George Geist

For most part I'm inclined to agree. Notable exception being Fisher. Although they're cast iron bodied they're unquestionably top shelf.

An 150# Hay Budden anvil of approximately 1910 vintage was stolen from a garage of a very dear friend in New Bern NC this week. Anybody in that area please keep an eye out. It's easily identified by its having holes drilled in its feet. Thanks much everybody. George

Appears to be a horseshoers anvil that somebody ground the clip horn off of. All in all it looks like a nice one. It's had a pretty easy life so far. George

Any anvil tools that don't fit your anvil or swage block will always fit in your vise. Don't worry so much about that. George

Usually they're 1/4" round. I used a lot of garage door spring to make toe grabs when I was around race horses. They're pretty plentiful in most scrap piles. I don't remember ever paying for them. George

Well, you know..... Being semi retired is a great thing. Anybody wanna meet up at the next Caniron? George

Our own Miss Jennifer at Johnstown. George

Try rubbing some baby powder into the writing. Sometimes that helps to see it better. George

You'd be one I'd especially like to meet sometime Jerry George

Is anybody going to Johnstown for the ABANA deal? It'd be nice for folks on this site to meet up if possible. George

Looks like a horseshoers anvil. Nice one. Be good to it and it'll be good to you. George

Amen to that

My first anvil was a Mankel. I bought it new in 1980 and shod a lot of horses with it for a lot of years. Being hollow it was light enough to be a good travel anvil. No complaints. It did everything I needed it to. Don't hesitate to buy one. They're good anvils. It had clip horns on both sides which I guess made it ambidextrous for those who like to use the clip horn. George

Looks like a mousehole to me

Anvils are not intended for thousanths of an inch tolerances. Thats not what blacksmithing is about. If thats what youre into Id suggest machinist work. Sharp edges tend to damage work. With the questions concerning value as if youre wanting to sell it....correct answer it it depends. The trade has had an influx of wealthy dilettantes lately that have inflated prices. Location can have a bearing on it but I can say with a good degree of certainty that if you take any angle grinder to it youll definitely knock the value down to zero.

Its a Hay Budden. The BRO is the beginning of Brooklyn NY. A little talcum or baby powder will give you a better read. Please keep grindstones and any other abrasives away from it! George

Its a hind shoe. From a horse not a mule. Being as its made from wrought iron its definitely old. Id guess at least pre WWI. George

100 to 150 lbs is ideal for most horse shoeing. George

Has anybody thought of an old out of business gas station or auto repair shop? In my part of the country they oftentimes have apartments over top of them too. Something to think about?

To best of anybody's knowledge, is anybody out there manufacturing new blacksmith post leg vises? George

Hay Budden it is. Nice one too. Best part is remembering where it came from. Congrats. George

You talking about testing? Certification and licensing are two totally separate issues. Licensing would require laws being passed at least at the state level which isn't on any legislature's radar screen right now. I don't see it ever happening because nobody outside the industry cares, nor do most people in the industry. Certification would be a good thing if something could be done to create some kind of demand for it from the people paying the Bill's. It has its good and bad points.

Just an FYI about the naval services, to best of my knowledge the navy still has the rate of blacksmith. I believe most of them are assigned to the seabees. Also check out the Boilermakers union. They represent not only forging shops but also railroad blacksmiths. City employee blacksmiths in NY, Chicago and elsewhere. (100k jobs too) Try shipyards. Blacksmiths often work in shipyards. When I had my website up I used to post on a bulletin board any and all blacksmith jobs. A lot more of them pop up than you think. Register on indeed.com they'll notify you. George

For those of you that have kids, latest benefit introduced by the Boilermakers is free college. Look into it folks, it's a good deal. George

I'm sure I'll run into you someplace. You ever need a striker don't hesitate to call on me.