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Stanley 45 Combination Plane

offered 1883 - 1962

10 1/2 - 11 1/2" long with 23 cutters after 1922. Cutter sets range from 18 to 22 for earlier models 

Workhorse of the combination planes, still good enough for just about every job your wife might throw at you. The larger 55 can do more but can you? This plane is not rare and shows up often but rarely is it complete. Try to find a plane with all the attachments.

early models with black finish, later models nickel plated.

        instructions, parts list as pdf   

hollow and round fences for 45 were available as extras

Stanley A 45  Aluminium Combination Plane

offered 1915 - 1935

11 1/2" long with 23 cutters

Same as No 45 but aluminium. The plane is noticeably lighter then the cast iron model but if you're not sure you can use a magnet to check. Aluminium is not magnetic. I have sold three A45s over the years, all three were bought in Australia as normal 45s for the normal 45 price. Picture down from one of my early auction catalogues, lots 210 & 211. One of them is an A plane... keep looking, they are out there ....

   The A45 looks the same as the cast iron 45 - the picture shows the details of an A45 – it is marked 45 not A45- as are all pre-SW planes we have encountered.  SW models are usually marked with the A prefix.

The finish on aluminium planes looks duller than on nickel plated models

I sold one plane that came in a wooden box of the later type i.e. with a hinged lid. It had a red sticker with an A pasted on the label.