Have an anvil looking for some help in identify it.  It's about 100lbs.  Has a beautiful ring to it , tested with a inch and half ball bearing.  Mounted on a huge piece of timber with bent flat stock straps holding it down.  It was my fathers and I've had it for 20 years.  By the way my real name is John Henry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_1437 (1).MOV

Are there any markings on the sides?  Is there any marking on the front of the foot under the horn and if so which side?  What is the shape of any indentation on the bottom?  Is the underside of the heel undulating? do the feel have ledges on them?

A simple fast to download photo would have been better than that MOV.  The ballbearing test narrows it down to several hundred possible makers.

Welcome aboard John, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many Iforge members live within visiting distance.

Frosty The Lucky.

Couldn't download file.

John Henry as in the legendary? southern strongman that won a race against a steam hammer? 

48 minutes ago, tonyw said:

John Henry as in the legendary? southern strongman that won a race against a steam hammer? 

Couldn't be. Didn't he die just after beating the steam hammer?

A picture of the other side of the anvil would greatly help identification.  First guess is a Trenton brand, but it could be others.

 

Wow! What a great forum this is!  Every one is friendly and informative.  I'm a ex union welder and pipe-fitter so I know my metal, but anvils , not so much.  Thank you all for your input.  No, I'm not the original John Henry but I have swung a sledge hammer and still do!  The anvil dimensions are 27and 1/2"overall with an 11" horn.  It's 11" high and the top is 16" by 4".  The only markings I can see are on the front under the horn.  I can make out the numbers 155    194481.  No visible names.  I live in the Manchester NH area.  Thanks so much for your help.

That is a Trenton anvil.  If there's any  faint markings left, they will be on the side of the anvil with the horn facing right.

Awesome.  I noticed some markings in that area but I thought they were some kind of hammer strikes.  Will investigate closer tomorrow. You guys are the best!  Now the question, any idea what it's worth?  

Thanks, John Henry

New Hampshire; I'd expect it to sell for US$ 3-5 a pound.

I was hoping for a little more, guess I'll have to keep it and keep running into the horn in my garage.  Thank you for your input.

You can always ask for more and somebody might pay.  What were you expecting?

BTW  Put a red rubber clown nose on the horn of yours and lessen impact damage.

Ha Ha,  I did at one point put some pipe insulation on it because it was in a bad spot in the garage.  Had bruises for a while.  I don't know what to ask for it, after all it was my dad's , just might keep it.

none of my kids were interested in smithing so now I'm hoping one or more of the 7 grandkids will be!

you could always take up smithing. you already have one of the main components that many people have trouble finding. yours seem to be in decent shape also.

                                                                                                                     Littleblacskmith