$1200 Peter Wright anvil, expensive?

[-Brent-]

I came across this anvil ad and I was curious to what you guys thought of the price. If the author of the ad really did have this anvil appraised, what makes it a $1200 anvil? To me (and I know little about anvils) the price seemed outrageous. If it is outrageous, what do you think it's actually worth?

Anyhow, I'd love to hear what you all think. I think I'll learn something from it.

 

[bobcatdan]

Good anvils do bring good money, but not that kinda of money. I kinda apply the vise formula, $1 a pound. That said, I am normally below what guys advertise for. It hard to say for sure how big it is form the picture, going but the floor vent fairly good size. Who would drag in anvil in on wood floors?

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think perhaps this person thinks it is more of a collector item since he doesn't give ANY weight or dimensions... Perhaps because of the name Peter Wright the appraiser thinks it is something special. Maybe to that ONE person in the US it might be, but to everyone else it's just a (quality?) anvil....

 

[blownhemi]

Seems excessive and looks to be in very average condition.

 

[toymn6366]

at most 2 bucks a pound

 

[Piper]

I have exactly the same anvil...



and paid $320 for it. It weighs 318 if memory serves me correctly so the buck a pound is pretty good I'd say. I got this at auction.

If you do a google search, there's a lot of info on Peter Wright anvils, their age, how they're made.. pretty interesting stuff in a tool-nerd kinda way.

(sorry, just checked the photo online now and you can't read the peter wright name but I assure you my anvil is indeed one, fwiw

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have exactly the same anvil...

and paid $320 for it. It weighs 318 if memory serves me correctly so the buck a pound is pretty good I'd say. I got this at auction.

No no no no... You have a $1,200 anvil! *snicker*

 

[TSirotock]

Perhaps; perhaps not. I have been astounded at the prices paid for anvils. Peter Wright's go for some big dollars. A 9 pounder I wanted sold for $10 per pound before adding shipping on eBay! And to think of all those anvils lost to dropping randomly in Bugs Bunny Cartoons!

 

[spongerich]

If you look at the pictures it looks like it's marked 1 0 15 which puts it at 127 lbs.

I recently sold a 141lb Peter Wright that was a little nicer than that one for $375.

Unless there's something very special about that particular one, I'd say it's worth somewhere around $300 in the condition it's in.

 

[A_Pmech]

Overpriced anvils are common around here. They're "collector's items".



As others said, about a buck a pound is the right price. $2 a pound if you're really feeling generous.

 

[bas157]

I saw one that was 451 pounds sell at auction last fall for over $4000 !!

 

[jpickar]

I wish I could get one for a buck a pound!

They are more like $3 a pound around here.

John

 

[Super Sport]

Every time I see something with an "appraised" value, I figure it is really worth 50-75% of that.

 

[Amitygravel]

That anvil does look to be in very average condition.
As a user , buck a pound.
I've been to way too many auctions in central Illinois over the years where anvils have sold for crazy prices.
Every time I see a GJ members new score on an anvil for what I see as crazy low prices it drives me nuts.

 

[A_Pmech]

I've been to way too many auctions in central Illinois over the years where anvils have sold for crazy prices.
Every time I see a GJ members new score on an anvil for what I see as crazy low prices it drives me nuts.

You too huh?

Glad I'm not the only one...

 

[geologist]

From my experience here in Ohio / Rust Belt, USA:

$1 - $3 per lb for vises, depending on maker, type, and condition/quality

$3 per lb is basically the floor for GOOD anvils in my neck of the woods. Sure, you can get ASO's (anvil shaped objects) cheaper, but most of the cheaper anvils I've seen around my area are pure garbage. I've seen very large specialized anvils going for as much as $30 per pound, but there were some accessories with it.

 

[bluechevy94]

My dad has an old Peter Wright anvil that looks very similar to that one.It weighs right at 300lbs.If I remember right he paid around $50 for it at an auction last year.It was a bear getting that thing in his shop.

 

[-Brent-]

I sent and inquiry email that said this, "I've got a few questions about the anvil. First, does it ring? Second, what is the weight? Third, what does the appraisal consist of? I.e., what were the factors that lead the appraiser to this price?"

This is what I got back, "The ring is in great shape... The weight is close to 200lb.. A welder appraised it, its worlds war 2 era.. the reason he said to list it so high was the manufacturer wich is stamped into the anvil.. It is 100% wrought iron, stamped and in fantastic shape.. The price is negotiable."

 

[geologist]

I sent and inquiry email that said this, "I've got a few questions about the anvil. First, does it ring? Second, what is the weight? Third, what does the appraisal consist of? I.e., what were the factors that lead the appraiser to this price?"

This is what I got back, "The ring is in great shape... The weight is close to 200lb.. A welder appraised it, its worlds war 2 era.. the reason he said to list it so high was the manufacturer wich is stamped into the anvil.. It is 100% wrought iron, stamped and in fantastic shape.. The price is negotiable."

I'm guessing he hasn't struck it a single time.

 

[A_Pmech]

The ring is in excellent shape and it's 100% wrought iron huh?

Next the guy is going to tell you that he's away on holiday and you'll have send him a check and his friend in Mumbai err... Denver will drop it off at your place on his way to Jakarta errr... New York.

 

[jpickar]

Yup that sounds VERY fishy to me!

John

 

[Piper]

yep.. a little bit off on my math...

mine says 1 3 18

http://www.anvilfire.com/anvils/donated_023.php

check this link out..

 

[RV77]

Perhaps; perhaps not. I have been astounded at the prices paid for anvils. Peter Wright's go for some big dollars. A 9 pounder I wanted sold for $10 per pound before adding shipping on eBay! And to think of all those anvils lost to dropping randomly in Bugs Bunny Cartoons!

Yea but those were ACME anvils

 

[carhunter]

The anvil may be wright, but the price is wrong

Great thread, I learned something about anvils today!

The email response is typical of an amateur flea market/auction reseller. You can tell he/she's fishing for a price. They love to list items, bend the description a little and hope for big bucks.

I thought it was a fake at first - I mean wouldn't they at least try to stamp the name in a straight line back when it was made?

 

[dadsEH]

No. the price is genuine.... $300 for the anvil and $900 for shipping by UPS

 

[5lima30]

I bought a 90# Mousehole dated from the early 1800's for $50 this past spring.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Can someone explain how the numbers on an anvil translate to the weight?

 

[WWIIjeep]

Can someone explain how the numbers on an anvil translate to the weight?

They don't always "translate" the same. It depends on the maker and the vintage.

On Peter Wrights and some other brands using the 3 number marking system, the first number is the English or Imperial long hundredweight (112 lbs per unit). Second number is quarters of long hundredweights (28 lbs per), and third number is pounds.

Sometimes a single number and fraction of long hundredweight is used instead. Example: 1-3/4, which would translate into 112 + 84 = 196 lbs. Such an anvil might also say "1-3/4 CWT")

Some American-made and newer anvils use the US Standard (and Canadian) short hundredweight (100 lbs per unit) instead of the Imperial long hundredweight.

For historical reference, the long and short hundredweight relate to other units in the Imperial and US Standard measuring systems as follows:

8 stones equal one Imperial hundredweight and 20 Imperial hundredweights equal one long ton (2240 lbs). The English/Imperial stone (14 lbs) is still a common weight unit in the British Commonwealth in spite of the Metric system.

20 US Standard or Canadian hundredweights equal one short ton (2000 lbs).