Stanley planes by number 78  A78   78 W

1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 300 600

History

Dating

 Buying  

  one down                         one up

Cleaning Selling Tips Home

Stanley 78 rebate plane aka duplex rabbet & filletster plane

offered 1884 - 1984

8 1/4"  long with   1 1/2"  cutter

A very good general purpose rebate plane, sold in large numbers and still popular.

Easy to find plane, users seem to prefer the later, English models. Make sure you buy one with the depth stop and the fence, those parts are worth as much as the plane.

type 1

fence comparison with similar planes

       

English models in boxes sell just as well or better than USA made planes

 Most Stanley guides list the cutter with Pat 84 as type 1. Clearly, this one is earlier.

A78

Stanley A 78 aluminium duplex rabbet & filletster plane

offered 1925 - 1935

8 1/2" long with 1 1/2 cutter

Like all the other aluminium planes, the A78 had a relatively short production period that just about covered the SW area.

They used to sell for a lot more pre internet but planes in fine condition are still scarce. Original depth stop and fence have to be aluminium. Years ago you could get very good replacements, my guess is that time has turned those into originals, too!

 

78  W

Stanley 78 W  weather stripping plane aka door rabbet plane

offered 1936 - 1943

 8 1/2"  long with   1 1/2"  cutter

Uses the 78 frame with 78 markings - no W! Only difference is a steel runner that can be attached to the centre of the sole, acting as a gauge to cut  weather strip rebates on both sides. I have sold one with the original runner and several with home made attachments.

Beware of custom made additions, some are very well made. About 12 years ago there were several of these on offer, they looked just like the original. The Stanley made 78W has the large knurled holding nut in the base behind the frog as illustrated here. Beware: the knurling nut doesn't make this a rare and/or expensive plane. The original nut is fitted into the body and won't come out when you remove the runner.

 Some models have a lever to lock the runner  (similar in appearance to the dept adjusting lever for the cutter). They were made by another company who used regular Stanley planes for their re-fits.