I had been looking for an anvil for a while and I found this one the other day and I'm trying to find out what I can about it as far as wieght and date and what type it is. The pictures show the readable numbers and a partial stamp on the side. I hope I have found a good deal because this is what I'm starting a new hobby on. I know sheetmetal now I'm going to try this.Any help you guys could give would be super.

 

Doug

Greetings Trent,

 

Looks to be a great anvil... You will need more pictures for positive I D. .  It look like a 110 pound Trenton look a like..  Flip it over and see if the bottom is dished... 

 

Jim

Au means its made of gold ;) Sorry man I'm not an anvil person but i couldn't pass that up :) great looking anvil though! Price? Also! IT would be very useful to put your location in your profile so other IFI members who might be within driving distance may help you out. It is very useful. Best of luck to you and your adventures :D  Welcome to IFI!

Au means its made of gold ;) Sorry man I'm not an anvil person but i couldn't pass that up :) great looking anvil though! Price? Also! IT would be very useful to put your location in your profile so other IFI members who might be within driving distance may help you out. It is very useful. Best of luck to you and your adventures :D  Welcome to IFI!

Oops, double click on accident :( sorry. Yeah I thought it looked similar to a trenton also.

I paid $180 that's why I'm trying to see if I got a deal or not. Whichever, as long as it is good quality and will let me start learning the trade I'm happy. The bottom is dished out. What other views do you need to see for a positive ID I will get them tomorrow. Another guy who saw it thought it might be a Hay Budden, is there any way to tell??... Like I said I am just getting into Blacksmithing and looking to learn all I can.

Most people wished their anvil was in that good of condition! Good deal!

If the dish looks like a caplet then it's probably a Trenton made for a company that specified their own name stamp.

 

If it looks like an hourglass then it might be a similar one made by Hay Budden.

 

Weight should be 110 pounds or slightly less.  Anvils seem to shrink slightly over the years...

I agree with Jim, the anvil is a Trenton, marked AJAX, I think that was a Sears brand name, made by The Columbus Forge & Anvil Co., Columbus OH. If I read the front foot correctly, it says 110 lb. on the left. Ser# on the right is consistent with Trenton anvils. The hollow under the base, how the front foot is marked, and the shape of the AJAX stamp are all Trenton characteristics. Looks like a darn nice anvil at an excellent price.

 

(Hay-Budden's aren't dished underneath, ser# would be on the left front foot, weight would be on the side below the name)

I agree with Jim, the anvil is a Trenton, marked AJAX, I think that was a Sears brand name, made by The Columbus Forge & Anvil Co., Columbus OH. If I read the front foot correctly, it says 110 lb. on the left. Ser# on the right is consistent with Trenton anvils. The hollow under the base, how the front foot is marked, and the shape of the AJAX stamp are all Trenton characteristics. Looks like a darn nice anvil at an excellent price.

 

(Hay-Budden's aren't dished underneath, ser# would be on the left front foot, weight would be on the side below the name)

Either way thats a fine anvil and will serve you for a long time! Sounds like a steal too for its condition!

Either way thats a fine anvil and will serve you for a long time! Sounds like a steal too for its condition!

Is there any guess on the age I was just curious.

Welcome aboard, glad to have you. I can't tell you about your anvil's make but to my eye it's condition is near perfect. I'm thinking you scored big tie good, especially for $180. you aught to see what an anvil in good condition will set you back in Alaska.

 

Someone with a copy of Anvils in America will speak up soon and give you the particulars of date, etc. based on serial # soon enough. I just like to say hi and enjoy a bit of anvil envy now and then. . . Oh okay whenever I can.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

Ser# looks like: 178353

AIA chart says 1920

Thank you guys a million. I will post more pictures when I get it mounted and cleaned up (wire-brush) all your info has made me feel even better about getting started. I will get the blower (A Champion 400) and forge set up cleaned up and post them. So Thanks for the welcome and I hope I don't aggravate you guys with too many newbie questions starting out ( I really do try to do my research first). 

 

Thanks all of you!!

 

Doug

Don't sweat questions Doug, you may FEEL dumb briefly for asking one but the person who never asks is dumb forever. Good questions are a treasure, it causes us to try and explain why we do it THAT way. Self examination is good for the soul.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

Hay Buddens ARE dished in the shape of an hourglass made by the sides extending down a bit further than the rest of the bottom.  On early ones it may be pretty slight and have worn almost flat but they do have a depression on the base!  I have several to prove it as well as AinA

Get those suckers fired up! Im waiting to see what ya can do :)

Wow, is that a nice anvil, or what!?!?  Looks like it's brand new, and it's a perfect weight for the shop.

 

If you mount it to a heavy stand so that there's no wobble when you strike on it, you'll have a setup that performs like a much heavier anvil.  Place some silicone caulk between the stump and the anvil when assembling and you'll kill the majority of the bell-like ring.

Ok speaking of mounting the anvil, I am 6'4" and if I get the correct (wrist level) anvil height for lighter work, I will need a 25 or 26 inch log to give me the 36 inches to be wrist level. Will this be to tall and be unstable?.. i was thinking of building one of  planned 4X6's and fit them together similar to a butchers block and put a leg out or something to that effect?? Any ideas for tall guys, just want to see if anyone has run into this before so I don't  build it and it not end up stable enough.

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OH and here are the pictures of the bottom of the anvil and also I threw in one of the rest of my equipment... as soon as I get the anvil mounted I can get started.... Hopefully this weekend

$180 for an anvil in that fine of shape is an incredible deal!  I'm a bit envious and would like to know how you came by it.  As far as a stand goes, mine is 3-legged made out of drops which I arc welded together.  I went w/ 3 legs as it won't wobble even if the ground isn't level.  The legs are filled w/ sand & oil to quiet it and keep it from rusting.  The eyebolts are for a spring loaded hold down.

 

Hopefully you can get it put to work soon, welcome to the group!

 

Dan

looks good!