June 2, 201412 yr A guy I work with recently asked me if I want to buy his anvil. He has it sitting on his porch on a stump as a decoration. I've seen pics and it isn't in bad shape. The edges are a little chipped but over all in decent shape. It's a Fisher. Measurements are 30" long x 5" wide x 13" tall. It has a hardy hole and a prichel(sp) hole. Has 1936 on it. I haven't seen it personally yet just some cell phone pics. I'm wondering of a basic value. He's left pricing it up to me and I want to be fair. Any ideas on the value on it?
June 2, 201412 yr Author NC weight unknown at this time. He said at least a couple hundred lbs but I can't confirm anything. I'm hoping it saying Fisher and 1936 would give some clues.
June 2, 201412 yr I'd guess it's a #260 or so. My 300# Fisher measures slightly bigger. Depending on condition $1-3 a pound. $800 could be reasonable as well as $300 a deal depending on condition.
June 2, 201412 yr 1936 is the year it was made, the Fisher Museum guy might be able to lock those dimensions into a weight for that time---doesn't take much of a change to shift weight quite a bit on anvils. exp: a mousehole may have quite smaller measurements and still be heavier than a Arm and Hammer from the later years as it has a more compact form. I like Fishers as they are a great anvil *and* are a quiet one---they don't ring and so are less likely to annoy the neighbors in use.
June 2, 201412 yr Condition is everything. You want something that's as close to as-new if you're going to pay as-new prices, and the more wear there is on it, the lower the price needs to be. Look on the foot of the anvil and you might see a two-digit number that indicates the poundage. 25 = 250, 30 = 300, etc. A flat face with an intact face plate and a horn that's not all chewed up.... good stuff. Minor chipping around the edges isn't a deal-breaker because it happens to all anvils as they're used, but you want to keep it to a minimum if possible. Overall, I wouldn't offer over $3/lb unless it was in cherry condition. Somewhere around a buck-fifty a pound is probably a good deal for the both of you, though if he jumps at a $100 offer, that's good too.
June 2, 201412 yr The "old" standard price for using anvils was US$1 a pound. Very rare to find one at that price nowadays---but I saw a PW at that price out here last week! The new standard price for a using anvil is usually around $2 a pound; however mint condition ones may go $3 or higher! Rare anvils go higher; unfortunately many clueless people see a rare anvil going for US$6 a pound and think that their tired ford escort should sell for the same price as a mint condition '65 Ford Mustang. You can see many anvils for sale on the net for quite high prices; usually you can see them there for months if not years unless they can convince people that their ridiculous price is actually a decent one. OTOH under priced anvils generally have a half life on the net of hours!
June 2, 201412 yr Author Thanks guys for all the information. Based on the fisher catalog posted in this forum, I'm guessing its 250-275 lbs. My last anvil was an arm and hammer that sat in a barn of x number of yrs and was rusty but in great condition, I paid $50 for it at 98 lbs. He knows what I paid for that one. He also knows I don't really need it. Plus it's seen some use/possible abuse.I'll try $100 just to see how much he really wants to sell it. Thanks again for all the replies. Lots of good info.
June 2, 201412 yr You can always go up! That was a bragging price on the A&H. I have one about that size and have it parked right next to my behemoth Fisher as the A&H has an almost knife edged heel where the Fisher's heel is quite thick indeed! It's also one of my favorite travel anvils as it's easy to toss in the truck. (It also rings nicely to bring in folks at Demo's)
June 2, 201412 yr Author I got REALLY lucky on the A&H. I even tried to pay the old guy more for it. He said he just wanted someone to use it. Said too many of them are sold as scrap these days. I'll start at $100. He's not given me a price at all yet. I guess he wants me to buy it and sell it too. Funny, I told a buddy of mine about it and now he wants to buy my A&H. Not sure I'm ready to sell her. Thanks guys
June 2, 201412 yr no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS I MENTIONED YOU WILL NEED A THIN HEELED AND TRAVEL ANVIL(S)
June 2, 201412 yr Oh yes, keep the A&H, it's an excellent size! If the gentleman selling the Fisher even goes hmmm when you offer him $100, just add $50. You really want to keep on his good side. dollars to donuts he has connections to more juicy deals. $150 is still an almost obscenely good deal, were it to come up here I'd really tick Deb off not even asking her. It'd be in my shop having a stand built before she knew. Frosty The Lucky.
June 2, 201412 yr Just because he wants it doesn't mean it's for sale:-) "A guy I work with recently asked me if I want to buy his anvil. He has it sitting on his porch on a stump as a decoration."
June 3, 201412 yr Author As it turns out, it belongs to his wife. It was her dads from somewhere in PA. They moved it down here 40 yrs ago. She said to make an offer, I offered $100 but was prepared to go as high as $200. She took it but said I had to make something for her. Nothing in particular, just something.. I can see how some of you guys end up with several anvils. Some deals are too good to pass up. Thanks for the all the info.
June 3, 201412 yr Congratulations and please post pics. Both of the new acquisition AND of whatever you make for the lady.
June 4, 201412 yr Author Picked her up today. Can you believe she tried to talk me down? After it was loaded and I had paid her, She asked if I was sure that $100 wasn't too much? Then she gave me the stump it was sitting on. Good people. I'm gonna have to make her something nice for her garden now. The Fisher is in the garage now. Heavy sucker.I'll try to grab a few pics later this week.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.