Stash

Frosty- I'm not sure what 'should ' be done, but I would probably go ahead and roast it. I did 2 smelts with Lee Sauder, we used limonite (sp?), roasted it and smashed it into roughly 3/8" minus bits. Steve

I like the 'Armed Rooster Studio' idea, maybe with the second line on the card or sign saying 'Metal Worker' or 'Metal Artist'. Despite the obvious visual, it is a playful name that will tend to stick with people- you are giving them a 'moment' that will stick with them once they hear your last name. I went through the whole thought process when I named my landscape business, with my wife's input. Variations on my name , followed by Landscaping (and variations on that- Gardens; Garden Design, etc. didn't really click. I have a large mustache , so I suggested 'Handlebar Landscaping', and she loved it and was my trade name for 22 years. It was memorable and stuck with people, especially once we met in person. My logo on card, envelopes letterhead and truck graphics was a large stylized handlebar mustache. Armed Rooster Studio Metal Artist I like it. Steve ( Former proprietor of Handlebar Landscaping)

The next PABA meeting (PA Artist Blacksmith Assoc) is 6/10 in Atglen PA. The website is www.pabasite.org. There are demos, tailgating and general hanging about. They aren't too scary. Steve

You should be good to go at that size. Take pix of the smelt! We love pix. Steve

Welcome aboard, Board. Welcome to the madness. Forging was my mid- life crisis. What part of Philly burbs? I'm in Upper Bucks- Quakertown. If you're in the area, you are welcome anytime. I spent the first 60 years of my life in Delco, in Glen Mills before moving up here. Steve

How messed up is it? Unusable? Or just the first couple threads? Older vise screwbox had the threads brazed in- usually with brass. I would be concerned that the babbit would not have the tensile strength to do a proper job. Steve

Well, I'm going to go against the grain here, ID wise. The overall shape to me looks more modern (1900ish, +/-) US made- my initial thought when I saw the shape was HB or Trentonish. I suggest that it was made by the American Wrought Anvil Co, of Brooklyn NY. Their logo has a similar look to what we have in the pictures above. That would make the weight when mfg of 135 lbs. Steve

How about a blast gate from a woodworking dust collection system? I use one as a dump valve, coupled with a pvc 'wye'. Mine is far enough from the fire, so I use a plastic one you can get off the shelf at Woodcraft or Rocklers or equiv. You can also get them in aluminum. Options abound. Steve

If that is the number, you’re looking at 1928. And yes, that is the weight as built. Steve

Probably easiest to line it with clay- the cast iron forges were supposed to be lined with clay anyway, to prevent thermal shock causing cracks, and burn thru. Any garden/creek clay you can dig up will work, just barely damp, pound into place with a rubber mallet, chunk of 2x4 or equivalent , and shape a depression in the center for your 'ducks nest'- the fire bowl. You should be good to go. Steve

I used to do a bunch of surf fishing, but I've since moved further away from the shore. Favorite haunt was the point at Cape Henlopen in DE, right at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. I had a permit to take my truck on the beach. so I would drop my tire pressure to 12- 15psi and cross the dunes at one of the designated spots, head north up the point and have a peaceful day on the water. Mostly went after bluefish with squid or chunk mullet, and did catch and release. I was threatened with divorce if I brought any blues home. It seems several years previous, I filled an 80 qt cooler with filets and surprised SWMBO. She wasn’t happy, thus the threat. I placate myself with a few yearly trips on a charter in the Chesapeake and I'm allowed to bring home whatever stripers I can catch. There's some decent freshwater spots I might talk myself into trying some day. Steve

The flats on he feet are a good indicator for PW. I'm thinking you have one. Steve

I agree with the above also. I would even consider just normalizing it. Steve

I agree with the plate mount. I would also remove the setup from the brake drum and attach it directly to the plate. Unless you are tall, the height of the jaws would be a bit high and uncomfortable to work on. Vises tend to be high enough for me as is, without raising it up even more. Then again, I’m shorter, and am very aware of this kind of thing. Steve

I've been using a 115cfm bathroom exhaust fan. I mounted a switch on the top and rigged a dump valve with a pvc 'Y' and a sliding gate from a dust collector system. I had it all just laying around, so no cost. Works great. Few other parts not mentioned, but you should be able to figure it out. Steve

With the weight on the side of the body and serial number on the left side of the foot, I would call that anvil a Hay/Budden. Trenton has weight on the left side and ser # on the right side of the foot. Steve

Nothing is mentioned in AIA about the anvilmaker from the era of your anvil. A payslip from 1946 shows a maker named 'Doggie' Taylor but him being there in 1902 ish is not very likely. Certainly would be cool to know though. Steve

Sounds like it was made by the Columbus Iron and Forge Co, in Columbus OH. They made anvils for various hardware companies in addition to their own Trenton brand, and stamped them as needed. Sometimes the hdw. co logo was overstamped on the Trenton logo. If I recall, the 'T' indicated the anvil maker, the 102 is the weight, and the other numbers are the serial number. Serial number puts it around 1902. They are darn good anvils, and as you discovered, they ring like a bell. DO NOT GRIND THE FACE FOR ANY REASON. And pix be cool too. Steve

Cincinnati -Bickford , under that particular name, was making drill presses from 1909-1955. Go to the Vintage Machinery website ( not sure if I can post a link), using the name with a dot org to get there. Go to the manufacturers index and there is a bit more history of the company. That might aim you in the right direction. Steve

Mine is ~3 1/2- 4" deep, and I use coal. Steve

Yeah! That ought to do nicely. Steve

OW! Get well asap, Frosty. And stay off the ice. Steve

Cool. I'll shoot you a PM. Steve

Where in SE PA you at? I'm in Upper Bucks, in Quakertown. My shop is always open for visits. Steve

Looks to be 1907. Let's see some pix! We love pix. Steve