Description

Very Rare Leonard Bailey A‑Series 15″ Split Frame Plane — Phenomenal Condition

Ex–John Wells Collection

A very rare Leonard Bailey A‑Series 15″ Split Frame Plane in absolutely phenomenal condition—truly the finest example of this pattern we have handled or seen in the past thirty years. This plane came directly from John Wells’ collection, purchased around 2017, and remains exactly as he kept it: clean, crisp, and completely honest Tote may have a slight repair to the tip very hard to tell. No other issues noted.

This is one of the earlier split‑frame models, produced in the mid‑1850s, representing Bailey’s earliest and most experimental period—long before the Stanley era and long before his later patents reshaped American planemaking. The form, proportions, and construction are textbook early Bailey, and the condition is extraordinary for a plane of this age.

This style plane is well‑documented in the literature. It can be researched in Leonard Bailey and His Working Tools by Paul Van Pernis and John Wells, and it appears in both PTAMPIA Volume 1 and Volume 2, as well as the June 2002 issue of The Gristmill. It is a centerpiece‑level artifact—if you want the best, this is the one.

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