October 2, 201213 yr Local auction had this anvil that had several coats of horrible paint on it. I didn't see anybody inspecting the sides or base for manufacturer or weight. I saw a few people lifting the horn side mumbling... "gotta be over 150#"... Through the layers of paint, I could make out the Trenton diamond on the side, and I could see the 225 weight stamp on the foot. I had to wait around over 4hrs at the auction before they got to the anvil.... But it was worth it. I think it is in extremely nice shape, made in 1912. Has a few very minor chips on the side of the face, but fantastic shape for a 100yr old anvil! Here she is stripped of the hideous paint, and a good wipe down:
October 2, 201213 yr Author I was hoping to get it $2/lb, but one other person had their eye on it. I had to go to $500 for it. 200+ pound anvils are hard to find. 200+ pound Anvils in really fine shape are even more rare. So not an absolute steal, but considering the exceptional condition, I was ok with the price.
October 2, 201213 yr Looks like a great price to me. I was half afraid you'd say you got if for twenty bucks because nobody else wanted it!
October 2, 201213 yr Author ....... was half afraid you'd say you got if for twenty bucks because nobody else wanted it! I will find that somewhere, sometime. That's the fun of continuing to hunt! I see Matchless has a near mint 150# Trenton pushing $800... Unfortunately the person who bid me up to the price didn't really know what he was bidding on. Just a bit earlier he had horribly overpaid for an average , nothing special leg vise. I couldn't believe people bid that leg vise up to $185. I figured $80, maybe $100 tops. I was shocked. I figured if people were willing to overpay that much for the vise, I wasn't going to get this anvil.... I'm sure some were thinking I was crazy for paying this much for just a chunk of metal.
October 2, 201213 yr Nicely done. You have quite the smithy taking shape! I easily could get that dreaded disease, anvilytus from you. You're clearly infected.
October 2, 201213 yr Author Nope, my anvilitis has been somewhat cured now. I'm swearing off buying any more anvils under 200#...... unless it is an absolute steal. ;)
October 2, 201213 yr That's not a bad price for that anvil. No, you didn't steal it but you did get a good deal I think.
October 2, 201213 yr Nope, my anvilitis has been somewhat cured now. I'm swearing off buying any more anvils under 200#...... unless it is an absolute steal. ;) Ha! You think that you're cured now? The disease is just beginning to take hold....wait till you're fix is a 400+ pounder...
October 2, 201213 yr Author Ha! You think that you're cured now? The disease is just beginning to take hold....wait till you're fix is a 400+ pounder...Yes, I know this is coming. That's why I'm swearing off the smaller ones. The 'bigguns' are few and far between, so I'm not as tempted so often. When I found that 527# A&H earlier this year, that solidified the sickness.
October 2, 201213 yr Author I think you should let me have that 700#HB, just think of the absolute fun you'll have trying to find a replacement!!! :)
October 2, 201213 yr When I was younger I kept looking for bigger and bigger anvils; now that I'm on the downside of the double nickle I'm picking up more small ones as they are easier to load and haul when I teach---OTOH I sure wouldn't turn down a 500#+ anvil at a steal of a price...
October 2, 201213 yr The 'bigguns' are few and far between, so I'm not as tempted so often. Because they are rarer, they are more addicting! Come out to the west coast, if you think that they're rare there.
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