Arm and Hammer anvil

[3855]

I came across this Arm and Hammer anvil recently. Does anyone have a copy of "Anvils in America" by Postman or from any other source that can date this? The serial number appears to be 47049 and weight appears to be 152 lbs. The anvil has seen some hard use but rebound is good yet.

 

[2oolhound]

Don't know much about the brand but the top looks pretty nice compared to others I've seen.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think only around 50000 were made, so probably towards the end . They went out of business in 50s. Nice anvil!

 

[Maui]

I had one but sold it years ago. Good anvils, and well regarded. The figure of about 50,000 is correct, so this is one of the rarer anvils out there. They are sometimes confused with Vulcan anvils because the arm and hammer symbols look similar. But the Vulcan anvils are cast; The Arm and Hammer anvils are wrought.

 

[SilverDeck]

Yes, that one appears to be late production. Electric arc welded waist, which is how they were making them towards the end. I have a photocopy of the Columbus Anvil & Forging Co chapter but it is at the office so a date based on the serial number will have to wait until Monday unless someone has a copy of AIA on their bookshelf.

 

[3855]

Thanks for the input. Will look forward to Monday seeing what the book says.

 

[SilverDeck]

According to "Anvils in America" (Pg 273), serial number 47,049 would have been produced by the Columbus Anvil & Forging Company of Columbus, Ohio, sometime bewteen 1941 and 1944. Postman records serial 46,555 as being produced in 1941 and serial 49,880 in 1944-1945. This one falls somewhere in bewteen those two. So it is defintely wartime production (and likely they were producing on a very limited scale during the war).

 

[3855]

SilverDeck

Thanks for taking the time to look up the serial number. It is very much appreciated.

As mentioned, rebound is good over the center of the anvil.....a little less so over the horn and rear of the anvil. I assume this is somewhat normal??

And yes, arc welded at the waist.

 

[SilverDeck]

SilverDeck

Thanks for taking the time to look up the serial number. It is very much appreciated.

As mentioned, rebound is good over the center of the anvil.....a little less so over the horn and rear of the anvil. I assume this is somewhat normal??

And yes, arc welded at the waist.

Yes, what you have described is perfectly normal. The center of mass will typically always give the greatest rebound. I own an Arm & Hammer myself (a 90 pounder from 1914 made for Belknap Hardware in Louisville KY) and they are my favorite American made anvils. Great find!