Anvil ID

[tppaper]

A friend recently purchased this anvil and wants help identifying it. It is conventional shape, weighing 217 lbs. It sits on a 12"x21" steel plate, 1" thick, with steel casters - the base plate weighs 92 lbs making a total weight of 300 lbs.

Face measures 4-1/2" x 17-3/16" - Horn measures 10-1/2" - height is 12-1/4" - Base measures 10-3/4" x 11-1/2". The front right base flat has a "5" stamped into it and the left side is marked ... "1 - 3 - 21 " which we know is the weight "1x112 + 3x28 + 21" = 217 pounds.

There is also a "D" stamped near the bottom. Its about 4" directly below the center number. Does this "D" mean anything to anyone?

In this next picture is where the number "5" is stamped on the right front ledge. There is also a 1/2" x 3/4" hole about 1-1/2" deep in the middle of this front edge.

Does this manner of weight marking mean "for sure" its an English maker, perhaps Peter Wright? Some have suggested Peter Wright because of the 1/2" x 3/4" hole in the front edge.

What else should he look for to distinguish a particular makers style? Should I have him remove the gray paint, or is this enough info to identify the maker?

When it is tapped with a small hammer ... it "s i n g s" for about 5 full seconds.

[Sask Mark]

I would agree that it's probably a Peter Wright:
1. Ledges on the feet are typical for post-1850's Peter Wrights
2. Weight stamping is typical of English made anvils (i.e. Peter Wrights)
3. Other anvils with ledges on the feet are Swedish anvils and some German anvils like early Trentons. These anvils were typically stamped in pounds, not in the stone system.
4. I have several Peter Wrights with stamps on the front of the feet and down low on the side like yours.

[tppaper]

Thanks so much for you comments.

Would there be any point in removing the paint on the left side where the weight is stamped to see if its marked "Peter Wright"? Would this hurt the value?

Also, were anvils by him dated?

[Drewed]

Unless it is going to be a garden decoration or door stop, take all the paint off. Burning paint smells bad.

[Bentiron1946]

The base plate don't mean squat for total anvil weight. It will make a good top plate for an anvil stand unless you are going to leave it on the casters and squat to do your forging.
I take a wire brush to that anvil and get rid of all that ugly paint for sure. Other than the paint it is a handsome anvil :D

[tppaper]

I would agree that it's probably a Peter Wright:
1. Ledges on the feet are typical for post-1850's Peter Wrights
2. Weight stamping is typical of English made anvils (i.e. Peter Wrights)
3. Other anvils with ledges on the feet are Swedish anvils and some German anvils like early Trentons. These anvils were typically stamped in pounds, not in the stone system.
4. I have several Peter Wrights with stamps on the front of the feet and down low on the side like yours.

Hello Sask Mark,

Thanks for the info. I have now examined about 100 pictures from about 40 different Peter Wright Anvils. Most were in the 84 - 195 pound range. I see almost "all" have these things in common.

1. Ledges on the Feet
2. English System Weight stampings
3. A Letter stamped below the weight
4. A small Rectangular Hole in the center front edge
5. A Number, Letter, or Symbol stamped on the front base edge
6. "Peter Wright Patent" stamped on the side above or around the weight stamping

I did find pictures of one that was 225 pounds with all features 1-5 above, but no "Peter Wright" name stamp. Is it possible that some larger anvils were not name stamped? Or perhaps some "Early" ones before "Patent" was stamped?

As you can see, we've started soaking the anvil with Zip-Strip and started to remove the old gray paint. What a mess. Later today we'll see what is underneath.

[Drewed]

Stripper will work, but a wire brush in a grinder is better! Or a drill if you don't have a grinder.

[ThomasPowers]

Value in most anvils is as a good using tool! Putting it in better using condition does not lower the value. Yes it's probably over 100 years old---so what? The "new" rocks around here are 10,000's and the "old" ones in the millions... PW didn't date their anvils; there are some age indications in the markings as there was a requirement to stamp country of origin on them at one point. However a PW in good shape is worth more than a PW in bad shape even if the bad one is 50 years older than the good one.

My oldest anvil was also my cheapest: 1828 William Foster (they did date stamp their anvils!), cost me $5 as it was beat to pieces with only a tiny bit of face still on it. Someday I hope to reface it in the traditional manner.

[tppaper]

My oldest anvil was also my cheapest: 1828 William Foster (they did date stamp their anvils!), cost me $5 as it was beat to pieces with only a tiny bit of face still on it. Someday I hope to reface it in the traditional manner.

We also have a William Foster Anvil. It is dated 1848. It was also "beat" to pieces with the tail broken off. And, it was also pretty cheap, costing $25. It originally weighed 94 lbs being marked 0-3-10, but now weighs only 82 lbs since the tail is missing. What's left seems to be very sound with a good "ring". We like it because its pre- Civil War and shows a lot of use. Who knows what stories it could tell? Any idea what this would be worth?

[ThomasPowers]

Last time I bought a heelless anvil the face was in much better condition, the horn in worse condition and I paid US$40. It's my "loaner" and "leave outside anvil". (and it was a "rarer" make according to Postman who looked it over last Quad-State---a Powell)

If you find someone doing ACW reenactment it might have a premium for them as it is pre ACW; but it's not a special anvil in that condition.

I like broken anvils as they are often priced more appropriately; my last buy was a PW with a mint face and *1* foot missing for US$1.33 a pound in anvil poor NM!

I also have a wall of shame of abused anvils including my poster child what was once a 100+ pound PW missing *everything* over the waist! (weight stamps are the only markings left but Postman ID's it as "most likely PW" due to the feet ledges and CWT stamping.)

[radleyyy]

Can someone help me identify my anvil its got 1942 on it with i think a L and II after that on the side at the very bottom and also i think i has a u next to that im not sure can someone help me? 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2019 by Mod30
Reduce font size

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many members live within visiting distance. 

Looks like a Fisher to me, a little closer pic of the badge on the side should ID it. 

Your font is Way OVERSIZED and there's no reason to bold anything unless you have a specific word, phrase, etc. you want to emphasize. When you shout everything people learn to ignore it so when you do have something important to say nobody will know. Make sense?

Frosty The Lucky.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Welcome to IFI radleyyy... have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST

Like Frosty said, playing with font size and colors are frowned upon. Your anvil looks to be in excellent shape. I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened face. How much does it weigh. Knowing where in the world you are you located will help with the ID, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show location.