monomoit Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 New to the Forum, and wanted to share a wonderful find: just acquired an early Hay Budden Anvil... Serial number: 1699 Overall length: 26-1/2" Horn: 10" Face: 16-1/2" x 4" Hardie: 1-1/16" Pritchel: 9/16" Condition is really quite nice - no excessive wear or obvious damage. Markings are very strong, including "181", which I assume is the weight (haven't had a chance to check it yet). I don't own a copy of AIA, but the serial number, 1699, would appear to be very early. Can anyone please tell me what year the anvil was made? Many thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Wow That is a treasure!!!!!!!!!! Its beautiful. It was made in the first year of production 1892 by HB. I would imagine that collectors would pay a small fortune for that anvil in that condition. Matchless antiques just sold a smaller HB anvil (108lbs) made in 1894 on ebay that they called mint and wasn't quite as nice as yours for over $720. Good for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 And yes; the 181 is the weight in pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Not to die for, but to live for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Thank you all for the information and input on my new acquisition. I am very excited to learn that the anvil is from the first year of production; for me, that makes it extra-special. Add to that the wonderful condition, and, well, I'm thrilled! Making this an even better find, tho, was all the other great stuff that came along with it: A small Champion Forge w/ hand-crank blower, (pan cracked and repaired but quite functional) Swage Block (129 lbs) - 14-3/4" x 11-1/2" x 4-1/4" Stake anvil (48 lbs) - 39-1/2" long w/ 20" tail Bench shears (24 lbs) - 36" long w/ 8" jaws Boynton & Plummer No. 8 Post Drill Leg vise Tongs, hammers, hardies and more... A virtual turn-key setup, all in one shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Monomoit, We all hate you now you lucky #$%$^&#. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 MO, now that's what I'd call the "good" kind of hate!! :D I know that this is the anvils forum, but at the risk of mis-posting, here are a couple of photos of the forge: I couldn't find a size designation anywhere, but the top measures 18" x 20" - anyone know which model it might be? It would have been nice if the previous owner(s) had heeded the advice, "CLAY FORGE BEFORE USING", but I guess that's the way it goes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Here are a couple more photos showing the swage block (although not very well), the stake anvil, various tools, etc: And the bench shears: (Please... please! Do NOT tell my wife how I use her bathroom scale!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'd say you did really well, nice setup which probably took me 3 or 4 years to accumulate a similar amount. Now if you'll ship that anvil to me I won't tell your wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Fair enough, Fatfudd... but I'll need your address :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Stewart, here's a question: what do you do with a great early anvil like this that's virtually "new in the box"?? Do you use it, or "preserve" it? It would seem that there will always be another good "used" anvil out there, but rarely one in this condition... An interesting conundrum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I would say use it but carefully, keep grinders, cutting torches, welders, and sledge hammers well away. Not much you can do with a single hammer and hot iron to hurt an anvil. your wife will find out about the scale eventually because some day you will put too much weight on it and break it. Don't ask me how I know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Man what a haul. I bet it took me 5 years or more to get all that kind of stuff. I haven't gottem a pair of bench shears like tha tI guess I will have to make some. I still don't have a swage block that nice, except my Yater and it is different of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 MO, I have another swage block I've been trying to buy for a while now, measuring 18" x 18" x 4-1/2". The current owner, who has thus far been reluctant to sell, is using it as... a garden ornament!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Personally, I think I'd try to find a collector that wanted that anvil enough to come up with some serious money. Yea, there's not much you can do to hurt it, but one bad swing of the hammer could chip the edge and decrease the value because the anvil is "as-new" condition. Maybe there's a collector out there that would part with some case AND a similarly sized anvil in a more used condition? I just hate to see something that rare get banged on. I'm weird, I know. Great score overall. You've got some very valuable tools in that pile of stuff and will have years of good times ahead of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monomoit Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 Vaughn, thank you for the prudent advice. As it turns out, I will likely not have to use this anvil, because today, believe it or not, I found a second one - ANOTHER Hay Budden!!! I just started another thread about it here:http://www.iforgeiro...-rains-it-pours And I swear, I couldn't make up this story if I wanted to!! I'm almost too stunned to believe it myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 I really need to get some of that luck off of you!!! A FREE anvil?! Wow. Definitely a lucky fellow you are. And now you can keep the mint-condition anvil in mint condition without worry. Your new anvil looks superb and I can't wait to see how your electrolysis works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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