humphreymachine Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 I picked up this smaller anvil on quirky stand the other day and am wondering whether it may be a Hay Budden? There are no name, weight or serial number stampings but it does have the concave base impression although it is neater than the Buddens I have seen. Any other possible makers? The anvil’s face is only 26 inches off the ground and the base is under-built for any serious forging but I kind of like it’s look and have another user or two so this one may remain ‘as is’ for a while. 112.5 pounds including the stand which probably weighs 10-15 pounds. Notice the sideways lean to it’s body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humphreymachine Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 Scrambler82 – I have not tested the anvil but assume there would be some spring to the frame when striking heavy blows to hot iron. I think the base is underbuilt for all but the lightest projects. The axels are about ½ inch in diameter so would also have some flex although the bearing point is flush with the wheels which helps a little. Cast iron can be brittle however so it’s probably best that the wheels not suffer the full shock of hammering. I had a small Hay Budden which I discussed in a post titled ‘sloppy Budden’ and others responded that they had or had seen imperfectly forged examples as well. These ‘leans’ etc appear to be a byproduct of the manufacturing process rather than abuse in smith’s shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoName Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Looks like an anvil I have. I knew it was a Hay-Budden. Wrong, turned out to be an American. Made in Brooklyn 1888 to 1912. It has the same concave base. Same handling hole in the middle of the front foot. N.N.F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Geist Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Hay Budden made anvils for many other companies. Sears and Roebuck (Acme) Montgomery Ward, and many other hardware chains. Oftentimes they printed those other firms names on them but not necessarily always. Is a pretty safe bet that anything that looks like a HB probably is. Manufacturing process was forging. Most of which was done by hand. 5 or 6 guys swinging sledge hammers. Good at it as they were it was impossible to get them all the same as in machine tooling thus most of them will have imperfections and not be perfect matches. George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoName Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Here is a shot of my American. I thought it was a HB, made for American Hardware. But it didn't have a serial number on the front foot. In the first picture you can see the handling hole low on the front foot. Get some more paint of were the logo should be. I have been wrong before. N.N.F. 70,340 bounces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 NoName, have you looked in a copy of Postman's Anvils in America for info on your anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Looks like an earlier Trenton with the hourglass base and no number under the horn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humphreymachine Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 Thank you for your responses everyone. NoName - I will look for photos of other "American" anvils. Arkie - I need to find a copy of Anvils in America Fatfudd - I will search for some images of Trenton anvils. The hourglass base impression is neater than that on the Hay Buddens I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I recently read, but now can't find it, where a principal officer with Hay Budden left the company and formed his own anvil manufacturing company, making "American Anvils". You might search for that info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 try the ABANA forums- http://www.abana.org/resources/discus/messages/5/2852.html?1297119030 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 It looks like there are serial #s on the left front foot under that paint. Grab a wire wheel and clean it off. The # will tell you a lot about what you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoName Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I just wanted to help. The reason I even chimed in, when you mentioned that your anvil did not have any serial numbers. That was the big clue my anvil was not a HB. It just happens I have a Trenton and an American hanging around. Both are about 100#s. The American has the handling hole on the bottom. Could it be a Trenton ? Time to nail it with the ole wire brush. N.N.F. Beautiful, Manchester, Michigan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humphreymachine Posted July 12, 2016 Author Share Posted July 12, 2016 Thanks again everyone. I will be away for several days but will take a closer look at the anvil when I return. The paint is quite thin and I am fairly confident that there is not a serial number under it but I’ll take another look. I’m leaning toward a Trenton as several of you have suggested. I have had two Hay Buddens both of which had much cruder hourglass impressions in the base. Is this common for this manufacturer or did I end up with two oddballs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 it ranges, I have a clearly stamped HB where the hourglass indentation is nearly invisible, it was fairly thin and not very deep and wore pretty much flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said: it ranges, I have a clearly stamped HB where the hourglass indentation is nearly invisible, it was fairly thin and not very deep and wore pretty much flat. I have a number hay budden anvils several of which are in new or near mint condition and none of the hour glass indentations are deeper than 1/4" As thomas has indicated the indentation is nearly gone on any of the HB's that have been used at all. Of the older style trenton's that I have or have owned the hour glass indentation is clearly deep as your's is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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