Vulcan Anvil???

Thanks Trick, you're giving me a chance to use my Christmas present, the book Anvils In America by Richard Postman. Your anvil ws made by the Illinois Iron&Bolt comapny from 1875 to 1969. It is a steel faced cast iron anvil. The last digit is always left off of the weight of vulcans so yours is a 100lbs.
Richard writes;"I would not rate the Vulcan anvil as being of the same quailty as the Fischer&Norris Eagle or the wrought anvils, and slightly higher quality than the strictly cast-iron anvils."
I checked out a 100 lb Vulcan recently and checked it against a 96lb Mouse Hole anvil for ring and rebound. It didn't give quite as much rebound or ring as the Mouse Hole, but is much better than you'll get out of the cheap chinese stuff you see on ebay and flea markets.
I would say it will serve you fine until you can get something bigger and better. I would keep it though, as a small anvil like that will be handy if you ever want to go mobile. I got the mouse hole cause I do some demonstrations and its a lot easier to get in and out of the trunk than the bigger ones.
Hope this helps.
Ed
 
I've got two vulcans in the shop, long with a trenton, a unmaked colonial and a few others. The vulcans are nice because of their muted rings, and do admirably for light to medium duty work. I've got a 150 pounder, and a 100 pounder, they're later production anvils, and I'm pleased with them. I use the trenton daily, but it's noisy, rings like a bell! keep that vulcan, and until you get into production iron, it'll serve you well.

anvil1.jpg

This is taken on the face of the vulcan 150#er the blade is forged from vg-10 and ready for hot filing

Tony
 
A good Friend of mine has a Vulcan #75 that the hard steel broke off the base casting turning it into a piece of junk, any one know of a fix to this. Gib
 
are the markings raised from the surface of the body, or pressed into the body? this will tell you a few things on the Vulcan, as they went through a few manufacturing methods during the life of the company.

I would simply clean that anvil up and use it. Use it for a while before you go spending lots of money on a #300. Ive got a #150 Trenton and a #260 Nimba. I wind up using the old beat up Trenton that i paid $100 for as much as the brand new Nimba.
 
Happycat, would you look in "the book" and see if there is anything about my anvil. It is a Peterson as near as I can read and weighs about 130 pounds. It is steel that much I know. And if you are going too hard and miss the knife it will put the hammer in your face. I came close a couple of times. It was owned by my great grand father who farmed in Clovis NM and blacksmithed on the side.
 
Oh one more thing for you guys. I have been told that if I bolt it to a heavy plate of steel that it will work like a bigger anvil. I have a piece of 1 1/2 plate that is about 100 lbs. Do you think it will make any difference.
 
Even an old grinder like me can learn alot around this forum:)

I've got two anvils. One is a no name and the other is a Vulcan. No idea who made the no name. It came from a high school shop in N. Ga and had been there for awhile. The Vulcan used to belong to an Army friend of mine. Any idea how old it is?
The no name is probably 50 or more pounds heavier than the Vulcan.
 
Ok Kit your's has the newest of the three trademark variations (as does Trick's) putting it in "the 2oth century" according to Postman. So any time after 1900 or so. They all pretty much look alike as far as I can tell after 1900. The other I have no idea. Sorry.

Riley, I see nothing in the book (so far) marked Peterson. Is it possible it says Peter Wright? I'll keep looking and if I find something I'll let you know.
Ed
 
I have an old Peter Wright that I still use. Its pretty beat up and I have thought about having it resurfaced but it would remove so much character. I think I'll just get another anvil later on. It is still just a great anvil.

Funny thing anvils. They have their own spirit or maybe I'm just sentimental.

Craig
 
Happycat, you are right. I was going from memory (usually faulted). I only looked at it a couple of times. And the last time was about a year ago.
 
Craig, my anvil is very well used also. I have been thing about buying one from Jim Keith tools in Tucumcari NM. He seems to have some good prices.
Though I don't know of another place to compare with when looking for tempered cast steel anvils.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top