Paul Crosby

Thomas I attached a piece of metal from the foundry I found in a pile mixed with slag. I also attached part of a article that I found about the foundry. What type of metal do you think it is? Just curious, but I want to understand it more. Thanks The East Middlebury works used the bloomery method of iron production. In bloom smelting, iron-rich ore is reduced directly to liquid slag and a pasty mass of metal using carbon monoxide. To produce wrought iron, master bloomers worked masses of ore alternately in a charcoal-fired hearth and beneath a trip-hammer.

This is 771 pages of iron manufacturers in just about every state. Where they were located and all sorts of information. I found a foundry here in Middlebury, Vermont and have found iron samples and slag when they were in business between 1831 and 1890. I can't wait to forge some of the chunks of iron I found. Would this be wrought iron? http://techterms.net/ironwork/lesley/lesley.pdf

You are very welcome! I love reading the old stuff myself. When I was learning to resilver mirrors I read a lot of old pamphlets on how mirrors were made in the early years as well as mercury mirrors. A great source of information even if you only look at the pictures. :)

Thanks Scott! I'll keep you updated!

Hello Scott. Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry you had problems from the storm. We were lucky here no power loss or damage. I did find a supply of coal at Jackmands in Bristol for 7.75 a bag.

I'm also looking for a supplier of coal from the Middlebury, Vermont area if you can help. Thanks

Scott that would be great if you could get his number. I really would like to get a older anvil with some use. I really haven't tried to get the price down on the anvil but I have stopped in to see it about four times. I wanted to get as much information as possible about the anvil before I paid that price. He has two others for sale but they have been used more and show a lot of ware on the face. I want to make my first anvil worth buying and use it for many decades. Thanks

I couldn't find the date myself but I would be interested in knowing myself.

Thanks for all the imput. How far should it go by itself after three turns? I have never used that blower before.

I found this catalog on old forges if any body is interested in. It has about 79 pages http://www.roseantiquetools.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/no.8canedy8.11mb.pdf

Hello I am wondering if this is a good deal for 145.00. It works real good but is just missing a handle. Also could anyone tell me a little about how old it is. I'm guessing around 1927. Thanks

Here is the Hill Anvil I'm interested in. Any imput would be appreciated. Thanks

Hello everyone I'll get a picture of it this weekend. I'll also perform a few tests that you have recommended. Thanks

Hello I'm looking at a Hill anvil that I saw at a antique store. The owner said it was made between 1830 - 1850 and the markings say it's 165 lbs. It appears to be in good condition except for a hair line crack on the side between horn and face. It's kind of hard to see as well as hard to find. I was wondering if it was worth buying and what it might be worth. He is asking 345.00. I'm really just getting into black smithing, but have had a interest for many years. I had a great great grandfather that was a black smith/ Fire Chief in the 1880's in Burlington, Vermont during my time in the fire dept I read articles in the old newspapers and city report articles on some of the items he made for the fire dept during his years in the fire dept. My father worked for the Shelburne museum and worked in the black smith building. I guess I would say there is iron forging in my blood and the time is right to start learning. Any way I want to get some equipment for myself and start learning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Paul