Hi everyone,   I am new to this site and find everything fascinating.   I am planning on setting up a forge in northern Michigan.  I have my great grandfathers blacksmith leg vise  and just got this vise from my dad.  My grandmother got it at a garage sale for $200 back in the 80’s.  It appears to be a Wilkinson anvil with the name and location of Dudley on it.  On the back side of the anvil appears to have the English weight of, 1   0  10 which should equate to 122lbs.  Also on the base it has 120# stamped into it with a modern looking stamp and also a letter “I” or 1 that looks like an original old mark.  My question is the Wilkinson mark is different from any that I have seen.  It has holes in the base and the waist for working the wrought iron and the face is in fair condition with good rebound.  
Any information on date and an idea of the marking name would be greatly appreciated along with any information.  Thank you in advance for any response.  

ken

Has anyone seen a Wilkinson anvil with a makers mark like this? I am trying to date it or find out anything about it.  Any information would be appreciated. 

AinA pg 126-129 says the earliest ones recorded were 1830 and had a very blocky waist, the later Wilkinson’s had four handling holes an more resembles an American anvil, 

so looking at yours I’m gonna say it was somewhere in between, because it doesn’t look blocky to me but it doesn’t have the extra handling hole on the front so maybe 1860s give or take a decade?
 

But on pg 509, postman says that at one time there were 3 or 4 different Wilkinson’s anvil manufacturers In Dudley during 1830 so it’s kinda hard to tell,  that same chapter also says that all wrought anvils made before the 20th century had three handling holes so that at least gives you an ruff idea of the age.

thats a nice anvil you found at any rate, how’s the rebound and ring? 

Hi TW and thank you for your information.  The anvil has wonderful rebound, approximately 90% over the entire face.  There are three handling holes, one on each side of the waist and one in the bottom.   The hardy hole appears to be punched and the round hole could be drilled, but not sure.  The makers mark “Wilkinson” in the bold large type I can’t find in any other photos.  I really need to get that American anvil book.  I love history and now have a piece of it.  My great grandfather was a blacksmith that came over from Switzerland and my uncle has his anvil and I have his leg vise. 
 

Thanks again

 

ken

The book is handy to have and there’s a wealth of info in it, although it is a little pricey,

if your in a pinch and want to read it before Santa clause gets here you can always go down to your local library and have them get it in for you using the ILL I think it’s called