V&B No 4½ Smooth Plane
Refer to the Early Series ‘Uncle Sam’ Bench Planes for a general description of this line.
Specifications:
| Plane Type: | Smooth Plane |
| Features: | Adjustable, with screw adjustment for cutter |
| Manufactured: | Unknown, but probably <1919 to 1921 |
| Length: | 10 inches |
| Cutter Width: | 2⅜ inches |
| Construction: | Cast iron body, Walnut handle & knob |
| Finish: | Japanned (black) |
| Price (1922): | $5.45 |
| (1923): | N.A. |
| (1927): | N.A. |
| Uses: | General purpose bench plane |
Please check the Value Guide For V&B Planes page for relative prices.
Additional Notes:
As far as I can determine, the Number 4½ did not appear in any known catalogs, advertisements or price lists. I believe that these are early planes manufactured before the release of the 1922 catalog, rather than latter-made planes when the company was winding down their planemaking operations.
There is at least two examples of the Number 4½ that have been observed as having drop forged bodies, rather than cast iron ones. Both of these drop forged bodies were finished in light gray and the lever caps were cast with “4½”, rather than any other identifying number. This may suggest that Vaughan & Bushnell experimented with adding the Number 4½ to the 900 or 700 Series of planes, but used older lever caps instead of manufacturing new ones. However, more research needs to be undertaken in this area.
