molinegb Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Have anvil that has been in family for 100 plus years. My great great grandfather was a blacksmith by trade in Ireland. We don't know if anvil came across the pond to Canada or was purchased in Ontario. Anvil weighs 102 lbs (0 3 18). Only symbol is like an upside down V. I thought it was a William F. I would like to identify and possibly date. Attached is pictures of both my anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 any chance it was the broad arrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKrzysz Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 The second one looks like a Trenton. They where made in the USA and Germany of wrought iron with a tool steel top. I am not sure of the first one. I really do like the first one, it looks really stout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 That first one looks to be in pretty good condition. It is also of wrought iron with a tool steel face plate. It is of much older pattern when anvils were shorter and less graceful, look more like a Mouse Hole style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKForge Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 That first one looks a lot like my William Fosters. WF's are all dated so look for that. They also have crowns stamped into the side you can look for that. Without either of those it probably is not a WF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 The second one is for sure trenton. You can see the diamond above the "solid wrought" I suppose it could be a "trexton," but thats the same thing. You will find numbers on the trenton on the front feet (under the horn) that will be your weight and serial number. The serial number will tell you how old it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulsepushthepopulace Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 If it doesn't have a serial number, and it lacks a handling hole in the front foot (like trentons and wrights), it's likely a German Trenton... The Diamond is a dead give away. use baby powder to dust on the other one... major imports were mousehole, wilkonsons, and fosters... It could be something else though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molinegb Posted April 13, 2013 Author Share Posted April 13, 2013 I will further closer pix of first anvil. Second trenton anvil has numbers on bottom front. On left a symbol and 99. On right front A12573. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swelect Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Here is more pix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swelect Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyanchor Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 According to AIA your second pictured anvil is a 99 pound Trenton made in 1900, sorry I can't help with your other anvil. Good luck with identifying it Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molinegb Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molinegb Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Apparently the symbol is an inspector mark. Someone ID as 1850 Foster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen alford sr Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I have a william foster anvil dated 1866.it appears to have the word waranted between the name and date. on each side of the word is a crown. it seems to weigh about 150 pounds. there are no other symbols that i see. does anyone have any info on foster anvils for that time period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Welcome aboard Stephen... I always suggest this thread to get the best out of the forum and help in staying off the moderators radar. READ THIS FIRST Do you have any pictures of your William Foster (we love pictures). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Richard Postman once told me that WF anvils used rather coarse wrought iron in them; so less problems with sagging but more issues with breaking. A common bathroom scale should give you a fairly exact weight. What type of information do you want to know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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