Help Identify Anvil

E

eric_acton

Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Messages
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Hi, I was going to get a Vulcan a while back, but let it go due to their less than stellar track-record and the guy selling it kept jerking me around.

Anyway, here is a 200# anvil available at a moving sale for $300. Has the shape of a colonial anvil, but doubt it is that old.
Suppose I should go out there and give it the 1” bearing test, but anyone know the brand, etc… by the picture?
Thanks
 
That's a tough picture to use for identification. It helps to see the overall profile. I do notice that it has no handling holes on the sides of the feet. Also, is the picture flipped, it's odd to me that the pritchel hole is on the left of the hardy hole in this pic.

I'm going to take a flying guess- it may be an old-style Fisher Norris. If so, you may be able to see an eagle cast onto the mark side. I know, people will say the feet are wrong for a Fisher, but I had the older style and it had feet like that.

I can't even really see whether that anvil has a table or not. The edges look a little chipped up (common with Fishers, a really hard faceplate) and I can't really see what the condition of the face is like under the rust.

If no table, not a Fisher. Maybe colonial/forged then. I believe mine had a smallish table.

If it has really good rebound but does not ring, just a "clack," it may be a Fisher. If it does ring, more likely a forged/built up anvil.

If it's in decent shape and has good rebound, for the price I'd buy it for sure, considering the weight.
 
Tough to tell from the picture, but my first thought was that it isn't a 200lb. anvil. Looks similar to my 96lb. Mousehole anvil.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I asked for them to provide a pic of the other side and/or any markings/stamps. It's located ~2 hrs from my house so I'd flip a nutty if it ended up being a sub-hundred pounder...
 
Okay, the only marking he found was a letter "L". That make me think it's a Thomas Hill or William Foster certainly could be based on the shape. However, would think the stone weight stamp would be legible. Hmm...
 
Have him rub some chalk on it. That has been known to make letters appear that were otherwise invisible. I'd also insist that he weigh it on a bathroom scale before you drive 2 hours.
 
Wow, what a difference a better picture makes.
It's quite a bit bigger than my 96lb. Mousehole. This one is 1.5" taller, 1" wider, and the base looks to be 2" longer. Very possible in the 200lb. range. If you are willing to spend the money, I'd grab it, quick. I would bet that it will be gone by lunch, otherwise.
 
Definitely an old English forged anvil. I'd grab it too, that is kind of a jerk move of him to price it up. I'd call him, tell him I'll be over in two hours with $300. Hopefully he won't say "the price went up."
 
Thanks for the responses. That two-hundred-pounder would have been nice, but I still have a day-job and can't kill 1/2 day like that. I ended up getting a getting a 165# British anvil that was only 40 miles away for $200. Not perfect, but rebound on it is really good. Although I take it with a grain of salt, the dude selling it said it was his great-great grandfathers. He had no idea how the pockmarks on side got there; makes no sense. Regardless, pretty sure it's a Peter Wright. Anyway, here are some pics after 30 minute cleanup...
 
That's a good looking anvil. Congratulations. I've got two PW's and I love 'em, that sure looks like one. I can see a "P" sticking out of those pocks, and the numbers look right, too. Mine does not have the little stamped anchors on the front foot, though.

165# is a good weight, my larger one is a 171#. I'm curious, it looks as if the numbers are 1-?-3. If it was 1-0-3, that would be 115 lbs. If it's 1-3-3, that'd be 199 lbs. If it's 1-2-3, it would be 171 lbs. Those are the same numbers as mine. Do you call it a 165# after weighing it?
 
Thanks Salem, the 165# was from the scale. I couldn't figure out the weight either; 1-2-3 would make the most sense. Do realize it's for pounding on, but the abuse marks are a shame...
 
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