Why Is This Worth $1000

The Stanley No. 1 has been long held in high regard, but why? Why Is this little Stanley #1 plane worth so much? Is it the most useful tool in the shop? Is it made of rare materials? Why is the Stanley No. 1 worth $1000+

---Tools I Suggest---

---Find Antique tools near you---

Top Patreon Supporters:
Tomás Kelly
Blair Svihra Jr
Aaron Fenn
Adam Nester
Bryan Fulmer
Tom West
Andrew Wilson
Travis Reese

////Help this channel grow\\\\

////You Can find me:\\\\

Instagram: @udostehle

[brianmitchell]

The truth is the No. 1 was made for the elves in Santa's workshop. The earliest records of Santa show that most toys were wooden and so the elves needed something for their tiny hands. Silly mortals, thinking the No. 1 was made for them. What Mr. Wright doesn't realize is that there is actually a No. 0 as well. Even smaller and even cuter, but made specifically for elves.

[KomarProject]

James i think you are totally right about the 1. It’s the nostalgia of owning one. Hopefully one day I will find one at a garage sale and hope you get one too. But if you paint it blue I will be mad lol. Great video man! Always love the knowledge

[JBSwanstrom]

I have two cases of these, unopened. 24 in each case and from what I understand is they were given as advertising tools to be given to store buyers. I never knew they were valuable!

[nerdsunscripted]

I want a number 1 because I work on pianos and sometimes when you’re planing the bridge you want a plane that’s very short as to not hit the body against the rim and damage the finish.

It’s better than a block plane because piano bridges are made out of quartersawn maple that is often tricky to plane without tear out, so the bevel down design is better as to not tear out the bridge cap like I often get trying to do it with a block plane.

I don’t have one and I don’t really care about it being special, but if I could find one for cheap I’d be using it pretty regularly for that one very niche purpose

[richjones]

Well thank you for this. I honestly own 2 of them. One kicked around my parents house forever & hence I have kept it for sentimental reasons. My 2nd came along 2 summers ago at a boot sale when I saw it & decided my grandson might enjoy playing with it. After 2 years I have not got around to cleaning & painting it up. You are correct, they are of no damn use for any adult & to me look more like a sales rep type of thing, but they made far too many so that must be wrong. I had no idea of the value until tonight, so I think I will spend a few hours in my garage tomorrow. As you said .... I can go with any colour I like. Kawasaki Ninja Green is looking good.

[whittysworkshop]

I dont know much about Stanley planes or history, my area of knowledge is with Record planes....but I still have some thoughts :)
Was the No1 offered in catalogs from day one?? It seems to me it may have been a salesman sample, instead of lugging around heavy planes they could just use a small No1 version to show the functions of the planes to sell them. Then maybe people started wanting to buy the small sample planes, like you said, we are attracted for some reason to small cute things....so Stanley started to offer them for sale, simply because people wanted them. Someday you will have your blue No1 hanging on the wall James :)

[jonathanlillpopp]

I think was made for those woodworkers that cut three fingers off in a tablesaw accident, or a radial arm saw accident. :) Thanks for the video, James. Happy New Year to you & your family!

[loulunetta]

I have a late 1800 picture of a Sloyd Educational workbench for primary school students. There is definitely a #1 on the bench. The adult Sloyd Cabinets had a #5 and a 62. Another theory I heard was that the #1 was a salesman"s model. Regardless, still cute, functional and sought after. Happy New Year.

[Cadwaladr]

I have a 3, 4 and 5 and those are the only ones I think I will ever need or want. I made the 3 into a scrub plane. I also have a block plane, but I never use it, I use the number 4 or a spokeshave.

[mattdeneke]

I have read somewhere (not sure where) speculation that the smaller Bailey models were supposed to held like wooden coffin-type smoothing planes. Rather than wrapping fingers around the tote and knob, they are supposed to rest against the hands. I don’t know if this is correct but sounds better than a model being made just for 5-year olds. Also, when were metal block planes introduced?

[markhalvorson]

It’s an interesting paperweight. Can’t imagine leaving it in my shop or trying to make use of it.

[MatthewSherriff]

I recently mentioned my hand plane addiction, this has bee named a real trigger for me. Heading over to ebay now.

[carlosimolina]

I know you made a more recent vídeo about the #1, but since you mentioned the Veritas, they have a tote that can be attached to a block plane, along with a wooden knob.
Thank you for another great video!

[ardenthebibliophile]

Seems like Stanley/Bailey just wanted a set that ranged from 1-something and picked a bad starting size. Now it's a collectors item for all the reasons you state

[MatthewBuntyn]

Leonard Bailey was selling a No. 1 when Stanley acquired his patents.

Seeing how Stanley didn't offer a block plane (as we think of them today) until a few years after they began offering the Bailey line of planes, it's probable that Leonard Bailey intended for the No. 1 to serve that purpose.

[yooper]

I have a No. 2 that fits my eight year old granddaughter's hand reasonably well - She needs another year or so of growth for it to fit better. I think these No. 2s were used in middle school shop classes; The No. 1 is, like you say, too small for even a seven year old.
That said, I want a No.1. And a 19th century Norris A5. And...

[nzt]

i love these historical woodworking videos

[tomwisnieski]

Maybe a salesman sample .
Happy New Years .
Be safe

[adamtheheavyequipmentmechanic]

reminds me of my 3" crescent wrench, nobody thinks its useful but its great for running taps and more bolts/nuts is tight spots than you would imagine

[alvagoldbook]

I kinda always wanted one just to sit on my window sill and look cute. I came close to getting a Woodriver version once but it’s just not the same if it’s not an old Stanley.