Thread: Router Reminiscence

Paul, I have two of these, from the early 50's. Made by Stanley. I believe that this design developed into the Bosch ...



Both need to be rewired, so not for use. I just love their looks, and keep them on a shelf.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have one the same I purchased it in the mid seventies, it is a Black & Decker industrial model, it has been a extremely reliable machine it has never any issue whatsoever

Thanks Derek and China.

Derek's Stanley looks earlier with that domed style. Looks to me as though it might have made coffee too, but multi purpose machines were not going to appear until the late noughties and mobile phones!

So my router is early seventies. Thanks China.

I expect that it will spend it's time as a show piece. Without a fence it's main use would be with a bearing guided bit and I may use it like that for occasional light use.

Regards
Paul

Almost certainly 60's, '71-'72 at the latest.

I lived within spitting distance of their Croydon factory; in the early 70's it was converted to a warehouse facility (I was looking at getting a job there then) and not that long after it became administrative.

Unless they used up their existing stock of 'Croydon' nameplates on products from other sites... although I doubt it, given their standards at the time.

Εh, thats my main router, I bought it used a couple of months ago and I have it in my router table

Might be a slightly later model, I don't know, but it looks very similar.
I use it frequently and it hasn't skipped a beat.

Thanks Skew.

I just knew you blokes would be on top of this one.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Spyro

Εh, thats my main router, I bought it used a couple of months ago and I have it in my router table

Might be a slightly later model, I don't know, but it looks very similar.
I use it frequently and it hasn't skipped a beat.

Spyro

Funny thing is that I looked at the current draw and was trying to work out the power. Then I had an epiphany and saw in much larger letters "1HP"

I hope your router is larger as I don't think this size is ideal for much more than rounding over and other light work, at least not if is to last another fifty years.

Regards
Paul

Yep, got one about 5 years back in mint condition with original metal box and manual it came with, at the local markets for $15. From memory it said made in 1969 but of course it may have been a model made over a number of years. I use it as a dedicated router for dovetails in my D4 jig, works great, I just wish they made them like it now.

SB

1973, I bought it for Helen as a wedding present .....
..... the 2 weeks in hospital is insignificant now compared to the 45 years of reliable use?


F380AD46-1FCD-4678-8DE2-6C83E1716CE3.jpg 15EDF898-D6A4-496A-B0F1-8BD9D885055E.jpg

Originally Posted by fletty

1973, I bought it for Helen as a wedding present .....
..... the 2 weeks in hospital is insignificant now compared to the 45 years of reliable use?


F380AD46-1FCD-4678-8DE2-6C83E1716CE3.jpg 15EDF898-D6A4-496A-B0F1-8BD9D885055E.jpg

Alan

Wonderful sentiment.

As it happens it was Leanne's birthday today. I bought her two 6" cabinet makers rasps. Fortunately they haven't arrived yet!



Very pleased to see it seems to be the exact same model. Uuuum, 45 years .....Pleased to hear I haven't been given a dud!

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Spyro

Funny thing is that I looked at the current draw and was trying to work out the power. Then I had an epiphany and saw in much larger letters "1HP"

I hope your router is larger as I don't think this size is ideal for much more than rounding over and other light work, at least not if is to last another fifty years.

Regards
Paul

Well it's just a benchtop router table so no heavy use, heaviest I've done is some dados and rebates on plywood and it ate right through it like a champ. I generally go easy on it though, I do multiple passes, sharpen my bits etc.

Also it was my first router table build and I didn't even know if it would work so I just found a cheap router on ebay to start with. It just happened to be this one at the time. I thought I'd upgrade later but now I actually love it because it has a very easy and positive unlock and lift mechanism that I can operate blindly from the front of the table easily.

Spyro

I understand your feelings on this and change for changes sake is useless.

Regards
Paul