This plane is in amazing condition for it's age. One of the first ever Craftsman tools made, it dates from 1927 to 1930 when Sargent Tools was the manufacturer of these. The BL on the blade identifies Sargent.This logo on the blade was the first Craftsman logo from 1927 until the early 30's.
I cleaned up this plane with a complete disassembly. Bolts have been polished, the lever cap polished to a mirror finish, body sanded to a nice sheen, blades chemically cleaned of rust (no sanding), wood handle and knob lightly waxed (the original shellac wood finish shows some surface cracking but is not anywhere near chipping), and adjustment knob polished. Every part was touched. I even put a little carnuba wax on the inner black paint area for extra shine and protection. No repainting or clear coat applied. See pictures for details. The box is included and has some damage to the box. Not bad for being over 90 years old!
Craftsman tools started in 1927, when the newly hired head of the Sears hardware department wanted to create a brand name for Sears that distinguished it from other manufacturers. He liked the name used by the Marion-Craftsman Tool Company, and offered them $500 for the rights to use the name on Sears Products. They immediately implemented the lifetime guarantee tool policy, still in place today.
Let me know of any questions or if you'd like more pictures!