Stanley's premium bench plane line — produced 1898–1943. Type study, specifications, and market prices.
What Makes a Bedrock?
The Bedrock series (produced 1898–1943) is Stanley's premium alternative to the Bailey line. The critical difference is the frog mounting: the Bailey frog rests on a small machined area, while the Bedrock frog has its entire bottom machined flat, mating with a corresponding full-width area in the bottom casting. This provides a more rigid, stable frog that cannot chatter. A broad flat tongue on the frog fits into a groove in the casting for self-centering.
Starting in 1911 (Edmund Schade's patent), Bedrock planes added two clamping screws flanking the frog adjustment screw, allowing the frog to be moved and repositioned without removing the lever cap. Bedrock planes also have flat sides (after ~1910) rather than the Bailey's rounded sides, and were priced at a premium over Bailey equivalents.
Bedrock planes share the same iron, cap iron, knob, tote, and lever cap as Bailey planes of the same era — only the frog and bed casting differ significantly.
Model Numbers
Bedrock planes follow the 600-series numbering — a #602 is the Bedrock equivalent of the Bailey #2, a #604 mirrors the #4, and so on through #608. The ½ and C suffixes work identically: #604½ is a wide smoother, #606C has a corrugated sole.
Collector Value
Bedrocks command a consistent premium over equivalent Bailey planes at every condition grade. The #602 smoother is particularly sought-after, with fine examples exceeding $1,000. Even user-grade Bedrocks typically sell above comparable Bailey equivalents.
Bailey Relationship
Because Bedrocks share so many parts with Baileys, the Bedrock type study closely mirrors the Bailey one. Trademark stamps, lateral lever styles, and handle materials track in parallel — consult the trademark stamps and Bailey type study on the main page for cross-reference.
Production End
Wartime material restrictions ended the Bedrock line in 1943. Type 12 (the final year) has maple hardwood handles and no brass components. Stanley never revived the series after the war, making all Bedrocks vintage collectibles by definition.
Production Timeline
45 years of Bedrock production across 12 manufacturing types, 1898–1943.
1898190619141922193019381943
Bedrock Type Study — All 12 Types
Twelve manufacturing types spanning 1898–1943. Each type reflects a distinct set of features; use multiple markers together to confirm a type.
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Note: The Bedrock type study is independent of the Bailey type study — Type 10 Bedrock does not correspond to Type 10 Bailey. Feature overlaps (trademark stamps, lateral lever styles) provide useful cross-reference but the type numbering systems are separate.
Bedrock Bench Plane Specifications
All 19 Bedrock models. Specs are: sole length × cutter width, weight. Production years indicate American manufacture only.
Corrugated variants (C suffix): Lengthwise grooves on the sole reduce friction in use. Corrugated Bedrocks are generally scarcer than flat-sole equivalents, with the #602C among the scarcest planes in the series.
Bedrock Market Prices by Size
Realized sale prices from Jim Bode's Value Guide to Antique Tools. Prices vary by Bedrock type, condition, and era. Based on ~340 historical transactions. All figures in USD.