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The Boss is on a kick to empty out 40 years of construction junk in our warehouse.
I got a couple nice old wooden planes, a 70-80 year old Crescent-Bridgeport nail puller( really cool) and this
neat old anvil
It's 24" long, 10 1/2" high and the top is @ 4 1/2"
There are some markings on the side but I can't make them out.
Probably weighs @ 90lbs.
I've been getting a real kick out of the back yard forge posts. Now it's my turn to get into the game.
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
Great find. Anvils used to go for at least a dollar a pound, that was 20 years ago. No telling what one will bring now. Very handy tool, when you need one nothing else is as good.
Rob
Proud to be Christian American and not ashamed of being white.
May your rifle always shoot straight, your mag never run dry, you always have one more round than you have adversaries, and your good mate always be there to watch your back.
Because I can!
Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be.
Nice Find- and the price was perfect. That last pic is a Peter Wright Anvil 110 lbs. I have PW 64 lb and looking for a bigger one , maybe 250 lbs. clean it up and see if U can read what it says.
My knife making urge has "cooled" for now but there's a 50'-75' stretch of RR track (including ties) laying behind our building that I'm trying to figure out how to cut into manageable sections. It's an old section that was replaced who knows how long ago and the RR company never reclaimed it.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
Well after staring at this one photo of your anvil, I have to guess it may be a Fisher anvil. It has some of the right features. But I am more leaning towards it being a Mouse Hole anvil made in England. Have you been able to find any markings? Using nothing more than a hand held wire brush, Give it a good scrub to loosen and remove the "grunge". Then a good oiling and wipe down to keep it happy. Mine gets an occasional bath of WD40 or Blaster or whatever gets in my hand from time to time. NO RUSTING ALLOWED. That's my motto. Take a look under the horn, down along the front of the foot. Any numbers or a name? Look at the bottom. Is it flat or does it have a depression? Also, does the bottom of the horn have a fairly sharp edge as it runs towards the body or is it rounded?
I love playing name that anvil.
Gobbler
I'll check it out when I get home. There are markings on the side facing the camera it's pretty heavily corroded. Some oil and
a wire brush might bring something out.
I want to find a nice chunk of oak to mount it on and find a good place in the garage for it. the base is curved upwards and
not flat.
I hope I have a little day light when I get home.
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
JReed wrote:You lucky dog. I am still on the hunt for a decent anvil but @ $2.50 a pound they tend to be a bit pricy. Good on ya
My first thought when I found in the back was "Jeremy is going to be Ticked"!
I'll bring you the next one I find.
jb
Hey if you find another at that price at the least I'll meet you half way
I can't wait to see how it looks when you get it cleaned up. Now you just need a forge and you are set.
Jeremy
GySgt USMC Ret
To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy Semper Fidelis
Jason, Those numbers translate to "sixgun". Its mine!
Pretty cool dude, I also like neat things like that. My Dad had a fetish for big vises. I inherited them and there must be 15 around here ---and thats after I gave about 10 away----------Sixgun
1st. Gen. Colt SAA’s, 1878 D.A.45 and a 38-55 Marlin TD
Jason, Those numbers translate to "sixgun". Its mine!
Pretty cool dude, I also like neat things like that. My Dad had a fetish for big vises. I inherited them and there must be 15 around here ---and thats after I gave about 10 away----------Sixgun
I could use a big vise!!
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
Sometimes the numbers give tghe weight of the anvil in hundred-weight (112#). It's neat to tell somebody how much their anvil weighs when the numbers don't seem to be related to the actual weight.
Here are a bunch of ideas for anvil stands. You may have to create an account on the forum to view some of the pics but this place is a wealth of info on blacksmithing. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/15945-s ... vil-stand/
Jeremy
GySgt USMC Ret
To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy Semper Fidelis
A little scrubbing with a brass brush and I found some faint markings.
FORGE
(there's something above it)
and what looks like;
1. 1. 4. The 4 could be an H
And the base is flat. (was remembering wrong.) with a approx one inch hole in the middle.
I'll have more time tomorrow.
It is probably a 4. As stated you have an anvil that is marked in "Stone Weight" and translates to 144 ponds American. The anvil is of European manufacture and is looking more and more like a Mouse Hole. Mouse holes were all made with flat bases and many were marked "Mouse Hole Forge". Any chance I could get a picture of the marking area of the anvil close up and clear? Mouse holes had a number of different markings depending on time frame and ownership. It's possible to put a decade or so to year of manufacture.
Gobbler
Gobblerforge wrote:Here's mine on a stump. I read that blacksmiths back in the day prefered elm stumps because the were too hard to split for fire wood.
Gobbler
Elm would certainly be a good choice. Not only is it hard, the fibers are so entangled that it's near impossible to split.
That, my friend, is a traveler that I made some years ago. It is a measuring device that works on long and irregular surfaces. It is used by applying a chalk mark on the side of the wheel. Then by placing the chalk mark at the starting point of that which is to be measured, the traveler is rolled along the surface to the end. Counting revolutions and then a chalk mark at the end. Now this measurement can be reproduced elsewhere by repeating the procedure and it's pretty accurate too. Think of a wheelwright measuring the outside of a wagon wheel, then transferring the measurement to a piece of flat stock to be made into a tire.
Perry. Kind of cool that your anvil stone weight measures 70 pounds, American. Gives a nice idea of how much weight was lost due to corrosion and wear.And I also see you have the rare white tipped model. It appears to be a Peter Wright.
Gobbler
Last edited by Gobblerforge on Sat Nov 06, 2010 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Here's another photo. You can't see where it says FORGE but the
numbers came out ok.
This is the worst side if it. Other side is a little more square along the top.
It's probably been the corner of the shop for at least 20 years. The Boss couldn't remember where it came from.
I'm trying to load a photo of the top of it.
Got it to work.
Top view.
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
Jason, Next time you come to Texas you can pick up a Bois d' arc ("Osage Orange" to you Yankees-or "BORE DARC" to use rednecks) stump to set that on. Along with cockroaches and coyotes, the stump will still be there after the atomic apocalypse. You just don't want to make a mistake and drop the stump on your anvil and break it (the anvil.)
"Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world." - Thomas Carlyle
That is a Mouse Hole now that I see the rest. Probably mid to later 1800's. The pritchel hole puts it after 1830, and the shape puts it after 1870's or so. Unfortunately, characteristic of Mouse holes, the trademark and name has eroded away. They were not stamped that deeply. The weight was stamped a little deeper but still many times the only marks left are the center punches between the numbers. There were serial numbers stamped on the front foot under the horn on many as well as letters or numbers on others. The condition of yours isn't cherry but worry not, for a lot of good work can still be done on it.
Gobbler
Gobblerforge wrote:Perry. Can you post a photo of the area above the weight marking?
Gobbler
Gobbler,
The position of the markings is outlined in black.The top face is 12 x 3in and the horn is 7in.
There is a square hole in the other side of the base as well. I assume it is an English make as
that's where the factory was.
Perry Owens
Gobblerforge wrote:That is a Mouse Hole now that I see the rest. Probably mid to later 1800's. The pritchel hole puts it after 1830, and the shape puts it after 1870's or so. Unfortunately, characteristic of Mouse holes, the trademark and name has eroded away. They were not stamped that deeply. The weight was stamped a little deeper but still many times the only marks left are the center punches between the numbers. There were serial numbers stamped on the front foot under the horn on many as well as letters or numbers on others. The condition of yours isn't cherry but worry not, for a lot of good work can still be done on it.
Gobbler
Thanks for all the great info. I had no idea it was that old.
As soon as I get some spare time I'm going to work on that rust a little more and find a good spot in the garage for it.
Now I have to start on a forge.
Like I need another hobby!
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
