Info needed on Mousehole Anvil

[K-9JAX]

I recently purchased this Mousehole Anvil.  If I am doing the math correctly, it should be 182 pounds.  I am not certain of its age or what it is worth.  I am located in Pennsylvania.  I am attaching photos, so please let me know your thoughts and opinions.  Thanks!!

[Frosty]

172 is what my arithmetic says, 112lbs + 56 (two quarters)  + 4 lbs.

Mice looking anvil, she's seen some miles but she has a couple few generations in here yet. Hows she work for you?

Frosty The Lucky.

[K-9JAX]

Hi Frosty.  The 3rd number is a 14 (not a 4, although the 1 in that number is hard to see in the pic).  I have not used this anvil yet to know how well it will work.  There is a decent rebound to it, but not much of a ring when struck.  This anvil was found buried in a field almost 30 years ago.  It had been buried for an undetermined amount of time.  The person I bought it from said after he acquired it, he had it sandblasted to clean the rust off.  He then painted it and mounted it to the stump in the photo.  I have not yet removed it from that stump.  When I start to use it, I will need to remount it.  The stump is too short for me.  

[Frosty]

Okay so add 10lbs. Have you tried a rebound test? Ring isn't necessarily a good indicator of face condition the shape of the anvil has too much effect on the ring. Long thin heal and horn will ring loudly even after it's been through a fire. How a piece of clean hard steel bounces is a different matter. doing a rebound test with a hammer works fine but takes more practice.

Frosty The Lucky.

[Thief_Of_Navarre]

@ a guess around 1870. Newer face with older style feet. Might want to check for a serial no' under the horn on the feet. America imported them in droves even after making their own (better) anvils using the peter wright method. 

[K-9JAX]

1 hour ago, Thief_Of_Navarre said:

@ a guess around 1870. Newer face with older style feet. Might want to check for a serial no' under the horn on the feet. America imported them in droves even after making their own (better) anvils using the peter wright method. 

I looked after reading your post, and I did find the numbers 19319 on the left foot, and a number 1 on the right foot.

[John McPherson]

Got to work where I could pull out my copy of Postman's "Mousehole Forge" book. This should narrow it down for you.

"Sheffield" and "Warrented" puts it after 1879.

"Patent" puts it after 1895, and serial number above 9106 puts it after 1896.

If it does not say 'England', it is pre 1903 export.

[K-9JAX]

10 minutes ago, John McPherson said:

Got to work where I could pull out my copy of Postman's "Mousehole Forge" book. This should narrow it down for you.

"Warrented" puts it after 1879.

"Patent" puts it after 1895, and serial number above 9106 puts it after 1896.

If it does not say 'England', it is pre 1903.

John, thank you very much for that info.  The word "England" is NOT present on the anvil.  So it sounds like, with your info, I have an anvil produced between 1896 - 1902.  Thank you!