Jump to content
I Forge Iron

No Markings on my "new" Anvil


Recommended Posts

I just bought this anvil vesterday and finally got it unloaded from the trunk of my wife's car. Boy, that was a mistake! We had to use a backhoe to load the thing... it weighs over 200# and seems much smaller in this pic. I will try to take some better pics tomorrow. The horn seems to be cut off in this pic, but it is all there. No markings, though... and I can't stand the paint. No cracks that I can see. I am curious as to who made this thing and how old it is. Hopefully I'll know more if/when I take the paint off. By the way, it is about 32" long and 13" high. I forgot to measure the width. oops.
Anybody have any idea what this is?

Two duplicate posts have been combined so some of the posts may be out of sync.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had to go to your profile and go into "all post by this member" to find the picture. I suggest that you just post it here... Anyway, it appears to be a Hay Budden but a few more pictures of the other side, front feet, bottom, and without the GREEN paint would help. Nice looking anvil but it makes ya wonder, "Why the green paint? Is there something hidden under all that ugly paint?" Nice looking anvil tho. There should be a serial # on the front left foot and possibly with the letter "A" in front of the #s. With that # we can determine what year it was made. If it has no letter "A", it is pre 1920 IIRC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what I was thinking before I bought it, but I don't see any markings on it. It appears to have a piece of hardened steel welded to the top, but I am not positive. I'll just have to get a wire wheel to it, I guess. I will try to weigh if I can find an appropriate set of scales. Once again, I see no markings at all... maybe I am not looking hard enough.
Thanks for the info.
Bill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does it have a pritchel hole? If not it's a modern mexican cast anvil made using a "real" anvil to make the mould . We get a lot of them down this way. They range from pretty nice to atrocious depending on what they were casting that day. Also check the horn to see if there is a mold line going down the face of it.

If it has a pritchel (that wasn't drilled as a retrofit) forget about the above. The green paint makes me wonder...

Can you tell us what the bottom looks like? The indentation on the bottom is very indicative of several brands of anvils----HB, A&H, etc...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know nothing about anvils and really don't feel like messing with it anymore. It is too big, too heavy, and I just do not need it, so I am now open to cash offers on this "thing." I have just about decided that shipping this thing is out of the question. It would have to be freighted and that would be more trouble than this old man needs. I live directly across the river from hwy 35, the main route for through traffic going from Ohio to the Virginia and the Carolina's, so maybe someone will be able to drop by and get this thing. It's not like I am asking $4 a pound for it, but I will certainly entertain cash offers... in fact, I am beginning to lean in that direction.
Make me an offer and come get it.
Bill Sikes
Leon, WV
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you ever tell us if it had a pritchel hole? If it doesn't it's most likely a Mexican cast anvil where they use an old anvil to make the molds from and so can range from decent quality to not very good depending on what was in the ladle that day and would not be heat treated as well.

Lots of them out this way

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does it have a pritchel hole? If not it's a modern mexican cast anvil made using a "real" anvil to make the mould . We get a lot of them down this way. They range from pretty nice to atrocious depending on what they were casting that day. Also check the horn to see if there is a mold line going down the face of it.

If it has a pritchel (that wasn't drilled as a retrofit) forget about the above. The green paint makes me wonder...

Can you tell us what the bottom looks like? The indentation on the bottom is very indicative of several brands of anvils----HB, A&H, etc...


The bottom of the anvil is flat... actually it could be flatter. The casting on this anvil is not very good and you are right... it looks like it could be an Arm & Hammer, Trenton, Hay Budden, or even a Peter Wright... but if it is a name brand it is an unmarked "second' having lower than normal quality casting. Another option is that it is an old import with no markings.
The Mexican bootleg option is a new one to me. That is a possibility. There is no casting mark on the horn, but there has been some grinding done to cover up something and maybe that was a casting mark. I will say that the horn definitely has a loud ping to it.
I will be trying to get some of the paint off today. I really want to know more about this anvil before I complete any sale.
Please read my next post.
Bill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

that was quick just got it now wants to sell it.hmmm


Sir,
I will not be confrontational with you unless it is what you would desire. If you have something to say, just go ahead and say it.
I have been nothing but honest about this anvil, including my ignorance about anvils. Granted, I know more about anvils than I did when I bought it a few days ago. I really did not know what I was buying, I just thought I wanted a big anvil. Why, you ask? I do not know why I thought I wanted a big anvil. I just saw it on CraigsList and it was only about 10 miles away so I went and got it. I have since determined that I really do not need this big anvil, but I would rather keep it than to sell it to someone who thought I had fleeced them. I buy and sell on eBay a good bit... I have around 550 transactions, mostly buying household items, and I have a PERFECT eBay rating. I have NEVER tried to fleece anyone. I stand on my reputation.
Just yesterday I told a forum member who lives in Ripley, WV that I do not think he would be interested in this anvil because it is not of the best casting quality. I think it will make someone a good work anvil, but it is not something you would want to buy to try to resell.
I will not lie to you... you are not worth me damaging my reputation, regardless of who you are.
Bill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My understanding after communicating with him is that someone welded the pritchel hole up. I passed on trying to buy the anvil, what he wants for it is too rich for my poor hind-side. Oh well, maybe I'll find another that size close by me..someday. Nice fella, hope he finds it a good home without much hassle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My understanding after communicating with him is that someone welded the pritchel hole up. I passed on trying to buy the anvil, what he wants for it is too rich for my poor hind-side. Oh well, maybe I'll find another that size close by me..someday. Nice fella, hope he finds it a good home without much hassle.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasPowers
Does it have a pritchel hole? If not it's a modern mexican cast anvil made using a "real" anvil to make the mould . We get a lot of them down this way. They range from pretty nice to atrocious depending on what they were casting that day. Also check the horn to see if there is a mold line going down the face of it.

If it has a pritchel (that wasn't drilled as a retrofit) forget about the above. The green paint makes me wonder...

Can you tell us what the bottom looks like? The indentation on the bottom is very indicative of several brands of anvils----HB, A&H, etc...

The above comments were posted on this forum on my other thread concerning this anvil. I made a mistake and actually double posted the first post of the thread and it resulted in two different threads with the same title. Please read the other thread... it has some more recent info.
Here is my response to the above comments.

The bottom of the anvil is flat... actually it could be flatter. The casting on this anvil is not very good and you are right... it looks like it could be an Arm & Hammer, Trenton, Hay Budden, or even a Peter Wright... but if it is a name brand it is an unmarked "second' having lower than normal quality casting. Another option is that it is an old import with no markings.
The Mexican bootleg option is a new one to me. That is a possibility. There is no casting mark on the horn, but there has been some grinding done to cover up something and maybe that was a casting mark. I will say that the horn definitely has a loud ping to it.
I will be trying to get some of the paint off today. I really want to know more about this anvil before I complete any sale.
Please read my next post.
Bill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My understanding after communicating with him is that someone welded the pritchel hole up. I passed on trying to buy the anvil, what he wants for it is too rich for my poor hind-side. Oh well, maybe I'll find another that size close by me..someday. Nice fella, hope he finds it a good home without much hassle.


Keykeeper,
When I told you that, I had never heard about Mexican counterfeit cast anvils, which never had a pritchel hole to begin with. I will let you guys know more after I get some of that darned paint off.
Bill Sikes
[email protected] Edited by Bill_49
change "forged" to "cast"
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...