Black Frog

I'll have to measure it when I get home. I know it feels 'just about right' in height, but now that I know the stand is actually for a Fisher swage block, maybe I should mount this anvil on something else. Maybe that Fisher swage block stand needs a Fisher swage block to go in it..... Talk about unexpected consequences of a purchase. ;-)

Actually my intent was going there to purchase this big anvil, I knew it was mounted on a metal stand. I didn't realize how nice the stand was until I got there. I didn't realize it was a Fisher stand until I got home and wire brushed down to reveal the name on the casting. The Fisher #2 double screw vise got thrown into the deal out of the blue when negotiating the full asking price for the anvil alone.

Fantastic information! it never crossed my mind this was a swage block stand. With that big anvil mounted on there, it just seems about the right height. Use whatever pictures you like, I'm happy they can help out! I edited these pics for size already, but if want any other shots for higher resolution or closeups just let me know. Are dropped down areas in the middle of each side support rail for standing the swage block up on end?

......that is so cool, thanks!

If the deal is ok with me when I include travel/gas costs, I'm not afraid of driving. Drove 11hrs each way to pickup my killer deal on a cycle. 1000mi days for me are not out of the question if it's worth it.

....it'll haunt you 'til the day you die. ;)

ya gotta be willing to go past 100mi radius! ;)

Here's what I couldn't pass up- a chance at a 527 pound A&H anvil in nice shape. It also came on the Fisher anvil stand in the other thread. The deal also got enhanced by the addition of the Fisher double screw vise I posted about in the vise forum. Face looks fantastic, I'm amazed at the mass of this anvil. It was tightened down to the anvil stand plate by some 3/8" rod bent around the base with some threaded ends going through the plate and nuts on the bottom side. I wonder how long it has been since the top of that anvil mount plate has seen daylight?..... Most of these pics are after a good wire brushing, a CLR wipedown, a good water rinse, a leaf-blower dry, and then some rust inhibitor for now. When this baby is bolted down to the 185 pound Fisher stand, you're looking at 712 pounds of anvil goodness.... :) Wondering what were the marks from the bottomside of the heel area? They possibly look part of the original casting?

Alrighty then, I spent a few hours out in the garage tonight and snapped some pics while in the cleaning process. You can still see quite an anvil footprint on the mount plate from how many decades of being bolted to the bottom of an anvil..... The thickness of the base material is right around 1/2" all the way around. The stand is just under 23" square at the base and stands 13.5" to the platform. The inside sand residue sure does seem to be casting sand. One corner has an adjusting foot to stabilize to any floor.... I had guessed 150 lbs for the stand, but after weighing it with the plate it comes out at 185 pounds. :-) I'll start another thread for the baby that happened to be sitting on top of this stand....

I would plop down four crisp benjis, and see if that would fly... If not, I might still be tempted at 450....

I couldn't see any date or maker until I started wire-brushing through the rust and old paint. I was quite happy to see the 'Fisher & Norris Trenton NJ" on one side of the stand. 1920 is on the opposite side of the stand. Seems like there was at least two or three coats of different colors on there. What were these cast in? Was there some type of sand molding or releasing? Seems there is a lot of residual hard-packed sand type of material on the inside upper corners below the plate ledge. I'm wondering if this might still be original stuff. I have a 300# scale, so I should be able to get a decent weight for you too.

Came across a Fisher anvil stand, dated 1920 on the casting. Quite large and quite heavy. The top plate is removable so it can be left bolted to the bottom of an anvil. Anyone else have, or seen one of these? I'll try to get pics in the next few days.

After some wire brushing and a little CLR, logo is nice to see. There's also some stamp on the other side of the anvil, but can't make out all that's there. Also, looks like someone did a learning weld on the face, I don't think it was any sort of repair attempt. Not bad, could probably bring that flat again easily.

Great info! Thanks a lot- it's fun to put some history to the chunk of iron laying in front of you.... :-)

Here's some pics after a gentle cleaning and greasing the threads. I didn't want to wire brush it, that would've peeled all the remaining paint off. Looks like it had been painted twice. Forest green was the bottom layer, and the blue was over that. In some of the pics, you can see the green well- wonder if that was the original color? Did these come painted when new? The jaws are in remarkably nice shape for the age. This vise was definitely used, but not abused. The threads are somewhat worn on both screws nearest the closed position.

Says its removed, maybe you waited a bit too long. Sometimes I'm relieved to see things removed before my temptation gets the best of me.....

Yup, back home with it. In my area, anvils over 200# seem to be very rare to find- I've been watching everyday for months. They are rare here, go fast, and can be pricey from what I've seen. I missed a 200+ pound nice Trenton with stand last month, it was gone within hours of it being posted. I paid $2/pound for this A&H.

I have been looking for a larger anvil(s), something 200+ pounds. Came across this anvil in the first picture, this is the picture provided. The seller mentioned that it was 225 pounds, but no markings on the anvil he could see. The anvil had been sitting in the corner of machine shop for decades, rarely used. Looked in nice shape from the pics though, I asked for some higer resolution pictures. With a little photo editor work with contrast/brightness, I could make out the logo.... :-)

Weird part is, I wasn't even going after this vise. I was negotiating a price on a large anvil, I was offering less than his asking price. The seller pulled this vise out to sweeten the deal, and would include the vise WITH the anvil if I paid his original full asking price for the anvil. Since I had quite a travel distance with considerable gas costs, I got him to lessen his price on the anvil somewhat AND throw in the vise. :-) Not sure if he realized what he had there...

I got it... Yup, it is a Fisher. I'll have some better pics tomorrow....

I might be picking this up this afternoon, only picture I was given of this. Is this a Fisher #2?

Love the pics! I'm trying to finalize a week with Brian in Oct right now. As a total newb, I think it would be great to start off doing things the best way rather than getting into some bad habits that need correcting later on..... Very much looking forward to that. ;-)

Sorry, didn't realize I had not entered my location into the profile. I'm in SE Wisconsin.

I think that is the idea for me here. Right now at the moment I have very little as far as equipment, and working space. Obtaining something like this would be more geared to the long term for me. Now the next question is, for something in that poundage range, what is considered a "good deal"? Obviously depends on brand/condition/etc. But from what I've been watching for several months, big anvils don't come up that often. I'm finding more 'Anvil Wanted' ads than I am finding anvils for sale. And the vast majority of those are under 150 or so pounds. When you get into the 400+ pound range, does the price per pound increase? LIke if you came across a 150# PW anvil in nice shape, and a 400# PW anvil in equally nice shape, would you expect to be paying ballpark the same $ per pound? Or does the rarity and size of the bigger anvil command a much higher price?

Coming from a newb, I may have the chance at a big ol' horkin' huge anvil in decent shape. Like 400+ pounds. I have decent ways of lifting and moving it, but that too big?