ScottyOmega Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Recently my wife became the director of a living museum based in the 19th century that has a working blacksmith shop. It took less than a month for her to get me signed up and volunteering there. I immediately got bit by the forging bug and went on a journey to find an anvil that would fit my entry level budget. Earlier this week I happened to be browsing these forums and found a post from another user about a Mousehole Forge anvil located in Spencer, MA for $200. I immediately called the gentlemen and he said he had someone coming to look at it later that night but that if it didn't go through he would give me a call and I could come get it. Well, I'm a firm believer of money talks and BS walks, so I told him i'd throw him an extra couple bucks if he told this guy to kick rocks and let me come get it right now. He said he liked money (don't we all) and I hopped in the car for an hour drive to go pick it up. He thought it needed a full restoration, but really all it needed was a good cleaning. He also thought it was between 80-100 lbs. After picking it up to put it in the car I immediately knew it was heavier than that. After cleaning it up I found that it was 128 lbs. All in all, I'm pretty happy with my first ever anvil purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Armitage Mouse Hole if you hadn't already figured it out. Good score, should fit into 19th c USA replica shops just fine. Where you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottyOmega Posted July 21, 2017 Author Share Posted July 21, 2017 Thanks man. I'm from the Springfield, MA area. This one is actually going into my shop at home. They have plenty of their own. Some pics of the blacksmith shop I work in. It was moved from Chesterfield, NH and reassembled brick by brick back in Springfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Welcome aboard Scotty glad to have you. Nice score on the Mousehole, better score on the job. I do believe you married a keeper, may the feelings be mutual. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Excellent score. I have a practically identical 148 lb. Mousehole (AKA "The King of Anvils") that has served me well for over thirty years. Use it in good health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Now I'm mad I didn't run out and pick that beauty up that Monday! Seriously! But I'm glad someone here on IFI got it. I knew the seller was clueless about what he had. Congrats on your anvil! Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 That's a nice find and wow that'd be a fun shop to work in. Awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottyOmega Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 Thanks guys! I do have a question. It appears that a piece broke off in the pritchel hole. You can kind of see it in the 3rd picture. Any recommendations on how to get it out? Just drill? I was also considering hitting it with the torch and trying to punch it out maybe? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Hard to see in the photo. What is it that's stuck in there? I'd be cautious of anything that might spoil the temper of the hardened steel plate. If this were mine, I'd hit it with penetrating oil first, then see if punching can dislodge it. If not, drilling and punching out the fragments might be a good way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 First I'd try punching it up from the underside. Second I'd try soaking in penetrating oil then punching it out. Third I'd do like JHCC suggested and drill just undersized to it then punch out the remaining. I wouldn't touch it with a torch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 8 minutes ago, Daswulf said: First I'd try punching it up from the underside. Preferably before mounting it on a stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Of course. and to make life even easier flip it over and do it. Just make sure the pritchel hole area isn't obstructed by laying on a surface while trying to punch it out. Wouldn't that be funny to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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