When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Vintage 1966 Baileys Patent Coopers Shave 18-1/2" w/ Stanley Rule & Level CutterUp for sale is an interesting coopers shave. Tool measures roughly 18-1/2" long and is marked on the body of the coopers shave with a June 19th, 1866 patent date. The cutter is marked Stanley Rule & Level.
The mounting is interesting on this coopers shave. It has two tabs on the end that hold the cutter in, and those tabs have screws. I would think there would have been a bar across, but if you look closely at the two corner pieces, you can see some Japanning on the ends. So this could have been made like this, or someone cut the bar and rejapanned it.
Another thing that makes this interesting is that the patent date is for improvements in spokeshaves. Doing some research, I could only find early double-blade models with a bar mounting that had this patent date. It is very possible this is a very early version of the larger coopers shave cutter mounting from Leonard Bailey. Ironically, I found this a few years back in Hollis, NH, the town Leonard Bailey was born in, but by this time he was already working down in Boston. These were made by both Leonard Bailey and Stanley at the time. I thought I would share its origin. I have had this in my collection for at least 5 years.
Overall, the coopers shave is in decent shape and needs to be cleaned up. I do think the tabs are factory but I cannot say for sure if this had a bar going across or just the tabs holding the cutter, so use your best judgment when buying.
Comes as seen in the pictures. Any questions, just ask.
