Character
Union Tool Co., New Britain, Connecticut — the same city as Stanley Works. Union produced Bailey-pattern bench planes from approximately 1890; production gradually merged into Stanley. Two acquisitions document the transition: one explicitly Union Tool Co., the other marked "Union/Stanley" from the 1920s.
Union planes are of collector interest as evidence of the decentralised American tool industry before Stanley's consolidation of the market.
Construction
Bailey-pattern cast iron body in No. 2 proportions — the smallest size of a full bench plane. Frog, lateral adjuster and cap iron follow the Union Tool Co. configuration of the period. Transitional "Union/Stanley" examples may combine components from both production eras.
Dating
Union Tool Co. planes date approximately 1890–1930 by logo, frog and lateral adjuster details. The seller's description of "1920's" for the second acquisition is unverified. The Union → Stanley transition was gradual; mixed branding is characteristic of the transitional period circa 1920–1930.
Notes
This page documents the Union No. 2 based on two acquisitions in the collection. Exact variant attribution for both examples (logo, frog, lateral adjuster) awaits physical verification.
