Ricko Lynge Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Hi I just bought an old anvil. An I. Hill Birmingham (Isaac Hill?). Its without a horn. Anyone knows why? Its 0 3 27 st./ 111lb / 50kg. Gonna take off rest of paint and maybe fix the edges. But it seems in fairly good condition. Was lucky to get it for 50£. Height is 28cm , 32cm long and 10cm wide. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foundryman Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Welcome to the forum! That's a beautiful anvil and you got it at a great price, congrats! That could be a saw doctors anvil but some anvils were just made without horns if the client requested one. You can't fix those edges, they're not broken. Put the anvil to work before making any modifications and then only change things that have a direct impact on the quality of the work you produce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Lynge Posted September 22, 2016 Author Share Posted September 22, 2016 Hey.... Thank you and thanks Its very good advise. Ill get right at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 more anvils have been ruined by people fixing them than anything else, there is nothing wrong with those edges and one thing you dont want is sharp edges. and you dont want to take any metal off the top if you are local call in sometime or see me at an event, this weekend im at stratford on avon racecourse doing some demos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 It's a beautiful anvil. I've done quite a bit of research on Isaac Hill anvils as I own one myself. Yours appears to be very similar to mine in the shape of the body and base (mine has a bick though). For some reason the edges on those seem to hold up. I really like yours without the bick...it seems so utilitarian. I wish I owned it to go with mine. The maker's marks are identical. Enjoy it! It needs nothing but a solid base to start working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Lynge Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 On 22/09/2016 at 9:17 PM, the iron dwarf said: if you are local call in sometime or see me at an event, this weekend im at stratford on avon racecourse doing some demos Would love to, but I live in Denmark. Spending the weekend building a forge. But thanks for the advise! On 23/09/2016 at 4:39 AM, Lou L said: It's a beautiful anvil. I've done quite a bit of research on Isaac Hill anvils as I own one myself. Yours appears to be very similar to mine in the shape of the body and base (mine has a bick though). For some reason the edges on those seem to hold up. I really like yours without the bick...it seems so utilitarian. I wish I owned it to go with mine. The maker's marks are identical. Enjoy it! It needs nothing but a solid base to start working. I love anvils! They are so manly Yours is beautyful as well. Just got a solid base, so today ill work it for first time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 As stated before that is a great looking anvil and the edges are in great shape. Don't do any thing to them. If there is a spot with a sharp chip you can hit it with a 80 or 120 flap disc but use it just enough to soften the chip area. That is it. If you need a sharp edge make a hardy block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorō Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 On 23/09/2016 at 5:17 AM, the iron dwarf said: more anvils have been ruined by people fixing them than anything else, there is nothing wrong with those edges and one thing you dont want is sharp edges. and you dont want to take any metal off the top if you are local call in sometime or see me at an event, this weekend im at stratford on avon racecourse doing some demos I was thinking of fixing up the face on my anvil because there's dents and cracks in the face. I've been talked out of it because if I'm unlucky I might "crack" the anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 you are unlikely to crack it but you would almost certainly make it a lot softer where you want it hard. tap lightly round any suspect areas on the face and mark with chalk where it sounds different, then in future avoid hammering near those areas. post a picture when you have marked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 You have what is often called a "Double Arch" anvil. It is not a saw anvil. Many early anvils were made without a horn. Do not "fix" anything on the anvil. It has survived over 150 years as is. You will ruin it. Use it gently, or just take the rest of the paint off and admire it. And join the ranks of anvil collectors, those of us preserving our industrial past. It is a wonderful piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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