Stanley No. 71 Router Type Study Page

Stanley No. 71 Router Type Study

Type 1. Stanley 1884-1885

Cast iron base with "checkered" design on surface is japanned black.
"PAT'D MARCH 4, 1884" letters cast around aperture. This was for the basic design Patent No, 294,724 issued to Henry P. Cope.
Turned maple knobs with beaded edge at the base. Natural varnish.
Two cutters were provided, 1/4" & 1/2" wide.
Bolt that secures knob is of two-piece construction as on bench planes.
Clamp that secures cutter has fluted decorations case around it.

Type 2. Stanley 1885-1888

Type 3. Stanley 1888-1892

Type 4. Stanley 1892-1895

All features identical to Type 3 except:
The No. 71 is now an open-throat router. An arched bridge supports the casting forward of the large aperture.
"STANLEY" is separated on the base and cast in large script letters.
"No. 71" and "PATENTED MARCH 4, 84" lettering is repositioned on the base.
Beaded edge at base of maple knobs is eliminated.
Cast iron base now has a "stippled" design cast on the surface.

Type 5. Stanley 1896-1901

All features identical to Type 4 except:
A throat-closing attachment (shown at right) for working narrow surfaces was provided.
Routers manufactured c. 1896-1899 may have "S" casting on each part including the attachments.
Models manufactured c. 1899-1901 may have "B" casting marks.

Type 6. Stanley 1902-1905

All features identical to Type 5 except:
Patent date cast on base is now "OCT. 29, 01". This was for the cutter adjustment provision, Patent No. 685,411, granted to Albert F. Schade.
Bolt that secures knob is now one piece.
Some routers of this type have "STANLEY-NEW BRITAIN, CONN.-U.S.A." stamped on the adjustment wheel.
"B" casting marks are located on most castings.
The cutter adjustment (top and side view shown at right) was now provided on all Stanley router planes.
Although many router plane specimens, with the adjustment provision, are found with the small diameter collar of the adjustment wheel down, it should be up. All Stanley catalogue illustrations and patent drawings show it up. You cannot obtain the full depth adjustment with the collar down.

Type 7. Stanley 1906-1908

All features identical to Type 6 except:
"STANLEY" repositioned and now cast in plain block lettering.
All castings now provided with raised bosses and recessed where the screw holes may be drilled and countersunk, if desired. This was to attach a wood base. Screw holes found in the base of earlier types apparently were drilled and countersunk by the owner. The holes in late models may have been drilled and countersunk at the factory.
Most models of this type have the markings on the cutter adjustment wheel.

Type 8. Stanley 1909-1915 (Major change)

All features identical to Type 7. except:
A throat-closing device is now mounted on the arched bridge over the throat. This was Patent No. 865,560, Sept. 10, 1907, granted to George H. Barlett.
"PAT. 10-29-01" and "PAT. 9-10-07" are now cast on the base.
"No. 71" marking has been repositioned.
"STANLEY" marking has been relocated to the arched bridge.
The screw holes in the base were now drilled at the factory.
Cast iron base now has a "checkered" design on the surface.
All "B" casting marks eliminated.

Type 9. Stanley 1916-1924

All features identical to Type 8 except:
"PAT. 10-29-01" marking eliminated and replaced with "MADE IN U.S.A."
Extra V-shaped smoothing cutter (shown at right) was provided starting in 1917.
The V-shaped cutter is of a two-piece construction. The patent date stamped on early cutters is "5-14-12". This was Patent No. 1,026,053 granted on May 14, 1912 to Thomas B. Saner of Clifton, Arizona, and assigned to S.R. & L. Co.

Type 10. Stanley 1925-1938

All features identical to Type 9 except:
Patent date was eliminated.
Apparently the use of black paint on the knobs was intermittent during this period.

Type 11. Stanley 1939-1941

All features identical to Type 10 except:
Cutters now have a groove on all four sides (shown below) to engage the adjustment wheel.
Graduations are marked on the top of cutters to aid in adjustment.
Maple knobs are painted black. Some models, c. 1941, may have rosewood knobs.
All routers now provided with an adjustable fence that travels in two machined grooves on the bottom surface. Threaded holes are provided on the base to attach the fence (shown below.)
A section of the checkered design was eliminated to thicken the base around the screw holes for the fence.
"No. 71" and "MADE IN U.S.A." were repositioned on the base.

Grooved cutters

View showing fence

Type 12. Stanley 1942-1945

Type 13. Stanley 1945-1952

All features identical to Type 12 except:
Castings are now nickel-plated.
Some maple knobs of this type are finished natural and others are painted black.

Type 14. Stanley 1953-1973

All features identical to Type 13 except:
Fluted decoration is eliminated from the cutter-clamping device. An original instruction sheet dating July 1953 illustrates the new cutter-clamping device.
Hardwood knobs were painted blue, c. 1960-65.
Some models of this type have a knurled design on the thumbscrew that secures the cutter clamp.

Type 15. Stanley 1974-1993

It is believed that starting in about 1974 the No. 71 router plane was only manufactured in England. The planes will be identical to Type 14 except "MADE IN ENGLAND" is cast on the frame.

Last modified: April 15, 1996

Jay Sutherland, jay@ee.cornell.edu