This one is from the Sweetheart period, 1923 - 1935.
The Stanley No.239 Special Dado Plane is 7 1/2" long
with a 1/8" wide
cutter. It was Special in that it was designed with electricians in mind,
who needed to cut grooves and dadoes for blind wiring.
Strictly, this one should be called the 239-1/8 as it has an 1/8" cutter.
The plane sold in 4 widths, all designated by the width of the cutter, e.g.
239-1/8, 239-5/32, 239-3/16, 239-1/4
and for a little while, there was a 239-1/2, (1919-1923). Originally, the
early versions didn't have a fence. The fence was added about 1923 when they
dropped the 239-1/2.
The cutter is manually set and held by two screws.
The plane is sitting in a groove, plowed by itself, in a block of pine.
The depth stop is very small, only 5/8" long. The cutter is marked Stanley with
the Sweetheart Logo underneath,
then Made in USA. Unfortunately, this plane has lost
it's vertical spur.
The reverse of the cutter has Pat'd 3-30-15 stamped on it.
This is quite a scarce plane in the UK.
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