jersey_beginner

Hi all – A quick update. After cleaning the anvil and reading Postman's book, I was able to successfully identify it. Someone had painted the sides with white lead paint and then someone put a second coat of black paint on top of that, so the maker's mark was obscured. The anvil is a Hill! It was made by Isaac Hill in Birmingham, England probably between 1830-50. It weighs more than I had thought, clocking in at 179 lbs on the scale. The mark under the horn must have been made by an inspector. So glad to have found this beauty!

That's super helpful - thank you! I'll clean it and request a copy of the book. If I can get a good identification, I'll update this post for everyone. I'm grateful for the help!

Interesting. That could explain the "IB" cast onto the base underneath the horn. Do you know if there's any way I could confirm, or at least look into, that theory? I'm going to clean it up soon and look for additional identifying marks.

I appreciate your help. Glad that linseed oil and a wire wheel is the way to go - the simplest cleaning techniques are often the best. Will definitely avoid damaging the face (which is still in good condition). I've attached photos of every side. I'm located in NJ and bought it from someone in Bucks County, PA. They didn't know anything about it, except that their husband purchased it about four years ago and that they didn't want it in their garage anymore. Would love to know what you all think about its possible age, origin, and, ideally, manufacturer.

Hey all — I'm new here and am hoping to find some guidance on identifying this forged anvil I recently purchased for home use. (Also, suggestions for cleaning it are welcomed.) Here are some photos depicting the clearest identifying marks. I'm guessing it's English (based off the flat base and bottom), and maybe weighs 126 pounds (if I'm reading the weight marks correctly)? The base under the horn is stamped with what looks like "LB," with some other lettering, or maybe numbering, underneath the "B." It has good rebound and makes a sharp "ting" when the face is struck. What do you think? I can upload photos of the other side, if that's helpful. There may be a "1" marked in the middle on the other side, though it's hard to tell.