fourbore Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Hello, I am new to this forum. I am interested in old tools and line shaft driven metal working machinery. I have a forge but only dabble a little in that art. I also have a sawmill in storage, if I live long enough that is a future project or dream. This week acquired an anvil. It has a rectangular top 12x6 inches, 12 inch tall and 12x15 at the base. it is marked "Fisher", "1906" and has an eagle on the side. I see this described in a book as a Fisher Norris saw makers anvil. I would like to find a Fisher catalog reprint and learn more about this anvil. Weight, use, other sizes and option. Ah good - I was able to link to a photo. I would also like to ask about the base and wood log? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sask Mark Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 IFI member njanvilman is THE expert when it comes to Fisher products. He might be able to point you in the direction of where to learn more about your anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Hello, I am new to this forum. I am interested in old tools and line shaft driven metal working machinery. I have a forge but only dabble a little in that art. I also have a sawmill in storage, if I live long enough that is a future project or dream. This week acquired an anvil. It has a rectangular top 12x6 inches, 12 inch tall and 12x15 at the base. it is marked "Fisher", "1906" and has an eagle on the side. I see this described in a book as a Fisher Norris saw makers anvil. I would like to find a Fisher catalog reprint and learn more about this anvil. Weight, use, other sizes and option. Ah good - I was able to link to a photo. I would also like to ask about the base and wood log? Hello fourbore Your Fisher sawmakers anvil should be about 250 lbs. It could be more/less. A difference of an inch in a dimension could change the weight by 20%. 1906/1907 was the era when Fisher produced the most anvils on a yearly basis. They were being marketed all around the world. Your anvil looks as though it was well cared for and used properly. Proper use meant that no hammer ever touched the anvil. There was always a saw blade laying flat on the anvil. The blade was struck with special saw hammer to tension the blade, and to do minor staightening. Fisher listed over 60 stock sizes of saw anvils available. They would also create a pattern and do a custom size if ordered. Some people like the size of the face of the saw anvil for blade work. It obviously lacks a horn, hardy hole, pritchel hole. This might or might not be a problem. The base looks like a heavy steel base to make sure the anvil did not tip or move much. The log 'might' be nothing more than a shelf to put the hammer down on. Private message me for any more details. Send me an address for a copy of literature. And if you ever are interested in selling/swapping let me know. I also run a hundred year old sawmill here. And have a shop full of line-shaft driven equipment waiting for a building to set it up in. Adding your location to your profile would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I have done a little bit of saw sharpening (hand saws) and have found that it often includes some minor straightening where people have kinked their blades in the cut perhaps. Anyway I have found a stump surface useful for that sort of work... so that is a possible explanation for the log that is attached to your stand. The thing is that straightening on the anvil tends to also thin the metal and stretch it a bit and this can be a problem... so using a wood anvil allows for hammering out a dent while minimizing (almost eliminating) metal thinning and stretching. It is kind of like using a soft mallet against an anvil but opposite, soft anvil-hard hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourbore Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 Big foot, I was guessing some kind of light pounding on the stump, seems odd that it is mounted almost a foot below the anvil and the surface is very clean. I almost discarded it, because I had to take if apart to load and the log was damaged. For now, I will keep it as-is. NJ Anvil man, I sent an email via this site. I will be visiting NJ on every other Saturday for the next couple months. I dont have schedule yet. Maybe start in a month. It will be near NYC. Maybe we can get together. I am assuming you are near Trenton. I look froward to your book. How close it that to release? I appreciate the effort and respect anyone who can contribute a well researched book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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