Mike Cross Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Hello all! Wondering if anyone can assist me in identifying this beauty! Picked this up today.. Old bathroom scale reads about 250lbs.. Very knowledgeable fellow who sold it to me says he thinks it may be a William Foster.. Very nice guy who I spent some time talking with and admiring his vast tool collection.. No identifiable markings after light wire wheel and oil.. I know the Foster’s usually had a date on them, nothing I can decipher here.. Any insight would truly be appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Postman mentions "The underside of the horn comes to a fairly sharp edge; as it extends towards the body" in reference to early Mousehole anvils. What makes you think it might be a William Foster? My William Foster, 1828 and clearly stamped does have the 3 handling holes: front, back and middle of the base; but it's horn has a much less pronounced keel to it than yours does. Can you see any dots where the CWT weights would be? They often persist when the other stamps get obliterated. Note that there were over 200 different anvil manufacturers in England and many of them produced anvils that either look like PW's or Mouseholes as many of the people who started their own anvil manufacturies worked in those shops before they went off on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Cross Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 Thank you for the response Thomas! The gentleman I purchased it from believed it was a William Foster. And after seeing his shop, I was truly humbled, and respected his opinion.. We talked for quite awhile.. This fellow was on a different level, he knew things about things that I didn’t even know were things! I scoured the entire anvil under headlamp and couldn’t find a trace of any dots where the weights would be.. Postman brings up an excellent point about the underside of the horn. Could definitely be an early MH. Whoever the maker may be, I’m very happy with the purchase.. 80% rebound and a nice ring throughout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 "80% rebound and a nice ring throughout!" All you really need to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Cross Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 Absolutely, well said! Thanks again, always appreciate your insight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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