kiddcaprix

What got me was how nice that face looks. Doesn't even look touched. I was going to take a scale with me. That is about the price I have been seeing everything around here for. If you had a choice would you take about a 130lbs-ish 1845 William Foster over this for around the same price? -Adam

Well hello again all, I just got a lead on a, from what looks to be, pristine (from pic) Columbian anvil close to me. Not sure on the weight but I am guessing around 200ish? The dimensions are 27.75" x 11" x 4.75" ish. Based on the rough calculator of L * H - 110 = M, that puts it around about 195ish give or take. He is asking for $450. Might be able to get it for a bit less. I know these are cast steel and have heard they are great anvils. From the pic, this looks decent. I am driving by his house tomorrow and was thinking of stopping and checking it out. Is this worth the trip/effort? Haven't read a lot about the Columbians! Best pic I got. Thanks for any suggestions or info. -Adam

That is good advice Bo, thanks. I did reevaluate my situation and settled down a bit on jumping to soon. I tend to do that a bit. I get excited about things and try to get the best that I can before I even determine what it is that I need. I got my forge fired up for the first time last night and learn a little bit about that tricky girl. I think I might have some rough coal. I used the Vulcan last night and it worked well (made a little coal paddle to pull the coal around in the forge, see pic). I get that pit in my stomach when I think I may be missing out on a good find. I am gonna just settle for a bit and use what I have on hand. And, like you said, if one comes around close to me I will have a bit more money then and an understanding of what it is I really want to do. The trip wasn't a total waste, I collect chainsaws and picked a decent old Homelite XL-925 for a song. Appreciate the advice. Always accepted and thankful. Regards, Adam

If I can make it out there Thomas, I will surely say hello.

30! Wow. I just need 1... or do I? Looks like I may have to check that one out. Only a 4hr drive form me. I am just getting into this and am hearing of these gatherings so I appreciate the info. Thanks.

Well if anyone was wondering, the anvil was a Trenton. Around 200 or so lbs. I wasn't able to scrape the paint off the foot to see the actual numbers, but flipped it over to see the diamond with the Trenton in it. Ball bounce test had great rebound throughout the face and heel. Sounded good too, but was muted a bit being welded to a concrete filled pipe (total weight was probably around 4-500lbs guessing). Unfortunately, this was at a live auction and the company that owned it decided to use it as a plasma cutting table and got into the edge a bit (about 2" forward of the red paint) and about a .25" from the edge of the heel (can just make out the cuts in 2nd to last photo I originally posted). Regardless, it was in great shape and I still wanted it so I chased it up to the max I could pay (with 13% auction buyer premium and sales tax). It ended up going for $450. I thought I had it but was out bid in the last seconds. I have missed out 3 times now on a good anvils and am getting a bit discouraged. I have been trying to do the TPAAAT also but to no avail. Guess I will just keep hammering away. If anybody lives around Southwest Michigan, and has a decent (non Vulcan cause I have one) anvil around 200lbs at a reasonable price and wants to help a green smith out, please PM me (is it faux pas to try the TPAAAT here on the forum?!). Thanks for the info.

Awesome Matto, appreciate the help there. I thought I saw what looks like the "I.I. & B. Co" by the 67 cast in just on the transition but it is definitely not as big as the one that is shown. It is right on the transition from the foot to the waist right at the horizontal edge. When i get home tomorrow I'll take a pic. Could just be casting slag but looks intentional. Probably just my eyes playing tricks. Anyway, thanks for the help.

Thanks Matto, what year did they switch to the next logo? So I have an idea of age. Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it. At some point I will get the Anvils of America book which I assume has a lot of info that will answer most of my future questions. Thanks.

Thanks! I paid $40 for it and $40 for a four legged hand pump rivet forge (no name, just cast numbers). I wasn't sure on the logo because I haven't seen that older logo before. I have been meaning to get that book too. Thanks for the reply. Is there a picture of that logo you could post? I will see if i can search for it. With that being the earliest logo around 1876, then the 67 cast in doesn't seem to be a date then would it? I read somewhere that those may be a date but if they didn't start until 1876, 1867 dosent seem logical and with the old logo, 1967 dosent seem correct either. If this is a late 1800's anvil then thats cool. Apprecite the info. -Adam

Hello all, I was looking at my anvil and noticed that the Vulcan logo looks quite different than the standard logo with the arm and hammer. The logo is low comparable to other vulcans I have seen and clearly shows "vulcan" and what almost looks like "mars" below it. On the heel side at the base is a raised "67" and on the horn side is a raised 12 (assuming weight 120lbs). Any info would be nice. The anvil is in good shape just wondering on the logo. Looks different than all the others I have seen. Thanks for any info. Regards, Adam

I would be tickled with it being either a Trenton or Hay Budden. I do my intricate work on this one! Ha. I wonder if I could harden the face on this little guy? Start working some paper clips! Thanks for the replies. -Adam

Thanks bigfoot, I was thinking it looked like a Trenton too but its hard to tell from the photos. I requested larger ones, but those are what I got. I would prefer an anvil with a bit wider waist, but if the price is right and it tests out decent, I can work with it. When I go to check it out, just flipping it over might reveal a makers mark and help me out. Its 2 hrs away from me and I just wanted to get some opinions before I travel. Thanks again. Thanks Littleblacksmith. Hoping when I see it in person I can see some sort of a stamping on it somewhere. I think the paint color is throwing me off a bit (making me think it is cast). How big of a cast ASO has anyone seen before? All the ones I have seen tend to be around 100lbs. This one looks to be a bit bigger.

Hello all, my name is Adam and I am new to the blacksmith trade. Been lurking on this site for a while and am fascinated with the amount of knowledge and wisdom being shared throughout. I have been wanting to get involved for a long time and just decided to start. No time like the present! I have been a "Jack of all trades" for some time now with machining, fabrication, design, photography, etc. and figured I would add smiting to the mix! I recently purchased a 120lb Vulcan (a bit better than the RR piece I was using) and an old hand pump rivet forge for $80. Thought that wasn't too bad to get started. I am looking for a better anvil and have a possible opportunity to get one that looks to be in decent shape. The problem is, I can't tell what make it is or if it is cast? I only have a few rough pictures and wasn't able to get a name or numbers or anything off of it. From some of the pics, it is by a pallet which I assume is about 44ish" wide so the anvil looks to be decently weighted. It also looks to be welded to a post. I would appreciate any insight or thoughts the forum community might have on the pictures and whether to pursue this anvil or not? Appreciate any info and knowledge given. Thanks. -Adam I attached a photo of my current Vulcan on a router-ed stump I made for it.