Patricia Reiber Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I found this anvil on a property I purchased, what can you tell me about it? What would the value be? I know nothing about its history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave51B Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Bring it on over to my house and I'll give you an estimate ....or you can tell us where it is and show some more pics......... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwistedCustoms Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 The single photo doesn't provide enough information about condition and the general location can have a greater effect on value than the other variables. Take pictures of all four sides, and the top and add a general location to your user profile. In central Ms. USA where I am a given anvil will vary greatly in value from the same anvil located in South Africa, or even South Carolina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Trenton. Trentons are high quality anvils. If it's in good condition, then you've got a nice one. Yours was made in 1900. I can't tell you anything about value without knowing your location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Reiber Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 I will get more photos, I'm located in Nebraska. Thank you for your comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I have a Trenton. great anvils. Also, weight is a Very important thing in determining value. give us some pics and we can help guess the weight, or put it on a bathroom scale. Nice find! Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Another thing, DO NOT GRIND, MILL, OR WELD ON THE FACE OF THE ANVIL! it will ruin it! a working tool doesn't have to be shiny and nice and crisp to be a working tool. that anvil has a thin high carbon steel (harder steel) face plate that has been forge welded on. The more you grind, the less of that face plate is still there, and that is what makes anvils like that what they are; the face plate. With out it, it wont hold up as well as it could, and you will take generations of work out of that beauty. I'm not trying to pick on you, its just that i have seen too many tools ruined by people who were trying to "restore" it or "fix" it, and where they ended up getting just a little more than scrap prices ($0.10 a pound). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Please post a close-up picture of the side logo Trenton stamp, on the side with horn facing right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammerfall Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Probably a 125 lb Trenton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I agree, Trenton. 125 lb. Ser. # looks like A 161989 to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Reiber Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 I will get more photos, I'm located in Nebraska. Thank you for your comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Nice! The side with the horn facing left is usually in better shape than the other one, but if the edge on the far side looks anything like this side, you have a nice one. From what I've seen, anvils in your area tent to go for more than they do around here. If I were you, I would put it on Craigslist for $700 and go from there if it doesn't sell quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Reiber Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 For some reason, I can't get some of the photos to upload. I really appreciate all your comments and input! It is on a stand, if I can get the other pictures to upload, maybe you can tell me if this was original, or just something someone made! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwistedCustoms Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Wow! That looks great. You can test rebound by dropping a ball bearing and measuring the percentage it bounces but it looks good in the photos. Nobody can tell you exactly what the value is, that depends somewhat on how badly the buyer wants it. If the rebound is good, in my location, I would list it for around $3.50 USD per pound. Based on the last couple I have sold, within the past year, it would bring that with no problem. You need to shop for anvils in your area to get a feel for how your local market is running. Local farm papers and even CL will give you a much more realistic view than FleeBay! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Reiber Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 Thank you for your input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 The stand is not original, and does not add much, if any, value to someone that would use it in a shop. There appear to be letters on one side. A quick pass with a hand wire brush or a scotchbrite pad would knock off the loose rust. Then a quick dusting of chalk or flour would make the letters pop visually in a close-up photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Beautiful looking anvil, good score. How about taking up blacksmithing yourself? Ladysmiths bring a different aesthetic to the craft. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Reiber Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 If I could do it physically I would consider it. I, love to make things! I will try to clean it up over the weekend, thank you for the advice and information! If I could do it physically I would consider it. I, love to make things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 If you could please take a closeup picture of this area of this side, I would appreciate it! There may be faint logo stamp markings on this side, in this area: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Photographing at a low angle with low-angle lighting can help accentuate any faint markings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 There's a lot of blacksmithing that requires mostly practice and hammer control rather than hard labor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 3 hours ago, Patricia Reiber said: If I could do it physically I would consider it. I, love to make things! Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Hang out here and look into smithing. I agree with Frosty, I would love to see more women get into this craft. We have a few on here, and there are some well known ones in the greater smithing community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 And most of us don't have a super sweet anvil before we even get started! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Patricia: Blacksmithing isn't about strength, it's about control. The ladysmiths I know aren't as strong as I am but they have superb hammer control because they can't just power things into submission. With a couple technique tips and practice you can hit harder using snap than you can trying to punch a hammer into the anvil. Crack the hammer like a whip. Hold it in a loose grip between thumb and first finger so it can pivot for another hinge point force multiplier. This does a couple things to your benefit: First, it isolates your skeleton from the impact shock that is reflected back through the hammer. Secondly every pivot point is a force MULTIPLIER it's not additive it's multiplicitive so your blows have significantly more force on impact for more effect. The down side to using what I call my fencer's grip is it takes more skill to be accurate but it's so consistent it doesn't take a huge amount of practice to get good. That is a truly SWEET anvil. Sure it'll sell for top dollar depending on your area its in such great condition but you can sell it anytime. Honest it's desirability will NOT diminish, no need to hurry unless you're desperate for money now. If so you do what you need to do. I'd really REALLY like to see you expressing what you see in your mind's eye in steel and what the heck, blacksmithing is an addictive skill and we love more folk posting pics. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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