Got this today

 

 

 

 

It was a trade for this

 

 

 

 

I wasn't expecting the box only the blower. This blower is at least 3 times bigger than the small farriers forge blower I had and I have been looking for one for over 5 yrs now so am very pleased to say the least!! But I am curious about the whole set up. It's all made as if it belongs together. Everything is riveted on the box and the air pipe has flanges that the pipe can be easily dismantled - just pulls out - flanges also riveted same as the box. Blower has a bracket the just unscrews and it all  fits in the box. Any one seen one of these before?

 

And just an added bonus my local scrap dealer (who gets free knives) gave me this

 

 

120 kgs - just needs a bit of work on the face and rebound is very good.

 

Cheers

Tim

Nice score tim, looks like the same photos you had on ABF. But a totally square forge, haven't seen one before. Only seen rectangular upside down pyramid style or round for solid fuel till now.

Thanks Aden

Yep, same knife. Have just been informed that it is a "PORTABLE U. S. CALVARY FORGE" WW 1 era. Today has been a really good day!

Yup a US portable cavalry forge; the unusual thing is where it's at!  There was also a shipboard model with an electric blower run at a strange voltage IIRC---had a friend who had one and just added a hand crank to it.

 

Makes a handy forging demo in a box set up.

Thanks Thomas.

square forges here are quite common, of one type alone there is over 500 made in the last few years

You've got to wonder what the backstory is on that forge.  American-made military calvary forge ends up in South Africa......  The how/when/why of it is probably pretty interesting.

Sort of like me finding a straight peen sledge with the broad arrow on it at a Las Cruces NM USA fleamarket---and a 1980's date!  The other one I have is from WWII and was found in Ohio.

If you go to the long riders guild, and look for the research link, they have US Calv blueprints, to include that forge, the kit included a small anvil and a small machinests vice

Thanks Charles. Had a look. Also managed to find a nice old photo. Didn't realize these things were so scarce.

 

 

Yes sir, they tended to get used up, and unlike the cast units, leaving them to the weather rots them pretty fast. Fill it with sand or dirt to keep from burning it up. Claying it would be ideal, but then it's not near as portable.

I have one of these calvary forges for sale if anyone is interested. 

 

Southern Minnesota.