Birmingham-Derby-Union-Stanley Hand Plane Transition

The Birmingham to Derby to Union to Stanley transition intrigues me, so I’ve been reading and studying the different phases. I will update this page as information comes available.

1877-1880 Henry Foss and George Mosher produce planes from Foss’s patent that looked similar to Bailey  Tool Co.

1885 George Mosher  – The Birmingham Plane Manufacturing was incorporated.

1884 Mosher patented Birmingham Plane issued for this plane

Then came this style. Just a slightly different blade holding mechanism.

1891 Name changed from Birmingham to Derby. Birmingham was a community (is now Birmingham Greens) within the town of Derby.

Oct 1889 Mosher Patented the B-plane

Nov 1893 Hayworth patent was issued and those planes began production

1900 Union Manufacturing Co bought the Derby

1900-1903 Union continues Manufacturing of the B-Plane (this was Unions first plane production)

——Now we start seeing a transition to Union like this

1903 John Carleton and George Trask is issued the patent for the 500 series transitional planes (similar to liberty bell)

1904 John Carleton and George Trask is issued the patent for the X series planes

After 1904 it is believed the B-Plane was no longer made and was replaced by the X series type adjuster in a bailey type plane.

1920 Stanley bought the Union plane co.

—-Now we see Union Planes with Union cast in the cap

Unions with “Union” cast in the cap were manufactured after 1920.

1942 is the last known listing for Union Planes

For more information on the Union to Stanley transition, see this page.

Additional Birmingham Examples

Birmingham "B" Plane #120 Block Plane

Birmingham "B" Plane #120 Block Plane Additional Birmingham Examples (My #120-030823-1)

Birmingham #103 Block Plane

Birmingham #103 Block Plane 5 1/4" long Blade is 1 3/8" wide Additional Birmingham Examples (My #103-010524-2)

Birmingham #120 Block Plane

Birmingham #120 Block Plane 7" Long 1 5/8" wide blade Additional Birmingham Examples (My #120-092520-1)

Birmingham #15 B Plane Block

Birmingham B Plane Block (Similar to the Stanley #15, Like the #9 1/2 but longer) And Like the Birmingham #9 1/2 except for length. This plane has the US Patent: 401,532 Bench-Plane Edge-gripping Plane Cutter Lateral Adjuster 7" Long, 1 5/8" wide...

Birmingham #26 Transitional B Plane

Birmingham #26 Transitional B Plane Additional Birmingham Post Additional Birmingham Examples

Birmingham #4 B Plane Smoother

Birmingham #4 B Plane Smoother Other Birmingham information ---> Additional Birmingham Examples

Birmingham #4 B Plane Smoother

Birmingham #4 B Plane Smoother Birmingham Planes ("B" Planes) Information Other Articles and post Additional Birmingham Examples (My #B4-0314232)

Birmingham #5 B Plane Jack

Birmingham #5 B Plane Jack This plane was stripped and refinished. Additional Birmingham Posthttps://www.timetestedtools.net/category/hand-planes/birmingham-or-b-planes/ Birmingham...

Birmingham #9 1/2 Block Plane for Parts or Display

Birmingham #9 1/2 Block Plane for Parts or DisplaySee photos and video for condition and repairs Length 6" Blade width 1 5/8" Additional Birmingham Examples (My #9 1/2-022523-5)

Birmingham 6" Block Plane

Birmingham 6" Block Plane (Something Like a Stanley #120) This one has a Broken Lever and has been restored. It was in extremely bad shape when I got it. US Patent: 413,329 Additional Birmingham Examples (My...

Birmingham 6″ Block Plane (Simplest)

Birmingham 6″ Block Plane (Simplest) Blade is 1 3/4" wide Additional Birmingham Examples (My #B-032523-2)

Birmingham 7″ Block Plane (Simplest)

Birmingham 7″ Block Plane (Simplest) Restored Blade is 1 3/4″ wide Additional Birmingham Examples

Birmingham B Plane with an Adjustable Mouth (AKA Derby #4 1/4)

Something very very cool showed up in my mailbox today. This is a Birmingham B plane. Birmingham Plane Mfg Co made many cool planes, but this one seems to be undocumented. Here I've compared it to my #4 B Lane, and there is no doubt, this was a Birmingham...