Anvil date?

[Eplavoi]

Hey guys. We were recently able to acquire Great grandad's old farm anvil. Stamped on the side with
 JE Pilcher
Solid wrought
BlackJack 
warranted
St Louis 
2.0.9 (English weight measure)

Possible serial number on foot under horn 30264

It has a rimmed foot, and there is an inverted pyramid hole in the center of the bottom.

 

We know it was made for Simmons, but are having a hard time finding a date of manufacture. It has been in MN for probably it's whole life, so most likely purchased in Minneapolis. 

When might this have been made, and what exactly is the use of the pyramid hole?

Thanks!

[ChrisPTF]

Hay Budden made anvils for J.E. Pilcher, Blackjack, St. Louis. Simmons Hardware Co, St Louis (AIA Pg 289). If it is a Hay Budden serial # 30264 (AIA) would date it 1897. Photos from various angles would help, including the bottom. Hay Budden never used the English weight system, they always used the weight in pounds so the anvil would probably be 209lbs. I am not sure about the pyramid hole in the center on the bottom until I see a picture of it. Hay Budden anvils before 1909 usually have a number stamped on the front of the waist under the horn to the left or the right of the handling hole. The numbers usually range from 0 to 9.

[Eplavoi]

Thanks for the info! That would make great grandpa 25 when it was manufactured, so he probably bought it new. The top two pics are the anvil. This pic of the bottom we stole from the internet, it looks like ours. 

Haven't found another number by the handling hole yet, but maybe after it gets cleaned up a bit more. What does this number tell?

 Thanks!

[ChrisPTF]

22 minutes ago, Eplavoi said:

Thanks for the info! That would make great grandpa 25 when it was manufactured, so he probably bought it new. The top two pics are the anvil. This pic at the bottom we stole from the internet, it looks like ours. 

Haven't found another number by the handling hole yet, but maybe after it gets cleaned up a bit more. What does this number tell?

 Thanks!

The number stamped on the front of the waist under the horn was probably an inspector's code mark. If that last photo is what resembles the bottom of your anvil then that is what a Hay Budden anvil looks like at the bottom of their base. That is a beautiful anvil and on top of it, it was your great granddads anvil.