Sjtaylor128

I just acquired a 502 pound Arm and Hammer anvil, serial number 25650. I’ve just read the Arm and Hammer chapter in The American Anvil Book but have a couple of additional questions. Is this anvil considered rare or collectible? How much would this anvil be worth if I were to pass it on? I’m a hobbyist blacksmith with a small shop and I realize this anvil would be out of place in my shop. Trying to decide what to do. Thanks for any info you could provide.

I purchased and am in the process of repairing the face of a 89 pound Peter Wright anvil. As purchased the anvil face was flat along its length but severely domed cross its width. It was obvious that someone has taken a flap disc grinder to the face to smooth damaged edges. Everything else about the anvil including its rebound was good. I preheated the anvil to ~400 degrees using a propane weed burner and a temp stick. I welded up the worn edges with Stoody 1105 rod and cooled the anvil slowly overnight in vermiculite. After cooling I refreshed the edges with a right angle grinder and a belt sander. The anvil looks great except there are soft spots on the face. Most of the face has great rebound using one inch steel ball at 12 inches buts areas near the welds have poor rebound and the ball has left dents there. I guess I got the face too hot during welding or maybe I annealed it with the vermiculite. I have plans to attempt to reharden the face. A blacksmith buddy recommends to use the anvil as is but I worry what a hammer miss-hits might do to the soft areas. Any thoughts? Thanks.