In article ,
Guy LaRochelle wrote:
I looked at that website and I think if I was a collector it would be great
info. I still didn't really get an explanation of how these plane numbers
(#4, #5, #220.......) come to be. From what I can see if I was a renowned
plane builder I could build a plane and call it a #10000 and that would be
just fine. If it became popular someone else could come along and build
there version of it and also call a #10000. Next thing you know that style
of plane becomes the industry standard as a #10000. Correct? Regards. -Guy


There's no rhyme or reason to the numbering. 90% of the conversations
can be followed by remembering a few of Stanley's numbers:

#4 is a smoothing plane used for, uhm, smoothing
#5 is a jack plane used for fairly rough work
#6 is a bit longer than the jack plane
#7 is a jointer plane for leveling surfaces and getting straight edges
#8 is a longer version of the #7

#9-1/2, #60, #60-1/2, #65 are various incarnations of block planes

Manufacturers other than Stanley have their own numbering systems.
People use terms like #4 & #5 because you can't go to a flea market
or antique store without tripping over a Stanley bench plane. Millions
were produced. Heck, when I started letting coworkers and relatives
know that I was into hand planes I was given at least two of all the
above mentioned planes. Seems everyone had a few kicking around their
garage or attic because their father or grandfather had one for
trimming doors.

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Scott Post http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/