plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Picked this up off craigslist the other day. mostly got it because I wanted the post vice that came with it. None the less, I would be curious about who made this beautiful ( whats left of it) anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 H-B Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 The anvil appears to say: ___ (some first name) HADFIELD LATE HADFIELD & SANDERSON WARRANTED (or SHEFFIELD) The term LATE is seen on English anvils when the maker recently began making anvils under their own name and formerly worked at a well known anvil company. I believe the same could be if they took over the company and were transitioning to putting their own name on the anvils. I've seen Sanderson Brothers, and at least one of the type you have, there seem to be several versions as the business owners evolved, HADFIELD & SANDERSON being the most common of the bunch. In any case, you picked up an "Old English" style built up anvil, likely made in Sheffield, England, a little before 1850, where Hadfield & Sanderson were. The name on yours is fairly rare. Please post a picture if you clean it up and find more letters. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 I will. I am terribly disappointed that it is so damaged, but hope to get some use out of it. would you just wire brush the rust around the letters attempting to find more or do you think that will simply harm the ones that can be seen. Honestly I am very impressed you were able to read that much from so few letters. The most I could make out was late and Sanderson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 just realized you cant see it in the pictures, but a bolt has been been driven or screwed into the pritchel hole. any advice on removing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsmith Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Deffinatly has the all the shape characteristics of sheffield anvils, have you tried sprinkling some flour on the lettering and wiping the excess off with a towel, this can highlight the the depressions and give contrast, make them easier to read/ guess at ? Great find. I might put a wrench to the bolt and see if it will turn (left), perhaps some tapping from the bottom in combination with turning will free it if it is mechanicaly, stuck, if its rust, soak it with JB80 for a day or two, just suggestions to try befroe resorting to a big hammer or heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 H-B Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Hand brush away, you won't hurt it with a hand wire brush. A wire wheel on an angle grinder will strip it down to bare metal, I don't think you want to do that. Agree with woodsmith, try to turn it or drive it out with something close to the same diameter (don't mushroom it further). If still stuck, try some penetrating oil. If it still won't budge, drill through the center of the bolt to weaken it and give it another go. Good luck, a lot of times they just pop right out with a little encouragment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 Any ideas how much a Sheffield in this kinda condition is worth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 Thats about what I was hoping. Thanks stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Ohio is one of the anvil rich states and I do not think that would bring $200 damaged as it is unless it's over 200 lbs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Big difference between NY and OH wrt Anvils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 I did not figure I would get the full 200, but it gives me a place to start. Thomas is right, Ohio is anvil rich. Both a wonderful blessing and a curse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 :Double Post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 I lived in Columbus OH for 15 years and it truely was "the happy hunting grounds" for blacksmithing stuff; I luckily bulked up and when I moved to the blacksmithing tool desert of NM I was sitting pretty. I've lived on the east coast too (NJ, VA, NY) and in AR and OK and so have an idea of those areas markets. I've never seen a place with more and cheaper anvils than OH; also postvises, etc... Ohio had a very nice mix of farming and industry both of which used anvils and both did pretty well meaning that stuff generally didn't get worn past usability but repaired or replaced. I still remember being at the fleamarket and being ready to pay US$25 for a nice complete 4" post vise and getting dragged away by a friend to tell me "Don't pay $25 for it or he will want $25 for all his postvises!" $20 was acceptable to both the dealer and my friend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper Iron Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Wow that's a crazy story. Lol. You were about to get a sweet deal on a post vice. Then your friend informs you that they go for even cheaper!! Lol that's insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I agree with thomas, I am born and raised in Ohio, have lived in the south and have returned so I know two regions. Last damaged anvil I sold was missing the heel, english style 125 pounds and I had to work hard to get $75 out of it in ohio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastRonin Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Hmmm... now I need an excuse to give the wife for why we need to vacation in Ohio... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_crazzy Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Good luck with that one Ronin, there is nothing here to vacation to! On a side note I did try to extract the old bolt from the anvil.... no go. Did not budge. Any other ideas? Considering drilling a hole through the bolt and trying an easy out, but dont have much hope for that working either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper Iron Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 If you're confident in your drilling skills I personally would just drill the head off and punch it through. Of course that's what I do for a living so I might be a bit biased on that. A good cobalt drill bit, and a nice pneumatic drill would make easy work of that old bolt. If you do plan on drilling it, just remember to go with very slow rpm (600 to 800) with a lot of down force on it. Should come out beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastRonin Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Just drilling it can make it more likely to be able to be punched out. It weakens the bolt, heats it and gives it somewhere to flex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceas65 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 <<< now has post-vice envy ! Ohio you say ... well if i can vacation there... maybe i'll drive through on the way home ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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