SFcollector

On Tuesday, March 04, 2014 at 7:33 AM, Black Frog said:

Like Fatfudd mentioned, A&H’s anvils did not have all that many produced in comparison to other manufacturers, but I own more of them than any other brand.

I have a 217#, 227#, 362#, and 527#.

The A&H’s I have, and many others I’ve tested at auctions, all generally seem to have very good rebound.

The 362# I have is my favorite, and I use that as my main shop anvil. 

This 362# has exceptional rebound, probably tied as the best I’ve ever tested, and better than my other A&H's. But all A&H's I've seen are great preformers.

217#: 

225#:

 

 

527# sitting on top of a 1920 Fisher swage block stand:

 

But getting my 362# A&H was probably my best “find” yet.

Local seller had a rusty anvil for sale, said it was around 200 pounds.

I asked for more information, seller said there were no markings on the anvil (which is rarely ever true), and this is the picture provided:

I saw that tape measure and closely observed the length, 34.5”!

I KNOW that a London pattern anvil of 34.5” is nowhere near 200#’s.

 

I figure the 28”-30” ballpark is about right for 200#, depending on the make.

300# is where you seem to get up to the 32”-34” range.

My guesstimate was 325# from the limited picture information.

 

When I got there (as fast as I could!) I tested the rebound in a few spots on the face, and did a quick water bottle thumb rub on the side to possibly reveal some markings.

I couldn’t pay the guy quick enough before he might change his mind….

 

362# Arm & Hammer!

$1.45 a pound for this beauty that was born around 1918, but it took some work to get her looking good.
I’ve found better price-per-pound deals in the past, but I consider this to be my best find yet considering the size/condition.

Cool thing is that this anvil’s serial number is only about 100 off from one of my other A&H’s.

 

This A&H is also stamped with the Bullock H. Channon Co. stamp that they put right on top of the A&H logo.

Columbus Anvil and Forging made A&H anvils also stamped for H. Channon Hardware Company for a while.  Below is the shot of their catalog page I found.

I can’t make out the “BULLOCK” in the upper part of their stamping, or the “CHICAGO” in the lower part (possibly the C and the O), but the “H. CH…… CO.” is plainly visible.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like someone forged some ball-shaped divots into the face of the heel area, looks intentional but for what reason I’m unsure, possibly rivets?  The rebound of this anvil is fantastic, even out on the heel area I’m impressed, so I’m guessing those divots were made before hardening.   Or possibly before the faceplate was welded on?  Maybe this was a special ordered anvil, and the care they took in making this anvil accounts for the exceptional hardness and rebound.

 

 

 

I found the H. Channon reference after paging going through Postman’s book (again). 

After finding that H. Channon catalog page when doing some searching, I finally realized what the faint marking was on a 225# A&H I had.   That 225 A&H also carries the Bullock H. Channon Co. stamp on it, but it was located on the opposite side of the anvil up near the heel.  Didn’t know what it was at the time.  At least on this stamp I can now make out more of the “CHICAGO”, and see some of the “..LLOCK” in the upper part.  These two anvils are not that far apart in serial number, and have similar depth (or lack of) stamping for this H.Channon indication.

 

Here's a pic of that one from the other A&H with the Bullock stamp:

What are those numbers for turned 90 degrees and to right of the logo, 28X?

8 hours ago, Black Frog said:

Can you post pics of both anvil's serial numbers?  And the side of the painted anvil above the 202?

Posted. I am convinced the 202 is the weight, am I right?

I bought the two anvils and also this vice (I know it is suppose to be rotated and go to floor and is to clamp your work while hammering on it but what is it and what is it worth?) as well as a bucket of blacksmith tools and the largest copper soldering iron I have ever seen

6 hours ago, Black Frog said:

Thanks, is there a pic of the painted one's side above the 202 mark? Normally you don't see that flat top "3" stamp in the 43412 serial number, but  A&H has that font in later years (and a few earlier) as that serial number would be.  Most A&H's number stamps have a round top "3" stamp in their numbers.

A&H stamped both on the right and left side of the foot at times.

That logo above the 202 stamp on the side would be a good one to get for the A&H database at is helps to fill in a gap between logo styles, so I'd love to see a picture!

6 hours ago, Black Frog said:

Thanks, is there a pic of the painted one's side above the 202 mark? Normally you don't see that flat top "3" stamp in the 43412 serial number, but  A&H has that font in later years (and a few earlier) as that serial number would be.  Most A&H's number stamps have a round top "3" stamp in their numbers.

A&H stamped both on the right and left side of the foot at times.

That logo above the 202 stamp on the side would be a good one to get for the A&H database at is helps to fill in a gap between logo styles, so I'd love to see a picture!

40 minutes ago, SFcollector said:

 

 

I am not sure why this website keeps rotating the bottom of the pic to the right?

48 minutes ago, SFcollector said:

 

•  

5 hours ago, SFcollector said:

 

Can anyone make this weight out? Bottom is on right.

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Your reasoning about a fire is not good.  Very old anvils can have been in a fire and can have been painted 100 years ago to cover that up.  It's unlikely to have been in a fire though  so a simple bounce test will be sufficient.  

Those look to be in very good shape and will probably go high in that region.

Would it be possible to get shot of the underside of the base?

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Your reasoning about a fire is not good.  Very old anvils can have been in a fire and can have been painted 100 years ago to cover that up.  It's unlikely to have been in a fire though  so a simple bounce test will be sufficient.  

Those look to be in very good shape and will probably go high in that region.

Would it be possible to get shot of the underside of the base?

Yes, bit I am in a area with very slow Internet coverage and photos are now bogged down. There may be something incised in that area. It is hard to tell what is just surface paint vs possible paint recessed in letters. I thought I saw sonething written there but could be my imagination. Will post the requested area pic when Internet allows

1 hour ago, Black Frog said:

Can you post pics of both anvil's serial numbers?  And the side of the painted anvil above the 202?

7 minutes ago, D.C. said:

Where is the serial number on the anvil?

On the side on the foot on right

28 minutes ago, D.C. said:

I was just giving some examples of damage that is not always easy to spot from a picture.

A ball bearing is easier to use to test rebound. Less noisy too.

One with paint remnants has s/n 43412

1 hour ago, D.C. said:

Ok, so the Trenton is a farrier pattern anvil....but the picture of the marking looks raised, which implies a cast body. I've personally never seen a raised Trenton logo. The second one I've gut no input.

Not being pessimistic, but without putting your hands on the anvil, checking rebound or signs of delamination, cracking, or low quality repairs, it's a total gamble if the anvils are with Anything...

As has been pointed out on this site before, the proof of any anvil worth is not in the name, but in the functionality. If they have been welded on, or been through a fire, their temper could be affected.

That being said, California prices run high. I try not to pay more than $3/lb....but I'm not in California. 5/lb isn't unreasonable if you can test them.

Thanks D.C. for your quick reply.

Yes the Trenton logo is raised. Good point.

I will try to get there early and see if I can test it with a short sledge hammer for rebound. I assume it is supposed to be about 80% plus to be good? Will a sledge hammer suffice for testing?

The one with the peeling paint is fairly unlikely to have been in a fire as the paint is clearly very, very old and not charred. Also fairly certain there are no cracks or repairs. No evidence of being welded on either. Wouldn't that like leave some evidence?

I am bidding on two anvils tomorrow morning at a San Francisco auction and want to know what they are worth so hopefully someone can respond ASAP please.  I want to keep one and sell one. One is marked Trenton inside continuous diamond and is 30-1/2" long and 11-3/8" tall. I did not know where to look for weight markings so it could be marked in edge of foot, it weighs over 100 pounds I am sure. It has a semi circular projection on the right side of the top. The Trenton one has one square hole and two round holes through top.

The other one is 29" long and 12" tall and could be as much as 25% wider than the Trenton so I am sure it weighs more than the longer Trenton one. It is embossed on the big side with numbers 202. May have other markings obscured by the peeling paint. Anyone know who might have made this one?