Hi folks, I picked up this anvil yesterday and after a quick scrub found 2 0 4. I don't see any other marking, yet. Identification isn't necessary, but i am curious. It still has nice ping and spring... Thanks for any info or mythologies on the heelless anvil. Cheers, Bryan

The anvil is probably one of the 300+ brands of early English anvils produced in the 1800's.  There is only a remote chance that you will ever put a manufacturers name on it.   These anvils were a built up anvil, meaning that they were made of 6/7 or more pieces that were forge welded together.  Having the heel missing is fairly common.  In my museum, I have three of these early English anvils with that damage.  The rest is perfectly useable; you just do not have a hardy or pritchel hole.

The original weight was in the CWT system so 2 0 4 would have been around 228#. Small sharp feet and thick waist tend to point it toward the earlier part of the 19th century.

Thanks. Knowing where it comes from and how it's made is cool. I appreciate the info.

Just imagine the life that anvil has had in its 150-200 year life, and the variety of products that were made on it.  Where has it been, and who has hammered on it?  How and when did it cross the Atlantic?  If they could only talk....