njanvilman Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 I finally decided to give this forum a go. A few friends on here urged me to get in on the fun. I am the curator of the Fisher & Norris Museum. Some of you out there know of the story of how I got involved with saving the archives of the factory. I had a story published in the Anvil's Ring in 2001 about the beginnings of the quest. More information can be found in a Google search. It would take too long to repeat it here now. My museum houses all of the remaining pattern for the Fisher anvils, the remaining paperwork, and a lot of anvils. The count is in the tons. I believe some photos were posted here in the spring of the museum. I love to talk about anything Fisher. I am working on a book of the history and products of the company. My museum is open to the blacksmithing community. Just PM me. I am in central NJ. This is not a full time venture. I teach wood and metalworking. Home this week recovering from a broken leg. OOPS. My quest out there is to find 600 lb and 700 lb Fisher anvils. They are the only missing ones from a complete line of all of their standard anvils. The search goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sask Mark Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 You do realize that you will have to post numerous pictures of your collection, dont you? p.s. Welcome aboard and good luck with your leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisG Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 I'd like to see the link and pictures LOTS of pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Here are articles and photographs of Fisher & Norris Museum. - NJBA Article showing Fisher and Norris Museum anvils- Oct 2006 - Fisher and Norris Museum...... My quest out there is to find 600 lb and 700 lb Fisher anvils. ...... What a coincidence, I imagine that just about everyone on this forum has the same quest. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Hello and welcome> I am the proud owner of a mint 70# fisher eagle. I use it for fine work only. I would love to have a 300-400# fisher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Cal Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 That is some collection. Can you tell me what color a Fisher 130 lb anvil from 1937 would have been painted from the factory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaylan veater Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Welcome to the I Forge Iron, Hope to get back to your museum sometime that would be really fun. Thanks for your efforts for the blacksmithing community sake. Hope the leg gets better. Gaylan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 All Fisher anvil were painted black on the base. The tops were not painted. The only ones that were a different color were pictured in the July 1952 issue of National Geographic Magazine. The photographer complained that everything was gray, black or dirty. So they painted three of them orange, green and silver. But it is your anvil; you can do anything you want with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Cal Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Thanks, I saw a lot of red ones in the pictures from the link posted to the museum- was wondering if that was factory original. Mine has traces of black paint- probably original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Welcome aboard, glad, really glad to have you. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Hot 77 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Here are articles and photographs of Fisher & Norris Museum. - NJBA Article showing Fisher and Norris Museum anvils- Oct 2006 - Fisher and Norris Museum What a coincidence, I imagine that just about everyone on this forum has the same quest. I THINK I HAD A DREAM ABOUT THAT PLACE...It was owned by me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Where exactly is your museum? Next time I get up that way I would love to stop by and see it, or if it isn't too far I would even consider a trip just to see it. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 Where exactly is your museum? Next time I get up that way I would love to stop by and see it, or if it isn't too far I would even consider a trip just to see it. welder19 Monmouth Country. Please PM to set up a date. Got to get off crutches first. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 In the last two weeks, I have added a 200 lb Fisher, made in the 1850's(earliest style), a 70 lb Fisher with a major identity defect, and a pre-1800 170 lb. Continental style double church window anvil(not Fisher) to the museum. I hope to get them cleaned up and on display in a few weeks. I wish I could go to Quad States, but I just missed 10 days of work with a broken leg, and have to go back to work this Friday. Maybe next year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 70 lb Fisher got to my museum, courtesy of a move by a friend from Quad States. Neat item...the FISHER logo is on the anvil upside-down. That anvil will go on display with the one with the upside-down Eagle, and the one with the FISHER on backwards. Even with Fisher's aim for quality, some anvils with defects still got out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rio Bravo Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Welcome! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle paul Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 this is my first post as a new member. my handle is the same as when i was a commercial trucker, i am now retired and looking to learn more about blacksmithing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 New Addition to the collection: 100 lb Fisher, Absolutely MINT! Never been hit, with most of the factory paint still on it. Found on CraigsList, 80 miles from home. Brought home Sunday night. This is a late model Crossley made Fisher, from the 70's. This is the best unused Fisher in the collection. It will be preserved as found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Congratulations on your acquisition. Just curious, is your museum incorporated and set-up so that it will survive you? I know of at least two museums in Gettysburg that did not survive their owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOC Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Interesting point UnicornForge. Speaking as a student 'museologist' we see how much trouble established government and community museums have surviving and building collections. With my collectors hat on i've often heard 'ole dears' say I'd like to see that[choice collectable] go to a museum when i'm gorn. In reality museums must have some limits to what comes in the gates. It's an interesting issue... AndrewOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 NJanvilman; I'm the fellow who sold you that blacker that had been through a fire. Moved out to NM now *with* my big Fisher. Funny thing I used to live in Monmouth County in the '70's...Holmdel NJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 Hi Tom. I still have the Blacker. It is still "rust frozen". It is a good display piece to show how the Fisher Blacker Anvil was used. Someday I will get to Quad States perhaps in the same year you make it and will finally meet. Future of the Museum: Great question. I really do not have an answer. I would hope that the patterns and ephemera could somehow stay together. I have other artifacts unique to the history of the company that should stay with the patterns. Hopefully my health will enable me to keep this going for many more years, and eventually complete my book on the history and products of Fisher and Norris. Perhaps one of my children will take it over, but that is unlikely. In the meantime, it has turned into a great collection, and I invite all interested to contact me to arrange a visit. Contact me whenever you are in the NJ area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I noticed on my Blacker Anvil a number punched in the side of the face that was only a couple of digits off from another Blacker anvil I have seen. Do you have such an anvil and if so does it have such a number as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 I actually have three Fisher Blacker anvils, two of the 515 lb style, and one of the 355 lb size. I will check tomorrow for any numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I'll check exactly where the numbers were punched ISTR it was near the cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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