by justaskin » 01 Jul 2019, 10:11
Hi Woodster
It appears my router must be pre 1900.
Just dug up some info on Edward he had a son with the same name, he followed in father's footsteps he opened a brass foundry in Birmingham, maybe that is why our router has the beehive knobs. And Edward Preston Sr. (c. 1798–1883), (Probably baptised at the church of St Philip, Birmingham, on 26 March 1798), appears to have started out in business as a plane maker and was first listed as in this profession at 77 Lichfield Street in the Birmingham Directory of 1833. From other listings and advertisements, it appears that the business was actually started in 1825. Preston is likewise recorded as a plane-maker living with his family in Lichfield Street in the 1841 census, at which time his younger son Edward was 6 years old. Around 1850, his son Edward left school to join his father’s business and is recorded in the 1851 census as a plane-maker at his father’s address.
By 1864Edward Jr. appears to have started up his own “wood and brass spirit level manufactory” at 97½ Lichfield Street. By 1866, he had added planes, routers, joiners, coach, gun, cabinet and carpenters tools to his line, and the following year he moved his shop from his father’s address and relocated to 26 Newton Street, before moving again to much larger premises at 22–24 Whittall Street. This location became known as the Whittall Works and later was the office and factory of Edward Preston & Sons, Ltd.
Extract from Classic Tools
Edward Preston Sr. (c. 1798–1883), (Probably baptised at the church of St Philip, Birmingham, on 26 March 1798), appears to have started out in business as a plane maker and was first listed as in this profession at 77 Lichfield Street in the Birmingham Directory of 1833. From other listings and advertisements, it appears that the business was actually started in 1825. Preston is likewise recorded as a plane-maker living with his family in Lichfield Street in the 1841 census, at which time his younger son Edward was 6 years old. Around 1850, his son Edward left school to join his father’s business and is recorded in the 1851 census as a plane-maker at his father’s address.
By 1864Edward Jr. appears to have started up his own “wood and brass spirit level manufactory” at 97½ Lichfield Street. By 1866, he had added planes, routers, joiners, coach, gun, cabinet and carpenters tools to his line, and the following year he moved his shop from his father’s address and relocated to 26 Newton Street, before moving again to much larger premises at 22–24 Whittall Street. This location became known as the Whittall Works and later was the office and factory of Edward Preston & Sons, Ltd.
The saga carries on. If you look at Classic Tools there is even more blurb on his 3 grand children.
You think its difficult try herding cats