I headed out to the great State of Iowa over the weekend to visit my folks and, while there, made a stop with dad at an antique and repurpose shop that I never had walked before.  I am not so much into this trend of decorating with old and rusty repurpose but appreciate that it is a current trend and many people are.  I have started poking my head in these shops however because tools appear now and again.  So, I am most of the way through this fine establighment and spy this piece of barnwood tagged as a Towel Hanger".  I liked the styling and happily paid the man for my new "towel hanger".  With a little rational thought, I have since repurposed my slightly rusty, pitty, but very workable 71 and a half "router towel hanger"!

 

 This stuff is so confusing!  Hehehe!!!  Enjoy a few before and afters....  

 

I also picked up a "schlick"  DR Barton Slick and a spoon style brace bit for a 10 spot at the steam show flea market on Sunday.  I will need to post pictures of those when I get them.

 

I was overdue to get home and it was a nice weekend all around.

 

 

 

 

Nice find.  That towel hanger repurpose sure shows you're thinking. 

Great eye seeing that vintage piece of barn wood behind that rusty 'ole piece of metal.  Most people would walk past a great piece of wood like that not to mention the two drywall screws.

@John Moody is gonna' be green over this find. Rare find in the wild and even more so completely intact.

Interesting how the Stan   ley name is split out in the casting. Glad you found, rescued and restored it from a humiliating life of holding a towel. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome score and restoration!

Outstanding rescue...

Great job, Brent. Glad you saved it.

shame about all the rust...   someone really let that go.   nice job cleaning it up.   now to sharpen! 

Great find.  I have never seen one, how does it work?  Please post up a few more pics after sharpening!

Cal

14 hours ago, clhyer said:

Great find.  I have never seen one, how does it work?  Please post up a few more pics after sharpening!

Cal

This type of plane is used to clean up the bottoms of mortices etc.  The blade is center mounted and adjustable for depth.  Not entirely sure when I will get this one sharpened.  I have several others, all 71's, and one or two may wind up for sale.  This is my first 71 1/2 tthough.

8 hours ago, Bundoman said:

This type of plane is used to clean up the bottoms of mortices etc.  The blade is center mounted and adjustable for depth.  Not entirely sure when I will get this one sharpened.  I have several others, all 71's, and one or two may wind up for sale.  This is my first 71 1/2 tthough.

 

Very cool.  How does this one compare to the 71?  Just a tad larger/smaller or?  Got a pic of the two side by side?

 

I needed a tool like this last year when I was playing with a couple beer flight designs.  I found a small router bit to do the task.

Cal

I can get a side by side picture as I have several 71's in the shop.  Might be tomorrow or Saturday though.  

First off ... REALLY nice job of restoring the plane!

I do have a question though ... those 2 screw holes -- what were they there for and what did they hold (if they really were for screws)?

I am sure that the original purpose was not for mounting to a board, but I cannot figure out what purpose they served when used as a router!

My guess they were used for mounting a wooden fence to guide the cutter in a straight line.

 

Nice job restoring it.

 

Herb

Edited August 26, 20178 yr by Dadio

I have read (I believe in one of thr type studies) that they were used for mounting a wood sole to the plane, though I am certainly no authority.  A fence certainly could be another possibility. Still have to post the pics.....been a busy week!

26 minutes ago, Bundoman said:

I have read (I believe in one of thr type studies) that they were used for mounting a wood sole to the plane, though I am certainly no authority.  A fence certainly could be another possibility. Still have to post the pics.....been a busy week!

 

Me thinks you are correct.    http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/routers/stanley/stanley_71.html

 

Herb

Looks like the 71-1/2 brings a decent price on eBay too...I'd say yours fall right in there value wise...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/232456606059?chn=ps&dispItem=1

 

http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/routers/stanley/stanley_71.5.html#Type 1

After looking at the pictures, I think that a fence as a guide may work, but with the screw holes on each side blade, I think that a straight fence as a guide would be difficult to manage.

 

However, putting a curved piece to fit on a spindle -- and allowing the router to be used going up and down on a spindle may be a usage -- like for a 3 legged table with spindle in the middle and the grooves needed for the legs.

 

Just a thought.

Maybe for mounting under the table to make a router table out of it.

 

Herb

Actually the holes are to mount a small metal fence guide. I have one complete with that. Usually that ring above the cutter or the adjusting guide are broken.

So, here are my 71's with the 71 1/2 in the front.  None of mine are of a recent enough type to have the grooves milled in the sole to accomodate a fence.  The second one back is of the same type as the 71 1/2 originally posted.  The real difference between them is in the arched portion of the sole on the 71 models.  This could be filled with a small shaft and foot of sorts.  This was a clamped device in earlier types and integrated into the casting on the later ones.  See the change on the back one pictured.  I have not researched these very closely so they may not be perfectly correct historically speaking.  I bought the 71's as a group of 4 with a bunch of other tools but sold one a year or two back that was duplicate.  Pardon the not so hand tooly lathe in the background.

Edited August 29, 20178 yr by Bundoman