MetamoraMark Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Just brought home an Arm and Hammer 293# anvil. Says Arm and Hammer with logo below, wrought iron below that, and 293 Stamped in below that. Edge under the horn has the number 43458 stamped in it. It also has a metal tag "nailed" to it that says 292. Came with wooden stand with metal pins. Someone drilled a hole in the bottom and added a 1-1/2" pin to the stand to keep it in place. Would love to know when it was made, and who bought it originally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frozenforge Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 The S/N 43458 would have been made sometime from 1935 to 1938. No way of knowing who purchased it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Welcome to IFI... Where in the world is it located? https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/53873-read-this-first/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetamoraMark Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 Now, Metamora MI. 45 miles North of Detroit. I have reason to believe it was somehow connected to the Ford family. Hoping to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobS Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Metal ID tags attached to tools/equipment is common where a business/institution need to keep track of assets. Where I work, everything is tagged. Anything bought with funds from the capital projects budget has to be tracked with asset numbers. Everything from computers to giant air handling units in the building. Your anvil could have came from a school or business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Unless the tag is identifiable as coming from a specific place, (like the name of the business stamped on it) then it's not specific. There are problably thousands of different 292 tags out there. Ford Family or Ford Company? (And the reason being? Something other than the seller's tale. I don't recall any of the Fords smithing in the late 1930's; but could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 3 hours ago, MetamoraMark said: Someone drilled a hole in the bottom Probably a handling hole used during forging. Is it square? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetamoraMark Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 Of course the lore would have it from Henry’s workshop. Hole is round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Henry Ford; born July 30, 1863; so in 1935 he would be 72 years old and needing another anvil in his workshop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetamoraMark Posted June 25, 2018 Author Share Posted June 25, 2018 Isn't that what every 72 year old car manufacturer wants for his birthday? ... Probably not. Oh well, still a great anvil on a very nice stand. Don't see a lot of 2x20's around much either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Well the smithy in Greenfield Village had been done several years earlier (and I doubt they would turn loose of anything once purchased for it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadetreerobbie Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 My anvil is an Arm and Hammer 247 lbs with a serial number 298177. Came from Champaign Il area. I think maybe Chanute AFB area cause they had a lot of mules when it was established about 1908 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry wence Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 my anvil is marked ARM straight across. face is 14 by 3/14 front of base marked +85 AY21138. large dish under base. 3/4 high U under heal, very deep, must have been applied when hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcMurry Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Hello all. I just recently found you all and signed up. I've been forging/smithing for just a few years and still learning. I recently made the decision to upgrade from the cast discount tool anvil I've had for about 3 years and purchased an Arm & Hammer anvil from a guy in NW Ohio. Turns out, according to AIA (previous owner had a copy) we believe its a first year production anvil, SN 952! Glad we agreed on a price before he looked it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. Several of us have agreed on that the best way to date an anvil, is to whisper sweet nothings to her, compliment her on her looks and hit hot steel on her. BTW... She looks like a sweet anvil. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Welcome aboard, glad to have you! AFTER you make sure she doesn't have a wedding Ring! She looks to be in darned good condition, I'd put her right to work. What are you going to use for the stand? Remember to get your working height where it works for you. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcMurry Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 Thanks all. Frosty, I made a stand from a salvaged piece of 4x4 steel tubing and two rr tie plates. I added 3 bolts through the holes in the plates and welded nuts on top to fine tune the level of the stand on my floor. It’s working great and a great deal better than the #75 cast bargain tool store anvil I was using before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 I like everything but your adjustment bolts, they're screaming "trip hazard" at me. If level is an issue shims from the building supply or that you forge yourself work a treat. Were it in my shop I'd round off the corners of the plate the anvil is sitting on, one poke in the leg is all the convincing you'll need. A bit of a rim around the plate will make a secure place to lay "ready" tools and such. I made tong and hammer racks that clip over the edge of the angle iron rim on my anvil stand and use them every time I'm at the anvil. All in all I like it, well done. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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