> 
> Name is Jon Endres, professional civil engineer by trade, age 32, wife, 3
> kids, shop cat.

    Welcome to the porch.

>
> The question I have is this:  I have two separate stanley 60-1/2 block
> planes.  I bought one on fleaBay and found out (buyer beware!) that it
> wasn't complete.  So I bought another one from a private seller that had
> the casting stripped out in the blade tightening screw socket, and found
> out that the parts don't fit each other!  The adjustable part of the
> casting, in front of the mouth, is a different width and thickness, the
> blades are different and don't interchange, and some other minor
> dimensions just don't match.  What gives?

    John Walter's Stanley Guide says that the 60 1/2 was 1 1/2" wide
until 1914 and then 1 3/8" wide until it was discontinued in 1982.  The
maroon japaning is indicative of a much newer Stanley product as is the
stamping of model numbers in the side.  The black one is most likely
very old.

Regards,
Steve