Type B: no marking
Lever cap screw
Type A: as illustrated in left image above (small:
.125" dia.)
Type B: as illustrated in right image above (large:
.25" dia.)
Adjusting Slide
marking
Type A: as illustrated above
(Traut's Patent: 3-13-1900)
Type B: no marking
Adjusting Nut
Type A: as illustrated above (Cast iron with ridge
serrations)
Adjusting Nut
Type B: as illustrated above (Machined steel with ridge
cross hatching)
Adjusting Nut
Type C: as illustrated above (Machined steel with ridge
cross hatching)
Plane Knob
Type A: as illustrated in left image above (small -
rosewood: 1" high)
Type B: as illustrated in middle image above (large -
rosewood: 1.25" high)
Type C: as illustrated in right image above (large -
stained hardwood: 1.25" high)
Upperside rear of Plane Body
marking
Type A: as illustrated above
EARLY PRODUCTION PERIOD PLANE: circa. 1912-1919
Stanley No. 203 Block plane circa.
1912
- Plane iron marking: Type A (Stanley Rule & Level Co.)
- Lever Cap profile: Type A (low - early kind)
- Lever Cap Boss marking: Type A (Turnbull Patent)
- Lever Cap (underside) marking: Type A (203)
- Lever cap screw: Type A (small)
- Adjusting Slide marking: Type A (Traut's Patent)
- Adjusting Nut: Type A (cast iron - serrated rim)
- Plane Knob: Type A (small rosewood)
- Upperside rear of Plane Body marking : Type A (203)
SWEETHEART PRODUCTION PERIOD PLANE: circa. 1920-1934
Stanley No. 203 Block plane circa.
1929
- Plane iron marking: Type C (Sweetheart - New Britain, Conn.)
- Lever Cap profile:Type B (high)
- Lever Cap Boss marking: Type B (none)
- Lever Cap (underside) marking: Type A (203) or Type B (none)
- Lever cap screw: Type A (small)
- Adjusting Slide marking: Type B (none)
- Adjusting Nut: Type A (cast iron - serrated rim)
- Plane Knob: Type B (large rosewood)
- Upperside rear of Plane Body marking : Type A (203)
POST-SWEETHEART PRE-WWII PRODUCTION PERIOD PLANE: circa. 1934-1941
Stanley No. 203 Block plane circa.
1937
- Plane iron marking: Type E (Stanley made in USA)
- Lever Cap profile: Type B (high)
- Lever Cap Boss marking: Type B (none)
- Lever Cap (underside) marking: Type B (none)
- Lever cap screw: Type B (large)
- Adjusting Slide marking: Type B (none)
- Adjusting Nut: Type B (machined steel - cross hatch rim)
- Plane Knob: Type B (large rosewood)
- Upperside rear of Plane Body marking : Type A (203)
POST WWII PRODUCTION PERIOD PLANE: circa. 1948-1961
Stanley No. 203 Block plane circa.
1949
- Plane iron marking: Type E (Stanley made in USA)
- Lever Cap profile: Type B (high)
- Lever Cap Boss marking: Type B (none)
- Lever Cap (underside) marking: Type B (none)
- Lever cap screw: Type B (large)
- Adjusting Slide marking: Type B (none)
- Adjusting Nut: Type C (machined steel - cross hatch rim)
- Plane Knob: Type C (large stained hard wood)
- Upperside rear of Plane Body marking : Type A (203)
SPECIAL NOTE
Although most references give the end of production year as 1961, all of the Stanley Store Catalogs I have consulted do not show any listings of No. 203 Block Planes after 1959.
No. 203 Block Planes were not produced in 1949 (Ref: 1948 Stanley Tools No. 34 Catalog insert).
GENERAL NOTES AND REFERENCES
-
My main references have been
Stanley Tools No. 34 Catalogs: 1914, 1929, 1934,
1939, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1958 and
the 1953 & 1959 Store Catalogs.
-
Hans Brunner's Stanley planes by numbers
-
Patrick
A. Leach's The Superior Works
-
Jon
Zimmers Antique Tools web site - an excellent
reference resource which also offers high quality
vintage tools for sale.
- Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools: Guide to Identity & Value -- John Walter, Second Edition 1996, The Tool Merchant, Marietta, Ohio, 2000.
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