Boker Trenton German or English or...

[If I Had A Hammer..]

 I am just getting started. Over the weekend, I met with a retired blacksmith of advanced years. He had a number of anvils for sale, including the one below. Once I decided on this anvil, he and I went into his house to figure out which company manufactured the anvil, so we could arrive at a price. We consulted Anvils In America, but the font did not quite fit the Trentons. We chatted about it and he decided to assume it was a more modern Trenton of the early 1900's. I told him I would research it further and let him know what I found.

I went home and using some flour, tried to identify it. In addition to the word Trenton, it also has the words Patent and Solid Forged, although the latter was difficult to make out, it is there.

My sense is that this is a Boker Trenton of German or English manufacture, but the presence of all three words and phrases makes me uncertain. The blacksmith who sold it to me gave me a very good price, but I believe he sold it without a clear understanding of what is was. I will be calling him and returning it, but I would like to tell him for sure who the manufacturer was. Any help would be appreciated.

John

[Black Frog]

German-made Trenton most likely with the forged base.  Some German Trentons included the "SOLID WROUGHT" in a circle just as yours. Weight stamp on the side.   Once they moved production to the U.S.,  you find a "USA" stamp on the side near the weight stamp.  A much cleaner example of your stamping:

[If I Had A Hammer..]

Thank you. Would I be correct in saying then that the date of manufacture would be 1890's? Any opinion on it's value?

I found general pricing information in another post. Thank you for the clear picture of the lettering. This anvil is chipped pretty well of the edges, but I think it would be fine to get started. In any event, I will call the fella I bought it from and let him know who manufactured it and offer its return. Thank you very much.

[ThomasPowers]

Would you like the price in Peso's or Rand?   Price depends on location, even here in the USA the price can vary by a dollar a pound depending on where you are at---which we don't know...  Can we have a shot of the face too as it's another big factor in pricing.

[If I Had A Hammer..]

I don't think they would accept Pesos or Rand for coffee here in Vermont. Point taken. I am attaching two photos I hope will help.

Thanks.

John

[ThomasPowers]

As long as it hasn't been through a barn fire (search on ball bearing anvil test) US$200 for a 156" Trenton in the North East of the USA is a good price even with the "deckled" edges.  Do NOT remove material from the face of the anvil!  Wire brush off the rust and get to pounding hot metal on it and it will shine up nicely.  If the local ABANA Affiliate has an anvil repair day You might see about getting the edges worked on but I would not trust *ANY* weldor to work on it no matter what they say unless they could prove to me they know the proper method to repair an anvil---even expert weldors often do not and use the wrong rod or inadequate preheat, etc.  I'd use it as is and make a hardy too with nice edges *4 of them!) to use when you need to use an edge.

[If I Had A Hammer..]

Oddly enough, that is what I paid for it. I gave the seller the option of recovering it now that we know what it is. I appreciate your kindness in helping me identify it. The seller gave me the same advice regarding the face and edges, including making a hardy for edges.

 I will follow the advice from both of you. Thanks again.

John