njanvilman

Hey Ryan It might be the heat got to me that day, but I remember seeing the anvil on the ground, and the next minute you had into my car. You mustof just picked it up. It is only 675 lbs. No sweat for those Missouri boys. Thats the story I will tell. Yup. That's it.

But it pales in comparison to the 800 lb Fisher next to it. Actually the 800 weighs in at 796 lbs, so I guess technically it is a 700 lber? Strangly, the 700 has a 1/2" wider face than the 800, although the 800 is slightly taller and longer. It does not take much change in any dimension to add 100+ lbs to these anvils. The next quest to to find some of the "custom" items Fisher made. And perhaps some of the large stakes they displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia centential. The problem with this task is that Fisher advertised that they had on hand over 300 different patterns, and would make a new pattern for a custom anvil if the customer so desired. I fear this will be never ending.

Sound like something McGyver would do.

Thanks. Could you PM me know how to find them and upload them after shrinking the size. Thanks again.

Again, sorry about the large size photos. I tried to get them smaller using fotosizer, but he upload did not do the smaller format. Help! If anyone can resize these, or tell me how to, thanks.

I borrowed an engine hoist and carefully got the 700 lb Fisher onto the display table in the museum. Amazing how nice heavy objects move on rollers. I am adding a couple of photos. The first is the end of the display showing the 800, 700, 600, and 500 lb Fisher anvils. A coke can is under the 700 for size comparison. The second is the view looking down the main table of the Fisher anvils arranged by size. I did add some blocking under by display table just to be sure it did not collapse. There is over 2600 lbs on this one table.

The problem with that is special flasks would have to be recreated. After the large molds are made, there was a major machining operation to drill and thread for the screws, which had to be exactly parallel. Then the screw shafts had to be timed for the chain gear, then assembly. It is not so simple. First to be tried will be a 100 lb. 12" x 12" Fisher swage block. I just need to create all of the core boxes. I have the pattern.

I did find a "one off" custom Fisher that a friend has locally. It is probably near 600 lbs, with a huge horn, no cutting table, and the horn is level with the top. Both mounting lugs are on the heel side. Someone obviously wanted an anvil that was all horn. He chased the anvil for 10 years. Eventually he promised it to the museum. And you never know what will turn up. And I have been outbid on more anvils lately than I have bought. Even I do not have unlimited funds. I have done all of this with no outside help, no grants, no donations, on a school teachers salary, while putting two kids through college.

I have matching anvils and patterns of the 800, 700, 600, 500, 350, and 150 lb. I also have one matching sawmaker anvil and pattern.(I drove to Maine to get that anvil)! Many of the common patterns(50, 100, 200) were discarded by Crossley when they stopped production in 1979. No one took the time to walk up to the second floor to return them to the pattern room. I also have the patterns for 25 of the sawmakers anvils and their Double Screw Vises. In a nutshell, the anvils were cast upside-down in a three part flask. That top 'addition' created a void under the top plate that molten iron was poured into first, from the side of the flask. This iron actually flowed under the steel and preheated it, and out the other side. When enough had been poured through, they dammed it with clay, and let it sit for a while(depending on the size of the anvil) They then poured the rest of the iron through a complex gating system from the top of the mold. The preheated steel was brought to a red, almost welding heat from the initial pour. Moldmaking was done Tuesday through Friday morning, pours were always done on Friday afternoon, the weekend was for cooling, and they were opened on Monday. Mondays were also cleanup and recondition the clay day. Tuesdays began another cycle. After the anvils were cast, separate operations were then done to finish them. More complex explaination and original documents will be in my book. Its a fascinating story of a industry that is gone now. What I have here are the remnents.

I am not going to go through the collecting vs. using arguement again. This is my last words on this topic: My collection has all of the artifacts, patterns and even some of the building and cranes from the original Fisher foundry. My collection is a historical study of the product of this company. I have been working on a book for some time now, and hope to finish it in a few years. I have spend over 10 years and a boatload of time and money putting this collection together. All of my collection was gathered on the open market and available to anyone. And my research of this company is also going to be used in the new version of "Anvils in America" that Richard Postman is finishing now. I sent him many corrections of the history of the company that he had wrong in his first book. I do use a 300 lb Fisher anvil in my home shop, and a 100 lb Fisher anvil at school where I teach. I will not live long enough to even start to wear one out. Some day, this collection will be dispersed. I am the caretaker for a few decades. This is the ONLY complete collection of Fisher anvils of all sizes that exist today. Hopefully, it will stay together after I am gone. If anyone out there knows of another, please let me know.

Sorry about the big sized pictures when you click on them. I could not get them any smaller. My Tech savy daughter is away. If anyone can resize them, please do and repost.

I finally have the anvil home, so I figured it was time to chime in. First FAQ: 1. No, it did not cost 14G. A lot less. Lets leave it at that. 2. The anvil is in great condition. 3. I did drive to North Carolina to get it. It started its journey in Missouri. 4. This completes the display of all of the 'common' sizes Fisher made. The display count is over 35, some duplicates(Fisher vs Crossley of the same size). It took me about 10 years to find all of the sizes. 5. Of course, Fisher made many custom anvils. They do turn up now and then. The number made and design is lost to history. I am hoping my photos upload when I post this. Here is their description. #1: Anvil with my nylon strapping "braking system" in the back of my SUV. I run the big strap under the tailgate and around the trailer hitch. The smaller straping goes to the floor hooks. I also had plywood and dense foam against the seat, and oak on the other side of the seat, secured with the seatbelts. I did want to be wearing this if I had to stop quickly. I never had to find out. #2: Anvil ready for removal from my car. #3: On the scale, always the first stop. #4: 675 lbs. Close enough to 700. The weights were never exact. #5: The original Fisher pattern that made this anvil. Every "defect" on the pattern is on the anvil. The anvil is reunited with its parent. There is no date on the anvil, but I suspect that it was made around 1950. #6: On my cable elevator, going into the museum. I will post pictures of the entire display once I get it in place. If anybody is in the NJ area and would like to visit, just send me a message or email me at njanvilman @ gmail.com. I always like to know who is pulling into my driveway, and do not let any stranger in. The final quest is to convince the NJ State Museum to lend me the 1400 lb Fisher when it comes off its current display. I am going to invite the curator to visit my place to show him this is serious.

Cool. I always wanted to build one of those. Just have to fabricate the head, the rest is easy.

Always interesting in anything Fisher for the museum. Cannot give value without a photo. And prefer to talk $$ in a private conversation or email me at njanvilman AT gmail.com. I also have lots of trade material. Good thing about a 20 lb. anvil of any brand is that they fit in a medium flat rate USPS box for about $11.

Anvilsmyter put those videos on his EBAY sale pages with the anvil. He is not a collector. He buys and sells, and occasionally hammers and smiths. Most of those anvils have been sold and now are all over the country. He get fair prices for most of his stuff. Occasionally two or more bidders go after a special anvil. That is what an auction is all about. If you were selling, you would want to get top dollar too. BTW, he is in the Baltimore area, not New England. Disclaimer: I have bought several anvils from this seller, and was pleased with every purchase.

I am guessing an early Fisher with the straight horn. It has the round cutout on the base, and the distinctive straight horn.

Nice!

Those anvil have mounting lugs identical to Fisher anvils. Curious. Their style and emblem location also looks just like a Fisher. Did these anvils ever get made in Au? Anybody have one? Fisher did export around the world. I wonder if someone was attempting to market then there. BTW, I am only speculating on this. If anyone DownUnder knows any more, I would love to hear about it. Thanks.

HB anvil are forged, so some variation is to be expected. The weight on the anvil is what they ended up with. Your small HB would probably bring $1000+ on E+++ now. There are a few real serious HB collectors out there that pay a premium for any HB under 50 lbs. The smaller, the higher the rate.

Repairablity will depend on if it is cast or forged. That crack might have been there for a hundred years, with no ill effects. Inspect it carefully and see. Forged anvils can be welded, but it would have to be preped carefully, including deep grinding and proper pre and post heating. Cast anvils are pretty much impossible to repair a deep crack.

The holes look like they were probably original to its manufacture. "If these anvils could talk"...always interesting to wonder what was made on this particular anvil in its over 100 year history, and where, and who.

One piece at a time? Almost looks like if it slowly disappeared, no one would miss it.

As Steve and others have said, do not weld it unless you have a real need for a smooth horn shape. The steel horn plate in that area for your anvil is about 1/4" thick. It was never hardened. I would file or use a 120 grit flap type wheel and just polish it off. If you have a real need to weld, follow Steve's advise about a mild preheat, then mild steel MIG weld, followed by a post heat and polishing. Doing this on a hot summer day would probably be better than now. Leaving it out in the sun will do a lot of the preheat and post heating.

Even after 34 teaching high school Wood and Metal shop, I am still learning. Everything I show my students adds to their knowledge. I am always trying new projects. I emphasise that even though I know a lot, I really know very little, and life is a lifelong learning quest. Never stop trying a new thing, and never stop thinking. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know.

Well said. Someday, some decorating guru on TV or a magazine is going to feature an anvil as a "must have" item. Then watch price go up and supply go down. I am still amazed at how many neat anvils keep turning up at auctions, flea markets, tailgating, and on line. Despite war scrap drives and changing technologies, there are still many, many anvils lurking out there.