Anvil ID assitance

[Kristopher Skelton]

Hi folks
I picked up this anvil over the weekend and am curious whether we can figure out origins and whatnot just for the fun of solving a mystery. I've done as much research as I think I can on the internet and my best guess is -maybe- an Arm and Hammer, and that's based soley on the rough finish under the heel. I don't think I found some piece of history or anything, but I think I got a good deal on what should prove to be a serviceable anvil.

Here's what I know for sure:

It's heavy: the seller said 400#.

It rings like a church bell on the face, heel and horn. The body makes almost no noise in comparison.


The only identifiable markings are on the left front foot (if you're about to put your eye out with the horn, that is) and it appears to be a 5-digit number. Most of it has been obliterated by years of punching and chiseling. Maybe someone can explain why someone would go to the foot of an anvil when they needed a place to set a punch... The rest of the body, face and horn had been treated the same way- punch and chisel marks all over. And there is also a number 6 or 9 just under the horn (this would depend on whether it was punched in top down or rightside up).

The face is somewhat swaybacked. I worked on it with my grinder and it became evident very quickly that this anvil had been abused and repaired several times. You can see the welding on the face in the blog photos (below).

The hardy is 1.45" and the pritchel is 5/8. The heel from the hardy back is the only part of the anvil that was spared from the mad chiseler.

The feet do not have ledges (whereas my Peter Wright does- and the logo on that anvil is easy to read, so that was a no-brainer).

There is no indentation/depression under the anvil, though there is a lip about 1/2" wide by maybe 1/8" (I didn't measure it). The bottom of the base has a square hole and has rusted some, giving a ropey, wrought-iron look.

I can take as many pics as you like and they can be huge if need be. For now here's a link to my blog with a few pics that can be enlarged anvil posting


Thanks in advance!

[jimw]

looks like a hay bud to me
Hi folks
I picked up this anvil over the weekend and am curious whether we can figure out origins and whatnot just for the fun of solving a mystery. I've done as much research as I think I can on the internet and my best guess is -maybe- an Arm and Hammer, and that's based soley on the rough finish under the heel. I don't think I found some piece of history or anything, but I think I got a good deal on what should prove to be a serviceable anvil.

Here's what I know for sure:

It's heavy: the seller said 400#.

It rings like a church bell on the face, heel and horn. The body makes almost no noise in comparison.


The only identifiable markings are on the left front foot (if you're about to put your eye out with the horn, that is) and it appears to be a 5-digit number. Most of it has been obliterated by years of punching and chiseling. Maybe someone can explain why someone would go to the foot of an anvil when they needed a place to set a punch... The rest of the body, face and horn had been treated the same way- punch and chisel marks all over. And there is also a number 6 or 9 just under the horn (this would depend on whether it was punched in top down or rightside up).

The face is somewhat swaybacked. I worked on it with my grinder and it became evident very quickly that this anvil had been abused and repaired several times. You can see the welding on the face in the blog photos (below).

The hardy is 1.45" and the pritchel is 5/8. The heel from the hardy back is the only part of the anvil that was spared from the mad chiseler.

The feet do not have ledges (whereas my Peter Wright does- and the logo on that anvil is easy to read, so that was a no-brainer).

There is no indentation/depression under the anvil, though there is a lip about 1/2" wide by maybe 1/8" (I didn't measure it). The bottom of the base has a square hole and has rusted some, giving a ropey, wrought-iron look.

I can take as many pics as you like and they can be huge if need be. For now here's a link to my blog with a few pics that can be enlarged anvil posting


Thanks in advance!

[Sask Mark]

I'm guessing it's a Hay Budden as well with the '6' stamped beside the handling hole below the horn.

[Frank Turley]

Yes, I've only seen one Hay-Budden that did not have a number in the waist under the horn, and it was a very early, blocky looking one. I'd say it was a Hay-Budden.

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools

[Kristopher Skelton]

I think that settles it 3 of 3 say Hay Budden, so that's what I'm gonna call it from here on out.

thanks gents!

[nhblacksmith]

"The only identifiable markings are on the left front foot (if you're about to put your eye out with the horn, that is) and it appears to be a 5-digit number. Most of it has been obliterated by years of punching and chiseling. Maybe someone can explain why someone would go to the foot of an anvil when they needed a place to set a punch... The rest of the body, face and horn had been treated the same way- punch and chisel marks all over. And there is also a number 6 or 9 just under the horn (this would depend on whether it was punched in top down or rightside up)."

I live in far northern New Hampshire in the heart of logging country and all the old anvils up here have what appear to be "punch" marks on the sides of the anvil, top to bottom. They are actually where the blacksmith set the points on peaveys which he was repairing by driving the point into the handle on the side of the anvil. Your marks may be the same.

Neal

[Kristopher Skelton]

Thanks Neal. I'm in the Pacific Northwest, and if this anvil has been local for most of its life it might have been used to fix the same type of tool.