Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and have no experience blacksmithing, but I bought my first anvil last week and would appreciate some feedback on the condition and who might have made it. I've always wanted to learn about blacksmithing and metal art, but my interest in anvils peaked over the last year as I got into woodworking with vintage hand tools. I've been buying and fixing up old hand saws and would like to learn how to straighten bent blades by hammering them.
So I've been watching the local market (Southern Ontario) for used anvils and one popped up on a classified site a few minutes away from me for a very good price. It was less than $1/pound and the seller said it was 250 pounds. I put it on a bathroom scale when I got it home and it's more like 220, but that's close enough for me.
There's a bit of sway in the top plate and some cracks and chips, but I think there's still quite a bit of good useable space, especially for the kind of stuff I might be doing.
There are lots of chisel and punch marks on the sides. So it's hard to make out any identifying marks or stamps, but I think I see what looks like a "P", a "G", and maybe a "4" on the waist. There is also an "A A" on the foot that is pretty clear.
Here's a few pics. Any opinions or feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanks.