Wethepeople762 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Hello All! I just bought my first anvil and it's a Peter Wright 1 2 12. As I understand those numbers equate to 180lbs? I was curious if anyone out there knows an age range on this anvil. It says Peter Wright Patent Solid Wrought 1 2 12. I'm also curious to what the flute on the back end is for and the square holes in the base (not the hardy). Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 The first number is hundredweight (112 lbs), the second is quarter-hundredweight (28 lbs), and the third is pounds. Thus: 112 + (2 x 28) + 12 = 180 The square holes in the base are from the tools used to hold the anvil during its forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 The square holes in the base are handling holes. These were used as something for the tongs to hold on to in actually forging the anvil. That carved out spot on the heel isn't original, but it could definitely come in handy in some forging operations. Great anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Wow, never seen an avil carved up like that. What would you use that for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wethepeople762 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 My thoughts as well Marc1. Here's a profile picture of the groove. It's very well shaped so whoever put it in there did a good job of keeping it symmetrical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 My thought is a die for sockets for tools that have a wood handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 44 minutes ago, matto said: My thought is a die for sockets for tools that have a wood handle. I had the same thought, but that's a strange place to put it. It's also strange that it cuts right across the hardy like that, which leads me to think that a previous owner may have modified the anvil to go with some special tooling, now lost. The good news is that even though that groove cuts deep into the top steel plate of the anvil, it's in an area that doesn't get much use. It shouldn't interfere with most of your forging, which will usually be on the main part of the face anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunslinger Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 By the looks of the profile pic I'd guess that was worn in over years of use of a specific hardy tool or process. The curve on the bottom of the rear shelf shows it took a lot of hammering. Since that area isn't used as much in general I'd look at it as a feature for future shaping. Great size anvil too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wethepeople762 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Thanks everyone. Any guesses on age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunslinger Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Pre 1910 as it's not stamped England from what I've learned on this site. Most likely late 1800's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Younger than the 1820's when the pritchel started showing up and pre 1910 when the England started showing up. So it's right in the main years of anvils neither remarkably old nor remarkably young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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