8 replies to this topic

[Sam Falzone]

I finally got a chance to clean up the 300lb anvil I got this week. Grinding paint off an anvil is NOT fun and this baby had at least 3 layers of paint (... I saw at least black, white and green ...). All that paint was covering up a maker's name, but one I can't completely make out and I'm unfamiliar with, what I can make out so far. So this is where I need some help. I checked out the list of anvil makers from "Anvils in America" (I found the list duplicated on-line) but couldn't make any matches.

I don't have the pictures downloaded yet but I can describe what I can see so far ...

The letters I can make out in the name line are: H B? KER
-I'm not sure if there are any other letters to the left of the H
-the letter between the B and K is hard to make out
... I originally thought it might be an A which would make this a Baker anvil, but it doesn't look like an A compared to the script the other letters are in.

Under the name line there is a star like shape which looks like an X with a line drawn hroizontally through it ... like this X

Under that there are the numbers 139 which I think is the weight in kilos - which converts out to be 306lbs

I'll post pictures as soon as I can, but does this sound familiar to anyone so far???
I'd appreciate any help.

Sam

[Sask Mark]

Sam Falzone, on 02 September 2010 - 11:02 AM, said:

I finally got a chance to clean up the 300lb anvil I got this week. Grinding paint off an anvil is NOT fun and this baby had at least 3 layers of paint (... I saw at least black, white and green ...). All that paint was covering up a maker's name, but one I can't completely make out and I'm unfamiliar with, what I can make out so far. So this is where I need some help. I checked out the list of anvil makers from "Anvils in America" (I found the list duplicated on-line) but couldn't make any matches.

I don't have the pictures downloaded yet but I can describe what I can see so far ...

The letters I can make out in the name line are: H B? KER
-I'm not sure if there are any other letters to the left of the H
-the letter between the B and K is hard to make out
... I originally thought it might be an A which would make this a Baker anvil, but it doesn't look like an A compared to the script the other letters are in.

Under the name line there is a star like shape which looks like an X with a line drawn hroizontally through it ... like this X

Under that there are the numbers 139 which I think is the weight in kilos - which converts out to be 306lbs

I'll post pictures as soon as I can, but does this sound familiar to anyone so far???
I'd appreciate any help.

Sam

H Boker anvils were indeed imported for a while. It sounds like you might have one of those.

[Sam Falzone]

Sask Mark, on 02 September 2010 - 11:10 AM, said:

H Boker anvils were indeed imported for a while. It sounds like you might have one of those.

I've never heard of them.
Do you know anything more about them?
Thanks Mark.

[Sask Mark]

I've seen one before and it appeared to have a 6-pointed star on it (it looked like the Star of David).

If my feeble memory serves me correctly, they were made in Germany and H. Boker was the importer. When you hear of the 'German Made Trentons' this is the brand they are speaking of before Trentons were made in Columbus,OH.

Apparently, H. Boker also imported anvils from England that were thought to be made by Peter Wright. The flats on the top of the feet of your anvil makes me think that this might be where yours came from Sam.

I think there is something written about them in AIA. I can check when I get home unless someone beats me to it.

[Mainely,Bob]

Any ties to Boker knives?

[Sask Mark]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it is speculated that after Boker sold the rights to the Trenton name to CFI he moved back to Germany where his family was still running the company. I believe that they are the company that is associated with the knives.

I will try to confirm this tonight when I read my AIA.

[Sam Falzone]

Thanks very much Mark - that's been a great help.
If anyone wants to see the anvil, I posted pictures on my 300lb beauty thread.
Sam

[zampilot]

Sam Falzone, on 02 September 2010 - 04:26 PM, said:

Thanks very much Mark - that's been a great help.
If anyone wants to see the anvil, I posted pictures on my 300lb beauty thread.
Sam

Yes, they are Boker Knives, some good stuff, particulary if you can find an M3 Fighting Knife with sheath!

[Sask Mark]

Sask Mark, on 02 September 2010 - 01:05 PM, said:

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it is speculated that after Boker sold the rights to the Trenton name to CFI he moved back to Germany where his family was still running the company. I believe that they are the company that is associated with the knives.

I will try to confirm this tonight when I read my AIA.

Update: page 327 of AIA confirms that Herman Boker founded the H. Boker & Company in 1837 and retired back to Germany, leaving his sons to run the company in New York. As of 1991, his great-great-grandson John was still a broker in New York city.

It also seems that some of the German made Bokers had the flats on top of the feet as well, so yours MIGHT be German as opposed to being made by Peter Wright.