Anvil ID help

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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Found this in a basement garage sale for $25 this morning.
I did some research first and came up with the following options
1820 - 1835: M&H ARMITAGE MOUSEHOLE
Either 96 or 132 lbs.

Does this sound about right? Top face is a bit uneven. What is the best way to get it refaced, or should I just leave it as is?

anvil.jpg
 
It'll be 96 lbs. If that 3 was a 5, it wouldn't make sense; as 5 quarter hundredweight would be expressed as 1-1-remainder.

So, 132# would be expressed, 1-0-20. If the anvil did somehow read 0-5-12, that would be 152#.

That is such a GREAT find in a basement for 25 BUCKS. I'm jealous. Post a pics of the top, I bet it's OK as is, or with a little angle grinder work on the face.
 
Thanks Salem. Can't believe I have a 175-190 year old anvil! I think you're right on the weight. 96lbs makes sense, the second number should be 0,1,2,3. Likewise the last number shouldn't be more than 27.

The top is pretty bumpy. Maybe I could put in on the surface grinder and flatten it.
anvil2.jpg
 
On examination, just the front 4" of the top is rounded and it looks like it might have been designed that way. I might just finish sand blasting and oil it. The pritchell and hardy hole side seems pretty flat.
 
As long as I have a good flat spot, with some mass under it for rebound, and one fairly sharp edge, I'm OK. That anvil looks in great shape for it's age. Really, it's a beautiful old girl. If only it could talk, it's probably had a pretty interesting 180-odd years.
Heck, work with it for a while, and see if there are areas that specifically could be improved. Then maybe work on those with a minimalist approach. I like a flap disc on an angle grinder to do medium-light cleanup and finishing on an anvil face.

Just my $.02, again, great score.
 
Think, civil war era blacksmithing was done on that anvil. The guy said it was from his farm when he was a kid. It likely came to the USA on a wooden ship with sails and took a couple months to get here. Most likely hand-made pre-Bessemer steel. What a piece of history!
 
Hi I have a M&H Armitage anvil with the stamp
1 0 19 and I would like to find out the year it was made. Can anyone help me with this
 
Welcome Ivan,
This thread is 12 years old. Look at the dates on the pervious posts when pulling up threads as a new member. Usually it is best to start a new thread.
Fill out your profile with your location and a bit about you so folks can offer hep and better advice.

Your anvil weighs 131# (112 + 0 + 19 = 131) There is no way to know the date without a good photo. Most likely it is mid 1800's. It is a good forging anvil.
 
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