Old Stanley level

[JD1137]

Found this old Stanley level (Pat’d in ‘06) at the Salvation Army store a couple of days ago. Paid $13.99 for it.
I’m thinking of restoring it just for fun (and to use in my shop).
I think it’s Cherry maybe?

I know it’s not always appropriate to mess with the patina on antiques, but it’s for my use, not for a museum, so I think the brass screws and plates would look good on a freshly sanded piece of wood.
Thoughts?

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

A lot of those old levels were mahogany or similar, sometimes walnut, but I have never ever seen cherry in a level. That doesn't mean I have seen every level out there. You can likely look up the model and find out the type wood that was used

 

[JD1137]

A lot of those old levels were mahogany or similar, sometimes walnut, but I have never ever seen cherry in a level. That doesn't mean I have seen every level out there. You can likely look up the model and find out the type wood that was used

Thanks - Yea. I’ll look it up. I Googled it real quick and saw a handful for sale on EBay. The first one said Cherry, but I didn’t spend any time on it yet.
I’ll find out soon enough when I get around to sanding on it.

 

[Arn213]

I have a quite a collection of vintage plumb levels from the late 1890’s- Stanley and Stratton from 8”-30” long. Most are either solid rosewood or triple laminated, several mahogany (Cuban and Honduran), 1 lignum vitae, a couple of Ebony. I have a couple of fairly rare Helb railroad level. One unicorn level.

 

[Arn213]

What you have there is mahogany. There are Stanley Cherry levels- the not so vintage are stamped genuine cherry.

 

[trc65]

I've got no problem with restoring old tools. I've got quite a few old SB planes that have been restored to one level or another. Some I bought from a guy that sprays every inch of them with lacquer. Sharp blade and flat sole they work fine.

I think the level would look fantastic restored back to like new condition.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Here's a Stanley level that I did. They where notorious for the vials leaking all the fluid out, especially if they where left out in the cold. So I had one that was like new but bad vials, and I found a donor for $20 or so but was in rough shape. So I took 2 levels and swapped the vials out and made one good one.
These are mahogony with brass edges.

Just siliconed them back in like the original.

I even have a Stanley case for it.

 

[trc65]

Here is one of my old ones, a 24" cast iron level with brass bubbles from 1896-1913 based on patent dates.

 

[JD1137]

I have a quite a collection of vintage plumb levels from the late 1890’s- Stanley and Stratton from 9”-30” long. Most are either solid rosewood or triple laminated, several mahogany (Cuban and Honduran), 1 lignum vitae, a couple of Ebony. I have a couple of fairly rare Helb railroad level. One unicorn level.

Thanks Arn. I’m sure you have some beauties in your collection.

One of my woodturning mentors has close to 4,000 levels he’s collected over about 50 years. All restored to some degree and all numbered and catalogued.

I’ve seen a good number of his most special ones he has on display and they are truly works of art.

 

[JD1137]

Here is one of my old ones, a 24" cast iron level with brass bubbles from 1896-1913 based on patent dates.

View attachment 270186

That’s a beauty Tim!

 

[Arn213]

I hate to do this and show you a portion of this rosewood level that I keep by my side. All original, including the vials, uncleaned with all natural patina. The brass had turned into a patinated bronze. Won’t clean it or restore it as it will erase its history as this level was made in 1896. Solid 12” Brazilian rosewood……

 

[Arn213]

Thanks Arn. I’m sure you have some beauties in your collection.

One of my woodturning mentors has close to 4,000 levels he’s collected over about 50 years. All restored to some degree and all numbered and catalogued.

I’ve seen a good number of his most special ones he has on display and they are truly works of art.

That is a big mighty collection. I don’t have nowhere close, but my collection is model number specific as most were made in the late 1800’s. Most of it is solid rosewood- Stanley, Stratton, Goodell Pratt, OVB, Poole, Stackpole, Helb, Davis, etc.

 

[JD1137]

I hate to do this and show you a portion of this rosewood level that I keep by my side. All original, including the vials, uncleaned with all natural patina. The brass had turned into a patinated bronze. Won’t clean it or restore it as it will erase its history as this level was made in 1896. Solid 12” Brazilian rosewood……

View attachment 270187

Nice! So, just asking……but is that also a Stanley, perhaps same model as I found, but older?

 

[Arn213]

Nice! So, just asking……but is that also a Stanley, perhaps same model as I found, but older?

No that is a Stratton. You have a Stanley No. 90, circa 1906.

 

[Arn213]

Stanley made some beautiful rosewood levels - full size and small size; 6” up to 30” long plus. Highly sought after and very collectible. They don’t show up very often. I do have those rosewood model by Stanley with the lengths that I mentioned above.

 

[Arn213]

Stanley No. 96 was a game changer due to Justus Taut, their tool maker. The brass bindings was dovetailed into the wood as well as the end plates; coupled together. The rosewood version is a sight to behold and a standard size can weigh close to 5 pounds.

 

[JD1137]

Stanley made some beautiful rosewood levels - full size and small size; 6” up to 30” long plus. Highly sought after and very collectible. They don’t show up very often. I do have those rosewood model by Stanley with the lengths that I mentioned above.

Nice!

The back-story on my “find” is that I occasionally swing into the local Salvation Army store when I’m in their neighborhood and have a couple minutes to kill.
I’m usually looking for an old wooden bowl, perhaps “hit an homer” and find a Bob Stocksdale or Rude Osolnik signature on the bottom of an old bowl.
Well, this old level is on the same shelf as the housewares/bowls section for some reason.

Anyway- I have a decent 4’ wooden level, but a couple of cheesy 2 footers so figure this is old Stanley will be a sweet upgrade.

 

[JD1137]

Stanley No. 96 was a game changer due to Justus Taut, their tool maker. The brass bindings was dovetailed into the wood as well as the end plates; coupled together. The rosewood version is a sight to behold and a standard size can weigh close to 5 pounds.

I’ve got to take a little loser look at the one I found, but first glance looks like all tubes, brass and screws are original.

 

[Arn213]

I’ve got to take a little loser look at the one I found, but first glance looks like all tubes, brass and screws are original.

I purchased some levels that weren’t in good condition just in case I might need donor parts. A lot of people that sells estate or what have you, don’t know what kind of wood they have and usually will sell something that it isn’t. They like to pass any wood as rosewood if it has turned dark. Some of them would put an oil finish and refinish it. Some will replace the vial (if it dried or broke)- well you would see it as the original vials would have yellowed and the plaster would have yellowed. The replacement would be white and the spirits would be white. Some will put any screw if they are missing to the said piece.

 

[Mike Hill]

I have a few - some rosewood, but have not added to them in a few years after wifey asked where I was gonna put them - her gentle prod of me not buying anymore of them.