Value Guide

All of the block planes made by Joseph Wolstenholme & Sons are collectable, but they’re not hugely valuable. At the time of writing there are some sellers on eBay who are asking quite high and exorbitant prices for both “The Duplex” plane and the tapered bullnose plane in particular, with the bizarre notion that they have been manufactured by Wingfield & Rowbotham. I can tell you, categorically, that they are not!

It appears that this practice has stemmed from ignorance, rather than (I hope) an attempt to defraud the potential buyer. I have spent some time over the past year or so contacting and trying to educate those sellers, however there are a small number of them who have continued to list these planes at a high “Buy It Now” price. Make of that what you will.

Be aware that this is happening and bid accordingly!

These planes are not that rare, but they are uncommon. For decades they have sold in the vicinity of around £12 to £25 ($15-$32 USD or $22-$45 AUD) but it’s not that unusual to see them go a little higher than that on occasion. Various secondhand tool dealers – online and offline – will also tend to sell them at a slightly higher price, and I certainly do not have a problem with that. Whatever you do, however, do not pay £120+ for examples claiming to be Wingfield & Rowbotham planes. If they were made by Wingfield & Rowbotham (which they’re not) then they would be worth those prices, as planes manufactured by Wingfield & Rowbotham are much rarer than the Wolstenholme planes are.

I should also add that, historically, there is not a lot of difference in price between the various sizes of the Wolstenholme planes. A larger Duplex plane isn’t really worth much more than a smaller one is.

Therefore, as a rough guide, I have provided a valuation of all of the Joseph Wolstenholme & Sons block planes below. Please note that conversion rates are not exact, but a generalisation. I have also allowed a bit more for future proofing purposes.