Britishiron Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Hi Guys, a big hello from Manchester England! thanks for taking the time to check out my anvil. could anyone help identify or give me any information on this anvil? I recently bought a job lot of stakes and bought this beauty on a bit of an impulse, I just fell in love with her! Its only marking apart from the weight is "A". It's a 3 1/2 cwt. i guess it may need to be identified by the shape?? Many info would be appreciated. kindest regards, paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sawicki Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Wow that's a monster! 396 POUNDS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Cast, marked in CWT so English made; marked in KG so fairly modern. Brooks? Vaughan/Brooks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britishiron Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Hi Guys, thanks for coming back to me! Shes a big girl, I have a few Brooks anvils but they almost always say Brooks, even the later ones since Vaughan and Brooks merged. Thomas, do you think this is cast iron with a tool steel top? Or cast steel? Can you advise how I tell the difference? thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Testing for cast iron vs steel can be done several ways: spark test, swarf test, hardness of the face---ball bearing test. I would suggest testing the bottom of the anvil and if it does not match up with cast iron that's all you need do. My bet is cast steel throughout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 If it's cast iron with a steel face a rap with a hammer will make a clank sound without ring. If it's solid cast steel a rap with a hammer will have a STRONG ring. My Soderfors cast Swedish steel, could make your ears ring through ear plugs AND muffs with a missed blow. I mounted it on a steel tripod stand and it quieted the ring to tolerable levels. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 As frosty posted cast steel anvils ring quite loudly, when struck anywhere it will ring ,where cast iron wil thud . My sisco supreme rings anywhere it's struck if it's not bound down . Try it and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britishiron Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 Hi guys, the weather is awful here so sorry for only just coming back. I would say it's cast steel rather than cast iron, it does have a ring when you strike it. Might get around to making a nice three leg stand for her this weekend. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHicks Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Hey sorry to bring up an old thread but cant help but notice I have the same anvil which I picked up near birmingham england a many years ago! mine is also painted the same red but I could never read the marks other than the A, so this is great, ive been scouring the web trying to find another one but no luck I did find something mentioning about early kohlswa anvils being "A" but I really dont know as bits are a little different to the other kohlswas out there like the step off the table and onto the bick but then im not sure if the others are quite as big as ours and maybe a different casting, either way its a sweet anvil ,been using it for years and was always impressed with how machine flat the face is. as far as I can tell the ringing test is not the be all and end all of a good anvil yes if its all solid steel it will ring more but a lot of the tone and noise is down to shape which seems to get overlooked , thinner waist anvils ring more, and thinner sections bick and heel make make more noise too! rebound is the best test imo. anvil brother ,if you find any more info let me know! thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHicks Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Ok now Im back home Ive checked mine and mine doesnt have an "A" on it but an "X" instead so I guess it isnt kohlswa. and no weight numbers I can see either, but there is remnants of a makers mark, I still believe that mine and yours are related and probably came from the same foundry maybe mine is the little brother?, any anvil gurus out there know what it is from the remnants of these marks? I found a pic of a similar one where it was listed on ebay as a brooks vaughans but the ad was not available so I couldnt check it out, the heels are normaly thicker with the brooks ones so I have no idea it is definitely cast steel with a thick face plate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybodgeit Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 It looks very much like a K&L or Coborn anvil. The overall shape and distinct machining marks to the edge of the face are the same as one I have, mine marked very obviously K&L, with war department broad arrow and date chisel cut into it. A quality cast steel anvil with a very hard face, watch the edges they can chip. Some info here www.gracesguide.co.uk/K._and_L._Steelfounders_and_Engineers K & L were part of the 600 group, a company that made pretty much everything including Colchester lathes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marklewis1 Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Must agree looks like a K & L - the A may stand fo London Shape?? Mine is marked with K& L 100lb 45k A -- Hope this helps?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Swedish anvils go from the face and narrows at the waist before it meets the feet when looking at it from the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoName Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Many Swedish anvils...typically later model London pattern. Posting two pictures, first is someone else's Kohlswa, second is a Soderfors. N.N.F. Beautiful, Manchester, Michigan. USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Both of these anvils above are KL anvils. Cast steel, English made. Similar to the Brooks anvils. The weight markings are quite distinctive on the KL anvils with both cwt and "K" on the same side. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blukoo Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 (edited) Hello, sorry for bumping up an old post but I found this thread while trying to research my recently acquired anvil which I believe is the same as the one(s) in question. Mine is a 4 CWT / 203KG / 448lbs example. An absolute behemoth! Edited February 3, 2022 by Mod30 Resize photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 Beastly!! I would love to put a hammer to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 Hey Blukoo, I am sure that is too much anvil for you, I will be glad to take the burden of it off of your back. If you live in California, or Arizona, USA, I will be glad to pick it up, no charge. Welcome to the Forum. If you put your general location in your profile, you might be less likely to be scammed by California krackpots, like me. ANVIL VERY PRETTY! Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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