Check out this big old anvil I acquired (pics)

P

psycho78

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
1,108
My uncle had been telling me about an old anvil he had sitting on his property, and that I could have it IF I could pick the damn thing up and carry it off. I went over and saw it today, and I finally got a chance to take pics of it. I know why it has been sitting there in the same spot for 20+ years. The thing weighs a damn ton! I about threw my back out trying to lift it and determine it's weight. I work out regularly, and this thing was hard to budge. I estimate it to weigh maybe 200+ pounds.

I know it's a bridge anvil, but thats pretty much all I know. Any of you guys know anything about these anvils and what they were used for? Good for knifemaking? It has a manufacturer's name, but I cannot make it out at all. Any help would be appreciated.

Put my Spyderco Caly Jr on the face for scale
anvil.jpg


000_1929.jpg


I have no idea what this says.
anvil4.jpg


anvil3.jpg


Some damage on the face and edges. Has a big chunk out of one of the ends.
anvil5.jpg
 
this thing could hold a ship down! It's driving me nuts that I cant make sense of the name on it. At least I can read that it was made in Lancaster Ohio. That may narrow somethin down
 
Wussy... a real man would just wrench that thang offa the ground and chuck it into his pick-up, or maybe onta the back o' the Harley. The rest of us would use a fork lift. Or a sturdy woman, given the way they can move furniture. Good luck with that...
 
--EN'S FoundRY & MACH. --- MACH. could be machining or machinery.They often used abreviations for long words ! The first missing letters would give you a place to search
 
looks like more than 200 lbs...probably 300.

Great bridge anvil!

You will love this for straightening blades!!!
(once you grind it flat, of course...:D)
 
Just pick that old girl up and take her home.Then figure out where she came from,and then love her.....Old anvils are cool,they have allot of stories they could tell.I will rescue any anvil in any condition and at least let them live around the shop with some dignity.

This one looks like she could be resurfaced after a little repair pretty easily and then she would serve you well for years in the shop...

A wrecker will pick it up with ease,Do you know anyone with a wrecker?Otherwise a few buddies and a case of beer will get it home....A tractor with a fork on it will work also...

great score,
Bruce
 
Bridge anvils are great to find! It looks like it may need to hardfacing rod to build up some of the chips. Get a welder to lay some hardfacing rod carefully into the face and the grind it back clean and flat. You just can't find anvils like that any more....Enjoy it!

-d

P.S. Try asking Jock Dempsey over at Anvilfire.com. He may be able to help you identify it.
 
I think the manufacturer is Alten's Foundry and Machine of Lancaster. I've found some references to it, but no pics of anvils they produced. Apparently, they later got into oil drilling equipment.
-Mark
 
I think its an "R" behind the "T" and not an "L". thats just what I can see. Maybe if he scrubs it with a wire brush and some WD-40 it will be easier to read.
 
Bruce Evans said:
Just pick that old girl up and take her home.Then figure out where she came from,and then love her.....Old anvils are cool,they have allot of stories they could tell.I will rescue any anvil in any condition and at least let them live around the shop with some dignity.

This one looks like she could be resurfaced after a little repair pretty easily and then she would serve you well for years in the shop...

A wrecker will pick it up with ease,Do you know anyone with a wrecker?Otherwise a few buddies and a case of beer will get it home....A tractor with a fork on it will work also...

great score,
Bruce
Click to expand...

I agree Bruce even if it is no good to use i would haul it home if i had to drag it behind the truck!:D

Bob
 
I would have schemed it into my pickup. Love it. I am sure you could get some serious metal mashing done with it. Enjoy
 
I'm thinking that my equally large brother and I could maybe get a couple of weightlifting bars and stick them through the middle of the thing and try deadlifting it.

It's up on a little bank under a tree right above a gravel driveway, so maybe we can pull the bed of the truck right up on that bank and slide 'er in there maybe.

Not that I want to part with it, but I am curious as to the value of this type of anvil?

I'm really glad you guys enjoy the pictures. I cant wait to get her permanently mounted somewhere and start pounding some steel!
 
polish avenger said:
I think the manufacturer is Alten's Foundry and Machine of Lancaster. I've found some references to it, but no pics of anvils they produced. Apparently, they later got into oil drilling equipment.
-Mark
Click to expand...


I mentioned this anvil to someone, I cant recall who, but he told me that the bridge anvils were used near oil rigs and stuff. My uncle told me thats where he found this one all those years ago, near an old oil rig.

Alten's Foundry and Machine. Makes sense. Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top