smiley Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Can anyone help me identify and tell me an approximate value of my Grandpa's Anvil? It is 31 inches long, and very heavy unsure of exact weight. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hard telling. What is the base (bottom half) made from? Can you unmount it and take some more pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiley Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hard telling. What is the base (bottom half) made from? Can you unmount it and take some more pictures? Hi Thanks it is mounted on wood. I can't unmount on my own. I will include more photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otisdog Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Looks to me like it broke in half, and the top part was bolted to a piece of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmHorus Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 To me it looks like it was chopped in half drilled and bolt mounted to some wood. Just how it looks, long as it works no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 It is in good condition, so I would say between $1 and $3 per pound of steel, even with it only the top half of an anvil. It is the working half. If you are in an anvil rich area like Ohio or Pennsylvania then the lower, and an anvil poor area the higher. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiley Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 To me it looks like it was chopped in half drilled and bolt mounted to some wood. Just how it looks, long as it works no big deal. I know it was old when he bought it over 40 years ago, someone told me they saw a similar one without a base as well it sat flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Just a crazy thought, but what if someone long, long ago just encased the bottom portion of the anvil to make it quieter? In the first pic it appears to me that there is the wooden base on a concrete base...like I said, just a crazy thought. If it were mine I would take the angle iron off and have a look-see at least. Nice looking anvil otherwise and definitly usable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiley Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Just a crazy thought, but what if someone long, long ago just encased the bottom portion of the anvil to make it quieter? In the first pic it appears to me that there is the wooden base on a concrete base...like I said, just a crazy thought. If it were mine I would take the angle iron off and have a look-see at least. Nice looking anvil otherwise and definitly usable. I wondered that too..Where would I look for any markings? are they usually on the bottom? My dad has someone interested do you have an idea what he should ask for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I wondered that too..Where would I look for any markings? are they usually on the bottom? My dad has someone interested do you have an idea what he should ask for it? With the horn to your right, you should find the makers mark on the waist about mid-way. But if you have only the top half this mark may be gone. Remove the angle iron, take a wire wheel on a grinder and buff the paint off of the anvil to reviel any markings. So many anvils are identified from their feet and under the base and could make a definite I.D. of this anvil harder to prove, unless of course you do find markings on the waist. As for price...if your dad ain't gonna use it and the interested party will use it give the guy a decent deal. If the anvil has a good rebound then I would think $1.00 to 1.50 p/lb would be fair for both parties, after all, it is only 1/2 of an anvil! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiley Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 With the horn to your right, you should find the makers mark on the waist about mid-way. But if you have only the top half this mark may be gone. Remove the angle iron, take a wire wheel on a grinder and buff the paint off of the anvil to reviel any markings. So many anvils are identified from their feet and under the base and could make a definite I.D. of this anvil harder to prove, unless of course you do find markings on the waist. As for price...if your dad ain't gonna use it and the interested party will use it give the guy a decent deal. If the anvil has a good rebound then I would think $1.00 to 1.50 p/lb would be fair for both parties, after all, it is only 1/2 of an anvil! Thank You! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BM454 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Kinda looks like my HB or my Trenton. I'd use it as often as I could if it were mine. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiley Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 Kinda looks like my HB or my Trenton. I'd use it as often as I could if it were mine. Scott does anyone know where I can sell this? it is located in southern Michigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Anvils are not considered "old" until they get to be 200 years or more, that one probably is not older than 100 years. I have an 1828 William Foster that is only "late middle aged" and still gets used. That looks like a 1/2 anvil to me. Damaged anvils sell very cheap and so are usually a great buy for beginning smiths. I bought one missing just the heel for about 33 cents a pound in Columbus OH. Yours looks in quite good shape. I'd pay you a dollar a pound (just for the anvil part not the base) if the face has been hardened. (see the ball bearing test). [and yes this is an offer, I can arrange pickup in MI] I used to live in Columbus OH which had *2* companies making anvils back in the day and so a number of "lunchbox specials" were around. Heat treat would be done after welding the top to the base so if that one wasn't a failed weld---which happened I have the *base* from a Peter Wright, (hmmm might fit that top....) I don't think it's cast in or else the angle iron wouldn't be needed to hold it in place. If it was a finished anvil that then failed there may be a stamped in name on the side. Hay Budden, Trenton, Peter Wright would be nice!---my 1/2 peter wright still had the weight stamps, the name would have been on the top half---Postman made the call on maker for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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