Lavon Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Can any one help me .... I find a lot about Wilkinson anvils, but I cant find these markings on the internet. Thanks mod42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Welcome to IFI, Lavon! I think your anvil can't make up its mind about whether it's a Wilkinson or a Mousehole (aka The Undisputed King of Anvils). I've never seen both names stamped on the same anvil before, and the upside-down "HOLE" is a bit odd in itself. Anyone here have a copy of "Anvils in America" or "The Mousehole Forge" that might provide some clarity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 Thanks JHCC, now you see my dilemma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 JHCC any idea what the word under Wilkinson is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I was going to ask you! The first three letters look like "NOS", but I doubt an anvil would have been marked "New Old Stock". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 The weird Mouse Hole stamping was what caught my eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I have read some threads that indicated Wilkinson had purchased Peter Wright (can't remember when) and that Mouse Hole suffered great financial problems during the ACW due to the naval blockade. Just wonder if Wilkinson may have bought out Mouse Hole as well or produced some anvils for them in that time period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I was planning to look into Postman's book on the Mouse Hole forge and see what they had to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I don't think Wilkinson bought out Mousehole Forge. According to this interesting news article they closed in 1933. http://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/mousehole-anvil.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 Wow!!, thanks guys for all your responses, this is getting interesting. I just read the article. By the way this was my Great Grandfathers, I am in my 60s so it goes back some. Only my grandfather knew the history and he passed in 1975. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 The thing about a lot of blacksmithing equipment is that it wears like iron and so a lot of us are using tools over 100 years old and quite a few of us over 150 years and some over 200 years old. (I have an 1828 William Foster Anvil that I hope to have a birthday party for in 2028 and a post vise that was identified as being "pre 1800".) My 25# Little Giant triphammer was originally sold Dec 28 1915 to a smith in Merino Colorado. I'm in my 60's too and can only hope to be smithing into my 80's and 90's like some smiths I have met! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHDforge Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Could the word under Wilkinson be “& SONS” stamped upside down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 PHD.....I put some chalk and I believe you are correct........Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Forwards, backwards then backwards and forwards again.. with two makers.. What a wild anvil. Wilkinson's & sons and a hole mouse? (Mouse Hole.) Interesting indeed. Maybe made by one for the other or some crazy collaboration? And I have heard of and seen backwards stamp marks but two backwards halves of stamps on two different names on one anvil... what does the ring and rebound test show on this anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Wonder if that anvil came off the line on a Friday and whoever did the stamping like that did it to put in a dig at Mousehole. When I worked at a Cadillac dealership, I saw a lot of funny stuff on Friday cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 1 hour ago, PHDforge said: Could the word under Wilkinson be “& SONS” stamped upside down? That makes it even more confusing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Definitely an odd anvil. Is there a crack/delamination at the forge weld for the heel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 The ring sounds good, but I am no expert. The hammer bounces back easily. And yes small crack maybe 1" wide... from the side appears to be about 1/4" deep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 I can’t quite tell from the photo, but that might simply be some surface failure on one of the forge welds. If it’s not deep, it probably won’t affect the anvil’s durability or performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 The Mouse Hole stamps are not individual letter stamps; so not someone "free handing" another makers trademark! Looked to be stamped hot too; so most likely during original manufacturing or a truly MAJOR repair. Note the differences in the "O"'s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavon Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 The mystery continues !!!!!!!!!! Thanks Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud D. Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 How possible is it that Wilkinson & sons was a shop and mouse hole is the anvil? FYI. Not my image. Pulled from google. And maybe mr Wilkinson’s sons were just being cheeky when they stamped in their mark? Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Armitage was the family that owned Mousehole Forge for many years, not the name of a shop that owned that particular anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud D. Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 No. That’s not what I meant with this pic. I was showing how other mouse holes had upside down stamps. My Peter wright is stamped “made for e.d. Kimball” on it. Possible it was made and stamped for another shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Oh, I see. Apologies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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