Anvil help

[DonkeyFluffer]

Hi, i have a chance to buy this anvil from a friend at work. It's about 25 miles away, so he brought me these pics and tells me it was a railroad retirement gift for his great grandfather in the 1920's. He doesn't know much else about it and I was hoping you gurus could give an opinion on this.

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[thehorse13]

It's seen its share of use by the looks of the striking surface but there is life left in it.

Anvils can be expensive. What brand marks are on it? Are you buying it?

 

[DonkeyFluffer]

It's seen its share of use by the looks of the striking surface but there is life left in it.

Anvils can be expensive. What brand marks are on it? Are you buying it?

Thanks for your reply. Its 25 miles away from my job, 45 from my home, and he says it's too heavy to bring in to work. He said he can look for marks and stamping this weekend. Yes, I'd buy it if it was a good value

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[PugetDude]

if that thing was for sale at a decent price only 45 minutes away from me, I'd be camped on their doorstep.

 

[DonkeyFluffer]

if that thing was for sale at a decent price only 45 minutes away from me, I'd be camped on their doorstep.

But what is it? A hunk of steel or a quality old anvil? What do I offer?

I'm sorry I can't provide more info about it yet, but I figured someone would recognize it anyway

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[nine4gmc]

I'm just guessing but it's gotta be worth about $2 lb at least. Around here it would be $4-5 lb.

 

[DonkeyFluffer]

I'm just guessing but it's gotta be worth about $2 lb at least. Around here it would be $4-5 lb.

That helps. Maybe I'll offer that, see what he says

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[G-ManBart]

It's clearly been used a bunch, but it's not so bad it couldn't be used. Around here people are getting $3-4/lb for regular size anvils pretty regularly, but some markets are stronger and others weaker.

 

[G-ManBart]

But what is it? A hunk of steel or a quality old anvil? What do I offer?

I'm sorry I can't provide more info about it yet, but I figured someone would recognize it anyway

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That's almost definitely not an ASO (anvil shaped object) just based on the patina and shape. Take a 1" steel ball bearing and drop it from 10" to see how high it rebounds. If it only bounces an inch or two, it's got some sort of damage....fire, top plate separating, etc. It should bounce at least 5" or more.

Depending on the method of construction, it could have a high-pitched ring when struck, or a low-pitch click and still be fine. The low-pitched quiet anvils are normally Fishers or Vulcans, but that doesn't look like one.

If the ball bearing rebounds nicely, all over the face, it's worth having.

Going off the shape it could be one of several good brands...Trenton, Hay Budden, Peter Wright, etc. If you look at it, check the bottom of the base for an hourglass depression and the front of the feet for a serial number.

 

[DonkeyFluffer]

That's almost definitely not an ASO (anvil shaped object) just based on the patina and shape. Take a 1" steel ball bearing and drop it from 10" to see how high it rebounds. If it only bounces an inch or two, it's got some sort of damage....fire, top plate separating, etc. It should bounce at least 5" or more.

Depending on the method of construction, it could have a high-pitched ring when struck, or a low-pitch click and still be fine. The low-pitched quiet anvils are normally Fishers or Vulcans, but that doesn't look like one.

If the ball bearing rebounds nicely, all over the face, it's worth having.

Going off the shape it could be one of several good brands...Trenton, Hay Budden, Peter Wright, etc. If you look at it, check the bottom of the base for an hourglass depression and the front of the feet for a serial number.

Thank you. I'll ask him to check all that.

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