njanvilman

Besides making blacksmithing anvils, F&N made many other products.  Vises, swage blocks, anvil stands, saw makers' anvils and many specialized anvils among them.  When I cleaned out Crossley Machine in 1999, I recovered several original swage block patterns.  The F&N Museum has one block matching a pattern.  Another block was identified in a western Pennsylvania shop matching a different pattern.  The pattern below is an original rectangular pattern, producing a block of 150 lb.  While fact checking my upcoming book, my daughter found a listing for this swage block for sale.  Upon inquiry, it was still available.  So off I went on a 200 mile ride to bring it home.  I brought the pattern with me to be sure it was a match.  Everything checked out, so into the trunk of my car it went.  Photo below was taken in the museum.  Just in time....this will be the final photo in my upcoming book.   It is always amazing to fill in the various holes in the facts of this great American company.

Thomas Powers   Please so not comment on my posts!   Your crude attempts at humor are poor at best.

Recently added to the Fisher & Norris Factory Museum:  sign from Crossley Machine Co. from the outside of the factory.   Crossley made Fisher anvils from 1961 to 1979.  The factory complex was demolished in 2001.

By the logo, your anvil was made between 1872 and 1880, by Fisher & Norris, in Trenton, NJ.   If you post the dimensions, I can tell you the weight.  This era F&N anvil did not have the weight on it.

Visit the museum to see a few hundred, including many factory fresh anvils.

They came all ways.  Even though Fisher anvils were cast from a pattern, there are very few that are identical.

For your viewing pleasure....a 1970s Fisher/Crossley....new mounting lug location.  Done only on 100 lb sizes in the 1970s.  This anvil is almost factory new....99 pt.

On ‎1‎/‎18‎/‎2020 at 8:24 AM, D Ravizza said:

enjoyed your post regarding Fisher anvil that was made for the military. I believe I have an almost identical one. It also has olive drab paint, I have often wondered if it was for the military. Other than the 10 on the foot mine has no other markings than P D F W stamped into the side (no idea what it means). Do you think this anvil was made for the military too?

 

Probably military spec FISHER.  The stamped in letters were added sometime during its life.  100 lb Fishers were very commonly made for the military.  Your's is probably 1951 vintage.  It looks almost unused.

You have an 1880's era Fisher anvil.  Look under the anvil on the base....there "might" be a date there.  Either way, your anvil was made 1879 or 1880.  They did not start marking the date under the heel with this model until some time in 1880.

The Cast Steel refers to the horn plate, they were cast steel.  Just a marketing thing by F&N.   The 119 weight stamp might have been added later.  The rest of the stampings are original.

The anvil was made in Trenton, NJ.

Welcome to the Fisher Family....stay tuned here or on my FB page: Fisher & Norris Factory Museum, for the announcement of my book coming soon on the complete history of this company.  Guaranteed it will be in interesting read.

1 hour ago, Farmall said:

Hope I can make it to Saratoga for the display.  Also, the book.

The 2020 ABANA conference should be the best one yet.  They have a wonderful line-up of demonstrators plus everything else that goes with it.

I have one other.  This one matches the imprint on the stands exactly.  It could be from 1892, when they first made the stands.  Too bad it is missing the letter and &, but better than nothing.

I put this stamp away for safekeeping about 10 years ago, then forgot where.  I just found it.  Just in time to get into the book.  Missing a few letters, but mostly there.  This was used to imprint the molding sand to get the name onto Fisher anvil stands.

6 hours ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said:

I just received an email from ABANA saying part of your collection will be on display at the 2020 conference in Saratoga NY June3-6. Way to go Josh, sure wish I could attend that one.

Yes, I will be hauling up lots of interesting iron, and will have my book on the whole story of Fisher anvils, for sale.  I have a lot of work to do in the next 5 months.  It will be interesting...

Happy 2020 to everyone out there in Anvil Land.  A few old Fish to mark the new year from the Fisher & Norris Factory Museum.

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Shouldn't the line be in descending order of the weight of your largest Fisher.  My space is at 469#.

No line needed.  I will have enough printed.  Lets get this discussion back to Fisher anvils.

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Let us know if you need any "pre-sales" to help fund publishing it.

54 minutes ago, jlpservicesinc said:

Good point Thomas.  I would certainly do a pre-sales payment. 

Thanks for the offers but I do not know costs yet.  I will be able to fund it.  

jlp.....I explain the process as well as I can interpret what was done in my book, along with factory photos.  It would take a long time to explain it all.  My book will be done soon, printed, and ready by the ABANA event near Saratoga in June.  Hope to meet you then.

43 minutes ago, jlpservicesinc said:

Is that the one you got from Alan C.? 

No, that is a different one.  This one came on a Fisher stand.  I bought the two just for the stand.  The stand now has a 100 FARS Fisher anvil on it.  This anvil is just a curiosity now.  

I might JB weld it together, paint it, and incorporate it into a brick wall or a gate.  Just thinking of possible uses in the future.

Interesting picture of a broken Fisher anvil.  Split right at the hardy hole.  Examining the break shows the anvil had very poor quality iron.  It was bound to break at some point.  It is unusual to have the broken piece together with the anvil.  The small piece is usually lost.

21 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said:

I don't want to take up your time but.....

F&N shut down  12/61 due to family reasons, but mostly because State of NU condemned two square blocks of Trenton to expand the parking and state buildings.  Everything in that area was destroyed.   Crossley had the foundry and was able to continue production of their products.  

They produced thousands of machines of all types for the clay industry.  At its peak, Crossley had many employees.  Lots about this in the book.

Crossley Machine Co, 1879 - 1999   There primary production were machines for all aspects of clay and ceramic production.  Trenton NJ had many large factories producing everything from sinks to electrical fixtures.  Crossley made all of the machinery they needed, or custom built machines if they did not have what the customer wanted.  Lots in the book....

I am including all of the photos of both the F&N factory and Crossley factory.  All that I can find.  

As soon as the book is available, I will make it known here, on FB, Instagram, and wherever I can advertise it.  Besides the products they made, the story of the people behind everything is fascinating.  

14 hours ago, JHCC said:

Interesting. I know that you usually strip the paint off any anvils that are going in the museum, but will you be keeping the military spec paint in this case?

I only take off ugly paint.  Original paint gets preserved always.

14 hours ago, pnut said:

njanvilman,

She's a beaut. Isn't new old stock great? 

This anvil is going into the Fisher & Norris Factory Museum.  We only teach the history of Fisher anvils here at the museum to interested guests.  And this is another interesting addition to my book on the story of all things Fisher & Norris, and Crossley.  Hopefully the book will be available in the spring 2020.