Paul F Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 I got an anvil from a friend that found in his garden. He lives in a 100 year old house in an area that was settled in the early 1800's. It's a little rusty from being buried for 100 years and the top plate is worn from use, but otherwise in good condition. I'd like to know the age and maker if possible. The only marks are two large "I"s punched in the left side and single large punch mark on the right side. I'd estimate the weight to be a little over 100 pounds. It appears to by a forged anvil. It rings like a bell. I'll send you photos if you give me an email address. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Welcome to IFI! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! If you post your photos here, more people will see them and be able to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Pictures of at least each side, bottom, top and at the front of the feet under the horn. Sometimes marks are barely visable but can lead to an ID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 So is this in Russia or Australia? Where you are located helps winnow down possibilities and over 100 countries participate here on the World Wide Web! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted May 28, 2019 Author Share Posted May 28, 2019 I'm in Erie, PA, USA. As you see it has a heavy horn and no step. I don't have picture under the horn. I'll post one later. I haven't done any restoration work expect power washing it. I'd like to know if I should sand blast it or grind the top plate. Thanks, Paul By the way, I'm a degreed Metallurgist. So if anyone has any steel questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 The two "I's" are 1s and part of the old hundredweight weight stamp. Needs a good wire wheeling to possibly make out if there is any maker stamp left to be seen. (If it had one at all) with the pritchel hole (if it wasn't drilled in later) puts it post 1830's Looks mousehole-ish, but many other makers made similar looking anvils. Looks like it would be a good usable anvil with just wire wheeling it and pounding some hot metal on the face. That is if the rebound is good. Never know if it could have been in a fire and lost its hardness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, Paul F said: I'm in Erie, PA, USA We won't remember this once leaving this post, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show location. What ever you do to clean her up, do not grind, mill or weld on the hardened face. Hot steel hammered on it will shine it right up. I would just wire wheel it and rub it down with BLO or Ballistol if it were mine. A good looking old gal you have there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 You are not the first or even the second degreed metallurgist here; so welcome to the insanity! I would check the pritchel hole to see if it shows signs of punching; if it was drilled as a retrofit it would push the date on that anvil back aways. The anvil without the cutting step was a fairly common style, Birmingham pattern, IIRC, vs the London pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share Posted May 29, 2019 I cleaned up the garden anvil and took some additional pictures. I don't see any further ID marks under the horn. The hardy and pritchel holes are 0.85" (21.5 mm)and 0.43" (11 mm) respectively. They are considerably smaller than the holes in my Fisher Norris anvil. I tried to assess the rebound level. It's pretty good on the ends. I'd estimate 75%. But less so in the center of the top face where it's worn. If anyone has an idea of the value, I'd appreciate an estimate. I'd like to tell my friend what it's worth. I told him I'd make some fittings for his house and barn in exchange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 Minimum US$2, Maximum US$4 to $5 per pound. 75% is on the lower end of acceptable rebound, over 85% would be upper end---measured not estimated and with a clean dry face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 "If" it were a mousehole it would have stamping above the weight stamp on the side. Around here (western Pa.) For a decent used anvil, seems like $2./lb is a good price. 3-4$/lb is common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share Posted May 29, 2019 I'll look carefully above the weight stamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted May 30, 2019 Author Share Posted May 30, 2019 I weighed the wrought anvil at 128 lbs. It's marked with a 1 1. If that means 1 CWT + 1 Stone = 126 lbs. That is about right. While I was at it, I weighed my Fisher Norris anvil. It weighed 146 lbs. So does that make it nominally a 150 lb anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 The hundred wt mark 1-1-0 would be 112# (1 hundred wt) plus 28# (1x 1/4 hundred wt) plus 0 extra pounds, for a total of 140#. The Fisher probably started life as a nominal 150#er. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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