Overview
The No. 602 is the Bedrock version of the Bailey No. 2, a 7-inch smoother built on the premium 600-series frame. It is the smallest Bedrock and one of the scarcest, so it commands a high collector price.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #602 base size and its factory variants, with the sole length, cutter width, weight, and years of production for each.
The standard cast-iron version that the variants below are based on.
Corrugated sole. Made only from 1898 to 1918, it is one of the three genuinely scarce Bedrocks, with the No. 602 and No. 605¼.
Extremely rare. Watch for fraudulent corrugations on a plane this valuable.
Dimensions are nominal factory figures; casting tolerances vary slightly across types.
Identifying Features
- BED ROCK casting: Beds carry the 602 number from 1900 and add the BED ROCK casting from 1911; first-year beds are marked No. 2 like a Bailey.
- Frog seat: A full-width flat frog seat, not the Bailey's narrow machined area.
- Sides: Examples after 1911 have flat sides; earlier ones are rounded like a Bailey.
Dating is shared across all Bedrock sizes. Use the Bedrock type study to pin down your plane's type.
History & Design
History
Made from 1898 to 1942. Like the rest of the line it uses Bedrock's full-width frog seat, and later examples have the flat sides the series is known for.
Design
At 7 inches with a 1⅝-inch iron it is a small, precise smoother. The Bedrock frog mates fully to the bed, which collectors value for rigidity even on a plane this small.
For Collectors
Scarce and expensive. The corrugated No. 602C, made only from 1898 to 1918, is scarcer still, and with the No. 602 and No. 605¼ it makes up the trio of genuinely rare Bedrocks.
Market Value
Realized sale prices for the #602, based on ~57 recorded sales, with a median of $795.
| Condition / grade | Typical range |
|---|---|
| User | $169 – $425 |
| Good / Fine | $450 – $695 |
| Extra Fine / Sweetheart | $795 – $1,295 |
The most sought-after Bedrock smoother, with a significant premium over the Bailey No. 2 at every grade. Corrugated 602C examples run $895–$1,995.
These are past sale prices gathered from Jim Bode's Value Guide to Antique Tools, not a current appraisal. What any given plane is worth depends mostly on its condition and type.
Sources & Credits
Patrick's Blood & Gore
Primary reference for plane history, dimensions, and collector notes.
supertool.com/StanleyBG