Edward Preston Small Router, 22

The Edward Preston small grooving or depthing router number 22 is a very useful small tool for Pattern Makers, Cabinet Makers, Carpenters, etc., for smoothing the bottom of grooves and depressions below the surface of small woodwork.

There are two holes in the body of the tool into which the cutter can be inserted. When the cutter is in the centre hole, the tool is a router plane, and when the cutter is in the outer hole, the cutter will be very useful for getting into corners.

A special feature is that the pin, which holds the cutter in position in either of the holes, doesn't need to be removed for changing the cutter. All that is necessary is to slacken the blued milled nut (which also is provided with a turn-screw slot) and palce the iron in the necessary hole required for use, and tighten.

This innovative router was designed to improve upon and replace the wooden "granny's tooth" router which had tradionally been used by many generations beforehand. This it certainly did. This style of router has been made for over a century, beyond the Preston 22 router, came the Record 722 router, and today there is the modernised version in the form of the Veritas small router plane.

I am struggling to pin-point the initial manufacturing date of the Preston 22 router, I am unsure as to whether the Stanley 271 mini router was designed first or the Preston 22.

This router is considered to be fairly rare.

Router Use

The Edward Preston router, number 22, is used for cleaning out grooves and can also be used for carved work.

Manufactured Dates

? - 1934

Router Also Known As

Preston Grooving Router
Preston Depthing Router

Further Info

Further information on this tool can be found in trade catalogues and retailer brochures of the period. These tool books usually contained a drawing and a sentence or two for each tool.

Where Can I Buy This Tool Secondhand?

This model of tool can be purchased from the following woodworking tool retailers, subject to availability.

Price: £30 - £50

Shops which sell similar routers

OldTools.co.uk

* The price shown is a typical price. The price may vary between retailers. The price may vary between planes. Some planes may command higher prices due to condition, type, age, variations.