stevomiller Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Looks very Armitage MouseHole-y to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Pariso Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Starting to read more about anvil identification... when they bring the anvil over to my place tomorrow, I'll take a few more pictures from all sides, measure it, see what the ring is like, etc etc and post all the info in a new thread. When I posted the picture earlier, I was still in shock (and awe) that they had found an anvil this size, actually bought the thing, and somehow managed to keep it a secret for the last month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 I’d hold a little resentment that someone kept an anvil secret from me for that long it certainly looks Mousehole-ish. But there were a number of makers from the same area who made similar anvils. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Zabo Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Another Arm & Hammer inquiry: This one feels like 80 pound-ish (don't have a scale) and has it markings worn. The arm and hammer looks like it was hand engraved with a chisel.... or is just so worn it has that look. It does say "WROUGHT IRON" an is marked with a "7" and "L" where others seem to have the weight. The front has the serial number 33000. The manufacturer label is not clear. I picked up the whole outfit from a gentleman who had it in his basement for 50 years and I paid a couple hundred bucks. We were both happy to have it in a good home and being used again. Included was a lever forge that I am getting up and running (under topic Lever Forge). It's been years and I can't wait to make smoke and noise again. Is it an Arm And Hammer? Any other info available? Thank you, Zeke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 yes the Manufacturer's logo is quite visible. BTW does the underside of the heel show steam hammer blows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Zabo Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Thank you for looking ThomasPowers. I don't know what the marks on the underside are.... Can you tell me anything else about the anvil? What the "7" and "L" mean and how old? Where can I research it? It's always more interesting when using a piece of history to understand more about it. Keeps the world in perspective. Regards, Zeke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Well the one source you must have for old anvils is "Anvils in America" by Richard Postman; it's what most of us here are working from... You can see the steam hammer markings on the underside of the heel; most makers dressed them smooth---doesn't affect the anvils use either way as far as I am concerned. However this is a good indication that it's and A&H. The caplet depression on the base is also indicative of A&H and Trenton as they sometimes shared bases---they were both in Columbus Ohio. (I have a 91# A&H for over 3 decades now with the hammer marks and the caplet and clear stamping.) As for the date; I'd have to be home to check AinA BTW the weight is stamped on the side below the Logo in pounds; so I'd read that as 71 pounds. A bathroom scale should corroborate that (though note that scales old and new may be off a pound or two if they are not certified and tested regularly.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 33000 would be around 1918-1919, (they didn't make an 88000 according to AinA) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Zabo Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 13 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: 33000 would be around 1918-1919, (they didn't make an 88000 according to AinA) Thank you. Now I can imagine the original owner, after a hard weeks work, enjoying the Flappers at the Speakeasy. Gotta love the sense of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Or getting over their WWI PTSD hammering stuff on the anvil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CentralVA Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Looking for help identifying this anvil. It's been in our family for 5 generations. We were told it was pre Civil War and that it could have been brought down from Pennsylvania to central Virginia before the war started. I can't clearly make out the stamp on the side. The spray paint is from my grandfather putting his initials on either side of the anvil. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Post US Civil War configuration, the circular stamp is probably part of "Solid Wrought". Any numbers stamped on the front of the foot under the horn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CentralVA Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 All I can see right now is what looks like a "T" on the left. There's a whole lot of dirt/dust I need to brush off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Alexander Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 pulled this 100# GEM from the pole barn a few days ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Cast iron; according to the 1940 Belknap Hardware and manufacturing co, Louisville KY, ad reproduced in AinA mentioned in catalogs from 1903/4 and 1934 as well. Hope you didn't have to pay for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Alexander Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 beyond the time spent cleaning a path in our pole barn to get to it, it was completely free. interestingly in the process of moving some things in our tractor shed i stumbled (rather literally) over a Mouse hole this afternoon... now im wondering how many more anvils may be hidden around our property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 That’s a weird looking top plate. Think it might be a replacement? How are the ring and rebound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Check the rebound as that looks like a soft face with lots of use to me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Alexander Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 haven't spent much time cleaning it up yet, only went far enough to figure out what it was. how the edge looks up close it seems like its rolled over not a weld like i initially thought. so honestly no clue on if the top has been replaced or not... the rebound feels good but I'm crazy green so take that how you will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Which is why there is a simple test that gives objective data. Look up the ball bearing test. Even top brand anvils can get stuck in a structure file and get annealed, the ball bearing test will show it's status. Note you can use an anvil with a softer face it's just not as efficient. (and should be priced lower!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Alexander Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Ball bearing rebounds a little under 50% on the mouse hole. Has an even ring all over the top as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Soft! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 TP’s structure fire hypothesis is looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DungeonX Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 I havent used it yet but I am almost ready. Its 107lb European anvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Looks more UK or North American than European to me. How are you evaluating it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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