Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 So I finally picked up my first 'real' anvil! Might have paid a bit much at 450 for it but been striking out for a good while and saving for that time too. Figured I could work with a little chipping and sway because it has decent rebound and ring (along with being a Trenton!). Could anybody help me with a general date? The only markings are on the side; the Trenton logo below the face, a faded solid wrought below that and a clear 147 below that. There could be a 1 on the other side. There is nothing at least that I could tell on the feet. I hit most of the surfaces with a wire wheel then waxed it but nothing showed up. Would this be an 'early' Trenton? Would love any other info if you're willing. I will post up some pics as well as the evolution of my anvils. It's comical in the addictive sense. Oh my first anvil is not pictured; think of 3/4 in angle iron that's 6 in long on a railroad tie and there you go. Thanks and happy hammering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Are you sure it says Trenton? Trenton anvils have a real thin heel and the horn does not look right on the one you have pictured. Also the bottom of the anvil would have a caplet shaped impression. It does look like there may be a serial number on the front right foot. Can you post a picture of the logo? I do not see it in this set of pictures. The Fisher saw makers anvil in the last photo is nice. How much does it weigh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 So as far as I can tell that's what the logo looks like. Real hard to see the whole script. I tried to highlight the letters with a little flour, might help a bit. I don't know if there are other brands that use that sideways diamond logo. Here's some pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Oh yeah, the saw Dr anvil is about 70 or so. Not done much research on it. How do you mean called shape? Can't see anything on the right foot that looks like a number though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Could be a 5,3 or 6 maybe on the right foot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 One more. Better pic of the bottom. Now ya got me wonderin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 On an abana forum I've found a little info that stated it could be an English or German made Trenton made by one of the Wright's potentially due to the 'solid Wrought' written in a circle and the small steps on the feet like P.W.s. Could be a second to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Just found this. (Apparently the last post didn't post), it might be a English or German import. Maybe English because of the ' solid wrought' written in a circle and the small steps on the feet which it could have been made by one of the Wright's which seems to be in their style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Just found this. (Apparently the last post didn't post), it might be a English or German import. Maybe English because of the ' solid wrought' written in a circle and the small steps on the feet which it could have been made by one of the Wright's which seems to be in their style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 It looks like an early Boker anvil with the flats on the feet, Could be a Peter Wright, anywho will be a good anvil for your work. Forge ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 You can "clearly" see the diamond stamp on it. The first clear letter looked like a "P" but is probably an R. The overall shape and the feet suggest a Peter Wright.... An import makes sense. Did they supply Trenton anvils? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Looks like you may have a Peter Wright that someone put a diamond on How many handling holes does it have? Where is Thomas Powers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 7, 2014 Author Share Posted February 7, 2014 There is a square hole below the horn, above the heel, on the very bottom, and the hardie and pritchel holes. 5 I guess. According to what I read on an abana forum, and in line with fatfudd, boker (a Trenton agent/dealer) imported anvils in with the Trenton name from Germany and England. The English ones had solid wrought written in a circle made by Peter or Henry Wright. Might have gotten the best of both worlds. Either way me thinks it will work! Time to hit it...pun intended:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Thought it was nailed down with an early Boker Trenton. Anyway a great anvil. The more elongated designs were later ones; (think Art Nouveau....) The Elongated ones tend to be quite loud but very handy for ornamental work with all that space to work through/around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 H-B Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Yes, yours is a Trenton made in Germany ca. 1880-1890 for Boker before they were made in Columbus, OH by Columbus Forge and Iron (SFI) starting around 1900. Anvils in America has information on this. The ones made in Germany have the ledge on the feet and are built up anvils made of 6 or more parts like the old English ones, but do not have a handling hole in the front foot like Peter Wright's. I appears Boker intended them to look like Peter Wright anvils to help sales, even advertising P. W. Pattern in the 1883 ad pictured here. He had Patent put on some as well as the "Solid Wrought" in a circle, exactly as Peter Wrights. Markings and form vary quite a bit as if he used a few anvil makers in Germany. Although the word patent doesn't seem to apply; they're often found in good condition; the wrought iron they're made of doesn't sag like PW's. Early on when CFI started making Trentons for Boker in Columbus, probably before they used cast bases, the bases were forged with a ledge on the feet, but with a handling hole in the front foot like all later Trentons. Some were marked U.S.A. as if to distinguish them from the previous German made ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiefer Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 And there you go! Great info, thanks! Used it for the first time yesterday, worked like a champ! Right tool for the right job even! Very pleased. Now if we could just do something about the guy with the hammer...:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Ok that clears it up, the shape of the anvil is not like anyTrenton I have seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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