darawest Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Hi, I have two anvils that were in barn of a 100 year old farmhouse we renovated in Georgia. I wanted to find out more about their value. The smaller one (~100 lbs) I think is a London anvil pattern and has SOLID WROUGHT in a circle on the side. Right below is USA. The larger anvil (~150?) has on one side a large X with what looks like a W and S on either side and then QU___S(?) and below DU_L_Y(?). On the other side are numbers. They are spaced out. I think they are 6, 3, 23. Anyone have any idea as to who made these or their value? Or anywhere else on them, I should look for further identification. Appreciate any information. Including other sites I can research them. Dara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 The one with the "X" is probably a Wilkinson anvil. Probably originally marked J. Wilkinson & Sons, Queens, Dudley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 can you post a picture of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 Thanks for the info BT Here are the pictures of the two anvils. I made the file size very small so I can post a better quality pic if this does not work. Dara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 6 . 3 . 23 would be 112 x6 = 672 + 3 x 28 = 84 so 672+ 84 + 23 = 780 lbs, I think you better check the numbers again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 The anvil is definitley not 780 lbs! Maybe what I thought was a 6 is a weight symbol. I attached an etching. Any thoughts? For the anvil with the circle and USA, above those is something that looks like an arrow with some letters. I attached an etching of that as well but it is not as clear. Anyone have any ideas on the manufacturer for this anvil? Thanks so much for the info. Already checked up on Wilkinson anvils! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 That one looks like it could be a Trenton. The numbers might be a date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Check the front foot of that one. If it is a Trenton, it should have the weight stamped on the left and a serial number on the right. The weight would be in pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 On what might be a Trenton, the weight appears to be on the right and definitely a serial number on the left. So those are the reverse sides of what you mentioned. I could not make the numbers out very well, need to clean it up more. Also on the Wilkinson, there is an 8 right in the middle of the front foot. Any ideas on what that means? I am signing off for tonight but will check anything else tomorrow. The is very interesting. I really appreaciate the information! BTW, what is the best way to clean them up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Postman says the Trentons always had the serial number on the right. The weight on the left "may" be prefixed with a letter or letters. The serial number on the right may be prefixed with an "A". Also check the bottom of the anvil. Early Trentons have an hourglass shaped depression. The later ones have an oval depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 The rubbing looks to be 0-3-23 that should give you a weight of 107 pounds Finnr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 It is possible that the one with "Solid Wrought"and "USA"is an Arm and Hammer. These are anvils you plan to use or are wanting to know the value for collectors purposes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 On the USA anvil, on the front, on the right there is W and two numbers, not clear exactly what they are. Think the first is an 8. On the left there is, A29583(not sure about the 3). Am I looking at the left/right correctly? I am looking down at it. If I look straight on, then it is right for the serial number. BT the depression is an hour glass. Also on the USA anvil, by the large < above the other markings it looks like there is a big A and then some other letters and right below the A a T. But the strange thing is that none of this is stamped in like the other markings. Could that have been put on by the people who owned it? We put these in the sun now so I can see them better. Will clean them up better tonight. I just dashed out there at lunch to get a better look. The question about what we want to do with them, we do want to know the value to sell them. No one in the family plans to use them. But with everything we discovered in the old Curtis house while we renovated it, we like to find out more about it. I love history. Thanks everyone for your comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 On the USA anvil, on the front, on the right there is W and two numbers, not clear exactly what they are. Think the first is an 8. On the left there is, A29583(not sure about the 3). Am I looking at the left/right correctly? I am looking down at it. If I look straight on, then it is right for the serial number. Left and right would be determined when you are facing the point of the horn straight on. The factors that point to a Trenton here are the markings "<" that you refer too. The Trenton logo is actually a diamond "<>" with the word TRENTON inside the diamond. The letters are shaped to fit inside the diamond, so the T is fairly small with the r e n getting progressively larger with the N in the center of the diamond and then the t o n again getting progressively smaller. Often only part of this logo is still visible. Trenton also made anvils for other companies, so sometimes you will have another name or marking stamped on the anvil also. One of my Trenton's has Sears "ACME" brand stamped over the Trenton logo. The Serial number prefixed with the "A" is another indication as is the hourglass depression. Hay Budden anvils also had an hourglass depression in the bottom though, so that is not always a determining factor. Hay Buddens though had the serial number on the left as you look at the point of the horn, and usually had the weight stamped on the side of the anvil below the trademark. If you wire brush the areas with the stamps it will usually bring them out a little clearer. Many times though the stamped areas are worn or hammered up and illegible. Since this is a USA anvil the weight would most likely not be in the British stoneweight system, but would be in pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 I'll give you a hundred bucks. How's that to get the "value" question going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 Ok, sounds like I have a Trenton with the ACME stamp! I was thinking of contacting the local blacksmith orgs in this area to let them know these are available. They are so heavy that I didn't know how easy it would be to ship. So about a dollar a pound is their worth? I thought they may be worth more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Anvils value depends on the seller, the buyer, the condition, and how great the need is to either get, or get rid of, the anvil. Different parts of the country also influence the price. Take it to Alaska or Hawaii and because there are few anvils there, the price goes up. That said, you already own the anvil, why not use it? Set one by the forge and the other anvil in another location. Saves walking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Actually those are light enough to ship UPS (IIRC they have a 150#limit). Small anvils---like yours often go for a premium as many people like them for travel anvils, decoration, shoeing, etc. Very large anvils go for a premium due to their rarity it's the medium sized anvils say 150-350 pounds that go the cheapest per pound in my experience. Talk with the local group as to what the going price locally is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darawest Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 That is a good idea. We have some old tools hung by the fireplace in the den. The anvil would look good there too! About the Sears, I bet the family did order the Trenton, ACME brand from Sears. When renovating the house we refinished some beautiful kitchen cabinets. Turns out when we pulled them out, they had been purchased through Sears. One still had a Sears label. Thanks all for your information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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