Overview
The No. 604½ is the Bedrock version of the Bailey No. 4½, a wide 10-inch smoother with a 2⅜-inch iron. It puts the widest smoother body on the premium Bedrock frame.
Gallery
Click any photo to view it larger. Photographs courtesy of Jim Bode Tools.
Specifications & Variants
The #604½ 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 wide smoother.
Scarcer than the smooth 604½, 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 604½ number on the bed.
- Wide body: The 2⅜-inch iron and 10-inch sole make it noticeably wider and heavier than the No. 604.
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 1935. Heavy and expensive for its size, it never sold in large numbers.
Design
The extra width and mass make it a strong finishing plane, and the Bedrock frog keeps the wide iron firmly seated.
For Collectors
Scarce and pricey, more a collector's plane than a daily user. The corrugated version is scarcer still.
Sources & Credits
Patrick's Blood & Gore
Primary reference for plane history, dimensions, and collector notes.
supertool.com/StanleyBG