Post your anvils!

[JessEm]

Mac53, we'll see...as my shop continues to take shape... I will keep it in mind. I'm in Minnesota, BTW.

Edit: I'd love to barter torward a blast cabinet.

[john k]

Since I'm only 2 hrs from Minnesota, wouldn't want to put anyone out with the gas costing what it does.   Am offering dry, roofed, long term storage and usage for heavy anvils, 200+lbs.   Just offering, yaknow!

[Nolatoolguy]

I dont have one :(

For the very rare occasions i gotta pound something were a anvil would be handy i just have a old truck rim with a steel plate welded to the top

its pretty heavy so it dont move.

[wvtools]

FrankLee and Branson -- that anvil looks like a Vulcan.  I have a beat up 70 pound one that I use.  I should keep a better one, but I always sell those.  They are cast iron with an applied steel top, which is why they do not ring.  I like an anvil with no ring.  The ringing drives me nuts.  There may be an arm and hammer cast into the side, and there should be a number on the front on Vulcans.  Multiply it by 10, and you have the approximate anvil weight.

The arm and hammer on a Vulcan sticks out (cast), and the arm and hammer on an Arm and Hammer goes in.

[Branson]

FrankLee and Branson -- that anvil looks like a Vulcan.  I have a beat up 70 pound one that I use.  I should keep a better one, but I always sell those.  They are cast iron with an applied steel top, which is why they do not ring.  I like an anvil with no ring.  The ringing drives me nuts.  There may be an arm and hammer cast into the side, and there should be a number on the front on Vulcans.  Multiply it by 10, and you have the approximate anvil weight.

The arm and hammer on a Vulcan sticks out (cast), and the arm and hammer on an Arm and Hammer goes in.

I couldn't make out the name on my 100#, but it isn't a Vulcan.  It does ring, just not very much.  I think the one we got for reenactments, though, is a Vulcan.  More of a thud than a ring with that one.

One of the anvils purchased for the army in the Civil War was also noted for lack of ring, and was also a mixture of steel and cast iron.  I don't remember any more which manufacturer, but I think it was the Mousehole.  Maybe one of our Mousehole owners can confirm?  (The Union only bought Mouseholes, Hay-Buddons, and Peter Wrights, and maybe Fishers.)

My farrier's anvil rings like a demon.  The only louder one I have ever heard belonged to my first smithing teacher.  It rang like a church bell at Easter!
A great anvil it was, but the ring was so loud that farriers stopped buying the thing, and the company went out of business I was told.  He wrapped a bunch of chain around the base, and it helped a little...

[JessEm]

"My Anvil" Update:

I put my 220# anvil on craigslist yesterday and it sold in a matter of hours.  I had to make room for a new one...

My wife and I were sitting at Perkins on Saturday when I noticed a sign for an auction across the street, at the Legion. After finishing our brunch we stopped in and I immediately took note of the 'favorably' small crowd. Then I noticed why. It was predominantly coins and jewelry. We made a quick pass through, stopping mainly to look at the small amount of other junk they had, and that's when I spotted it. The perfect sized anvil for me, and in good shape. Well, 45 minutes into our little detour, and I was the new owner of a 104# Hey-Budden. I'm not going to say how much I paid for it because I believe that filling the internet with stories like this can drive down the value of an item (I'll earn my You Suck award later), but lets just say coin and jewelry buyers ARE NOT the target market for anvils. Anyway, it's better sized for my shop than the 220# was, and frankly, I think it's better quality.

I will post a picture when I have a chance

Edit: Here's a few pics. I haven't had a chance to clean it up or anything yet.

The serial number is A23702. Anyone got anything on that?

[Stoney]

Way to score.

[JessEm]

Way to score.

Thanks, Stoney. I live for scores like that. :)

[rusty]

The serial number is A23702. Anyone got anything on that?

Between 1918-1921

More gory details here: http://www.abana.org/resources/discus/messages/4/87.html?1318731879

[Branson]

A great anvil.  Think I'll take in some coin and jewelry sales...

[JessEm]

The serial number is A23702. Anyone got anything on that?

Between 1918-1921

More gory details here: http://www.abana.org/resources/discus/messages/4/87.html?1318731879

Gory is right. What a jumble of disorganization. I feel like I owe you for finding that. :)


Yeah, don't write-off the coin & jewelry auctions. Especially if it's from the same estate. You never know what will turn up. I also bought a dovetailed Peters 20 Gauge box (I have a little collection of old ammo boxes), about 1/3 full of old tools, all for $20. There was a 2" slick chisel never sharpened, about 5 lbs of taps & dies, some neat files, a couple old locks with keys, yankee drill, drill bits, a copper oil can, and few other odds & ends. Probably the best thing was a Stanley No.67 spokeshave, almost mint, and a neat old glass closet door knob set. Scooooooooore!