Overview
The No. 603 is the Bedrock counterpart to the Bailey No. 3, an 8-inch smoother with a 1¾-inch iron on the premium frame.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #603 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 version of the No. 603.
Scarcer than the smooth-soled 603, with a collector premium.
Dimensions are nominal factory figures; casting tolerances vary slightly across types.
Identifying Features
- BED ROCK casting: The body is cast BED ROCK, with the 603 number on the bed.
- Frog seat: A full-width flat frog seat distinguishes it from a Bailey No. 3.
Dating is shared across all Bedrock sizes. Use the Bedrock type study to pin down your plane's type.
History & Design
History
Produced from 1898 to 1943. It carries the Bedrock full-width frog seat, with flat sides on the later types.
Design
A compact smoother for finer work, lighter than the No. 604 but with the same rigid Bedrock frog beneath the iron.
For Collectors
Less common than the No. 604 and priced above the equivalent Bailey. Clean examples stay in demand.
Market Value
Realized sale prices for the #603, based on ~52 recorded sales, with a median of $225.
| Condition / grade | Typical range |
|---|---|
| User | $125 – $175 |
| Good / Fine | $185 – $265 |
| Extra Fine | $295 – $395 |
The most affordable entry point to the Bedrock line.
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