Dave985 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 My dad gave me this anvil yesterday, as he is really getting up there and he's been trying to get rid of stuff. He is not a blacksmith, nor am I. I was born in 1953, and my dad had this (along with countless other tools) in the workshop for as long as I can remember. He thinks it was made in 1898, because that is what's marked on one end of it. But underneath it appears to be marked "MAY 13.84", along with an "E". I've been doing internet searches since yesterday, and saw information about cast "Eagle" logo's and paper logo's, but I can find no remnants of either. If it was made in 1898 I don't understand why it would have "84" on the bottom? But yet if it was made in 1884, then 1898 would be 15 years into the future! There is an "8" marked near one foot. Weighing it on a bathroom scale indicates it's 72.5 pounds. There's also a small "3" and a larger "2" located near the "1898" marking. If anyone can provide and info about this anvil I'd appreciate it. I have no plans to sell it or anything, I'm just curious as to just what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 The date on the back is for the warranty and so reflects the manufacture date, the date on the bottom looks to be a patent date as there is a Fisher patent listed for May 13 1884. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave985 Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 @ThomasPowers Thanks so much for the info! It wasn't until this morning that I saw that THIS anvil actually had any markings on the bottom. And then I thought I remembered seeing something online yesterday about markings there... but as usual... information on the internet is fleeting, and I sure couldn't find it again today. So I guess this one was made during the period when there was no Eagle logo in the casting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Welcome aboard... You have a very nice condition Fisher there. The 8 is the weight range 80 pounds more or less (due to differences in scales). I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened face. I always suggest reading this to get the best out of the forum. READ THIS FIRST It is full of tips like how to do the best search, editing your profile to show your location and many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave985 Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 Thanks Irondragon. Tip 6: "Forum navigation: Can't view multiple pages of thread? To move forward and back from page to page in a long thread, you can reload or refresh to get the next page when you get the infinite loading message" is priceless. I couldn't figure out why I could never seem to get past page one of the threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Ya, that seems to be glitch in a recent update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Luckily the workaround from the previous time this was a problem still works, hitting the refresh button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 My 1898 Fisher has the eagle logo cast on the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave985 Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 18 hours ago, Les L said: My 1898 Fisher has the eagle logo cast on the side. I notice you're in Louisiana too! Is your anvil the same size as the one I have (approx 80lbs)? I definitely can't find any trace of the eagle logo on the one I have. I do recall reading that for some period of time Fisher produced anvils both with and without the logo during the same years... but I don't recall which years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Mine has the heel broken off at the hardy, 112# left. I know the later years had a paper tag instead of the cast logo, but I don't know the date ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACG Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 I have an old Fisher 1899 with the 8 (80#) mark as well. No eagle on the side and it has broken off at the hardie hole like Les said. It's a bit beat up on the corners but it was my grand-dad's. Actually it is the thing that got me into smithing. I found it and some old tongs out in the barn when i was about 20 and i got hooked. -ACG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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