Anvils Make and Model

[Finnr]

The rubbing looks to be 0-3-23 that should give you a weight of 107 pounds
Finnr

[Ten Hammers]

It is possible that the one with "Solid Wrought"and "USA"is an Arm and Hammer. These are anvils you plan to use or are wanting to know the value for collectors purposes ?

[darawest]

On the USA anvil, on the front, on the right there is W and two numbers, not clear exactly what they are. Think the first is an 8. On the left there is, A29583(not sure about the 3). Am I looking at the left/right correctly? I am looking down at it. If I look straight on, then it is right for the serial number.

BT the depression is an hour glass.

Also on the USA anvil, by the large < above the other markings it looks like there is a big A and then some other letters and right below the A a T. But the strange thing is that none of this is stamped in like the other markings. Could that have been put on by the people who owned it?

We put these in the sun now so I can see them better. Will clean them up better tonight. I just dashed out there at lunch to get a better look.

The question about what we want to do with them, we do want to know the value to sell them. No one in the family plans to use them. But with everything we discovered in the old Curtis house while we renovated it, we like to find out more about it. I love history.

Thanks everyone for your comments!

[BT]

Originally Posted by darawest

On the USA anvil, on the front, on the right there is W and two numbers, not clear exactly what they are. Think the first is an 8. On the left there is, A29583(not sure about the 3). Am I looking at the left/right correctly? I am looking down at it. If I look straight on, then it is right for the serial number.

Left and right would be determined when you are facing the point of the horn straight on. The factors that point to a Trenton here are the markings "<" that you refer too. The Trenton logo is actually a diamond "<>" with the word TRENTON inside the diamond. The letters are shaped to fit inside the diamond, so the T is fairly small with the r e n getting progressively larger with the N in the center of the diamond and then the t o n again getting progressively smaller. Often only part of this logo is still visible. Trenton also made anvils for other companies, so sometimes you will have another name or marking stamped on the anvil also. One of my Trenton's has Sears "ACME" brand stamped over the Trenton logo.

The Serial number prefixed with the "A" is another indication as is the hourglass depression. Hay Budden anvils also had an hourglass depression in the bottom though, so that is not always a determining factor. Hay Buddens though had the serial number on the left as you look at the point of the horn, and usually had the weight stamped on the side of the anvil below the trademark.

If you wire brush the areas with the stamps it will usually bring them out a little clearer. Many times though the stamped areas are worn or hammered up and illegible.

Since this is a USA anvil the weight would most likely not be in the British stoneweight system, but would be in pounds.

[mcraigl]

I'll give you a hundred bucks. How's that to get the "value" question going?

[darawest]

Ok, sounds like I have a Trenton with the ACME stamp!

I was thinking of contacting the local blacksmith orgs in this area to let them know these are available. They are so heavy that I didn't know how easy it would be to ship. So about a dollar a pound is their worth? I thought they may be worth more.

[Glenn]

Anvils value depends on the seller, the buyer, the condition, and how great the need is to either get, or get rid of, the anvil. Different parts of the country also influence the price. Take it to Alaska or Hawaii and because there are few anvils there, the price goes up.

That said, you already own the anvil, why not use it? Set one by the forge and the other anvil in another location. Saves walking.

[ThomasPowers]

Actually those are light enough to ship UPS (IIRC they have a 150#limit).

Small anvils---like yours often go for a premium as many people like them for travel anvils, decoration, shoeing, etc. Very large anvils go for a premium due to their rarity it's the medium sized anvils say 150-350 pounds that go the cheapest per pound in my experience.

Talk with the local group as to what the going price locally is.

[darawest]

That is a good idea. We have some old tools hung by the fireplace in the den. The anvil would look good there too!

About the Sears, I bet the family did order the Trenton, ACME brand from Sears. When renovating the house we refinished some beautiful kitchen cabinets. Turns out when we pulled them out, they had been purchased through Sears. One still had a Sears label.

Thanks all for your information!