Found a Stanley level at the Restore today for $1.50.  It is spot on too.  Has these markings.  It is only 20 years old?  This is a picture from Google images.

 

Mine says Pat 6-21-91  6-23-96

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

Found a Stanley level at the Restore today for $1.50.  It is spot on too.  Has these markings.  It is only 20 years old?  This is a picture from Google images.

 

Mine says Pat 6-21-91  6-23-96

Excellent score Dan! If yours looks like the image I think you meant 120 y/o with Patent Dates actually 1891-1896 especially since the stamping is Stanley Rule & Level Company, New Britain, Conn.

One from the 1990's unlikely would have the brass vial plate; it would be painted steel or maybe blued steel. A newer version would just be labeled Stanley Tool works or similar. Me thinks you've found a treasure here.

 

@John Moody can "learn" us something here. I think he has a fairly extensive collection of Stanley Levels too.

A deal indeed for 1.50. The logo doesn’t look like a sweetheart logo but is what the were using from 1879-1900. 

 

It’s a little older than 20 years. Lol

 

How long is the level? In really good condition the can be worth from 40.00 to 80.00. Are the vials intact? 

 

Sweet, sweet find, Dan. Delicious price, too. 

15 hours ago, John Moody said:

How long is the level?

It is 18" long.  I Googled Stanley 104 level and the Sweetheart name came up and I just assumed and well we know how that goes.  I will get some pictures today.  It is in good to great shape.

I think  I had better go and recheck mine.....a 24"  No. 03.......Wood is Cherry......Hmmmm.

Dan, Again quoting my Stanley "Bible" the 104 was made from 1877 to 1974 in lengths of 12" to 18" and valued at $5 to $50 as of 1996, yes a good buy.

@John Moody Finally got some pictures of the level.  It is not a Sweet Heart but is 18" long and the vials are in good shape.  The horizontal is spot on but the vertical is way off.  I cleaned it with some soap and water but laft the patina on the brass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A really great find Dan. Looks like a cherry body too???

I sometimes use a 50/50 mix of Simple Green/water to clean.
@Stick486 mentioned suggested using Peroxide; scrub using a tooth brush and finishing with an old  flannel shirt works real well.

I have 3 cast iron Stanley's but can only locate 1.  

 This one is 18" long and weights a ton. You could probably find a guy who used one of these because the loop on his overalls was probably ripped out because of the weight. 

  This old junk never appealed to me very much! Kinda like wood floors. I was raised on wood floors. The kind you could see the ground between the cracks. Back then no one used hardwood for a floor. They were just glad they had money to buy any kind of wood for a shelter....