Bill_49

If they can use chicken manure as fuel for generating stations, you should be able to use horse manure. The major difference between bird manure and mammal manure is that bird manure also contains the uric acid from the liquid waste whereas mammal manure does not. I don't know if that will make a difference. I read where the old pioneers burned buffalo manure and cow manure for heat. There you go. Bill

I finally got the last of the paint off today and took a few final pics... getting it off of that soft floor seems to have helped the ping, but I only had a small ball bearing and couldn't get a good test. Here are the pics:

I did a little more cleaning on the anvil today... hope to finish it tomorrow. Here are a few more pics:

That's a good idea Brasilikilt... my wife used to work at H&R Block, and we have discussed donating item before. The only problem is that we don't make enough between us to itemize. I would probably be able to get a good price for it (on paper) as a donation. As it stands, I will either keep it and use it as is, keep it as a project (I need another project like I need another hole in my head.), or I will let someone who needs it and wants to fix it up buy it. Right now I will probably keep it around and just look at it for a while. I have a large walnut out back... may cut it down to make a nice stand for this thing. I keep looking for Pancho Villa's signature on it. Thanks for the idea, Bill

I don't have a large ball bearing, but I used a small hammer and got more rebound on the horn than on the middle of the top plate. Both the horn and the tail have a nice ping but the center is not nearly as loud. I found another issue on the bottom I will try to get a pic of in the next day or two. It looks like metal has been added to the bottom of the base to fill it it. Not sure when this was done, while casting, or later. Oh well... que seras. Thanks... Bill

Ok guys, I got some of the paint off today and here are some pics... will have more tomorrow hopefully. I can see the glaring imperfections and maybe these are serious issues... I just do not know. Here you go:

I checked the bottom of the anvil and I remember that my first impression was that not only was it flat, but it was lousy flat. My first thought was that it needs to be dressed, but then the whole anvil needs to be dressed. Oh well, maybe someone would like to buy a nice project anvil. It really needs some tender loving care. Bill

I knocked some of the paint off of the top and under the heel and saw no evidence of a pritchel hole. I also see what looks like a casting line that extends virtually all the way across the top. I guess I have an anvil shaped boat anchor, huh? I'll tell you this, the horn and the other end (heel?) have a REALLY loud ping. I am using a very small hammer and am undecided about the middle section as of now. Maybe I'll post some pictures when I get some more paint off. Forget the markings, if there ever were any... the casting is atrocious. Bill

No, that was not chastising... I was just explaining my ignorance... I just learned the names of the holes this week, and I just "assumed" someone had welded the pritchel hole up. I just came in from wire brushing some of the anvil and can find no evidence that a pritchel hole ever existed. However, I probably couldnt tell if someone DID weld it shut and ground it smooth unless it was a very poor job. I also think that I may see casting lines on the anvil and places where those lines were ground down too far. I'm not sure what it is, but like you, I think it has been around for a while. I also doubt that whoever cast this anvil would not want to put his name on it. Did I mess up by quoting or paraphrasing you? I am very sorry if I did... I am a Dummy when it comes to smithing and welding. If you are ever over this way drop by and I'll show it to you. I doubt I will be able to get anything for it now, so I may have it for a while. I really don't know. Take care, Bill

Keykeeper, When I told you that, I had never heard about Mexican counterfeit cast anvils, which never had a pritchel hole to begin with. I will let you guys know more after I get some of that darned paint off. Bill Sikes wsikes@earth1.net

Quote: Originally Posted by ThomasPowers Does it have a pritchel hole? If not it's a modern mexican cast anvil made using a "real" anvil to make the mould . We get a lot of them down this way. They range from pretty nice to atrocious depending on what they were casting that day. Also check the horn to see if there is a mold line going down the face of it. If it has a pritchel (that wasn't drilled as a retrofit) forget about the above. The green paint makes me wonder... Can you tell us what the bottom looks like? The indentation on the bottom is very indicative of several brands of anvils----HB, A&H, etc... The above comments were posted on this forum on my other thread concerning this anvil. I made a mistake and actually double posted the first post of the thread and it resulted in two different threads with the same title. Please read the other thread... it has some more recent info. Here is my response to the above comments. The bottom of the anvil is flat... actually it could be flatter. The casting on this anvil is not very good and you are right... it looks like it could be an Arm & Hammer, Trenton, Hay Budden, or even a Peter Wright... but if it is a name brand it is an unmarked "second' having lower than normal quality casting. Another option is that it is an old import with no markings. The Mexican bootleg option is a new one to me. That is a possibility. There is no casting mark on the horn, but there has been some grinding done to cover up something and maybe that was a casting mark. I will say that the horn definitely has a loud ping to it. I will be trying to get some of the paint off today. I really want to know more about this anvil before I complete any sale. Please read my next post. Bill

Sir, I will not be confrontational with you unless it is what you would desire. If you have something to say, just go ahead and say it. I have been nothing but honest about this anvil, including my ignorance about anvils. Granted, I know more about anvils than I did when I bought it a few days ago. I really did not know what I was buying, I just thought I wanted a big anvil. Why, you ask? I do not know why I thought I wanted a big anvil. I just saw it on CraigsList and it was only about 10 miles away so I went and got it. I have since determined that I really do not need this big anvil, but I would rather keep it than to sell it to someone who thought I had fleeced them. I buy and sell on eBay a good bit... I have around 550 transactions, mostly buying household items, and I have a PERFECT eBay rating. I have NEVER tried to fleece anyone. I stand on my reputation. Just yesterday I told a forum member who lives in Ripley, WV that I do not think he would be interested in this anvil because it is not of the best casting quality. I think it will make someone a good work anvil, but it is not something you would want to buy to try to resell. I will not lie to you... you are not worth me damaging my reputation, regardless of who you are. Bill

The bottom of the anvil is flat... actually it could be flatter. The casting on this anvil is not very good and you are right... it looks like it could be an Arm & Hammer, Trenton, Hay Budden, or even a Peter Wright... but if it is a name brand it is an unmarked "second' having lower than normal quality casting. Another option is that it is an old import with no markings. The Mexican bootleg option is a new one to me. That is a possibility. There is no casting mark on the horn, but there has been some grinding done to cover up something and maybe that was a casting mark. I will say that the horn definitely has a loud ping to it. I will be trying to get some of the paint off today. I really want to know more about this anvil before I complete any sale. Please read my next post. Bill

I know nothing about anvils and really don't feel like messing with it anymore. It is too big, too heavy, and I just do not need it, so I am now open to cash offers on this "thing." I have just about decided that shipping this thing is out of the question. It would have to be freighted and that would be more trouble than this old man needs. I live directly across the river from hwy 35, the main route for through traffic going from Ohio to the Virginia and the Carolina's, so maybe someone will be able to drop by and get this thing. It's not like I am asking $4 a pound for it, but I will certainly entertain cash offers... in fact, I am beginning to lean in that direction. Make me an offer and come get it. Bill Sikes Leon, WV wsikes@earth1.net

292 pounds I have just about decided that shipping this thing is out of the question. It would have to be freighted and that would be more trouble than this old man needs. I live directly across the river from hwy 35, the main route for through traffic going from Ohio to the Virginia and the Carolina's, so maybe someone will be able to drop by and get this thing. It's not like I am asking $4 a pound for it. I will certainly entertain cash offers... in fact, I am beginning to lean in that direction. Make me an offer and come get it. Bill