Help I'd and value anvil
- Thread starter NastyNate
- Start date
Can't find any markings maybe 60 lbs? Kind of looks cast iron to me but I know nothing about anvils.
ndnchf
Well-known member
in the first photo (horn to the left) is there an eagle emblem under the rust and crust? It looks like something is there, but I can't tell for sure. If there is, then it is a Fisher anvil. Over the years Fisher used different styles of eagles, but that was always their symbol. I have one made around 1870.
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That one is going to be hard to ID since it doesn't have any of the positive ID features you want to look for....an oval or hourglass depression on the base, serial numbers on the feet, raised lettering, stampings, etc.
The shape looks a lot like many Fishers and Vulcans, but without markings it's hard to tell. They also sold anvils without their normal markings, so that's a possibility. Some were factory seconds that didn't get stamped, some were made for big companies that wanted to sell under their own name, etc.
It could be any number of brands, but it doesn't matter too much in the end. Get the face clean, drop a 1" ball bearing all around the face and look for how high it bounces and listen to the sound it makes. Drop (don't throw) the bearing from 10" to get a feel for how high it returns.
A damaged anvil, or an anvil shaped object (ASO) will have the ball only bounce back an inch or two. Even a worn, old, dimpled anvil will give you 4-5" of rebound. It's also possible to find an anvil with good rebound in some places, and no rebound in others...that means the weld is failing/failed between the top plate and body at that spot, which will likely only get worse with use.
Wrought iron anvils will have a high pitched ring, and cast iron anvils will tool steel faces will have a much quieter "ping" sound, but both will have significant rebound.
There are also cast iron anvils without a tool steel face...those are really ASOs, and cast steel anvils, but they aren't quite as common.
The edges of the face look decent, and there doesn't appear to be any major damage, so if it has good rebound anything under $3/lb is a pretty good deal these days. For something unmarked like that I'd try to get it for closer to $2/lb.
The shape looks a lot like many Fishers and Vulcans, but without markings it's hard to tell. They also sold anvils without their normal markings, so that's a possibility. Some were factory seconds that didn't get stamped, some were made for big companies that wanted to sell under their own name, etc.
It could be any number of brands, but it doesn't matter too much in the end. Get the face clean, drop a 1" ball bearing all around the face and look for how high it bounces and listen to the sound it makes. Drop (don't throw) the bearing from 10" to get a feel for how high it returns.
A damaged anvil, or an anvil shaped object (ASO) will have the ball only bounce back an inch or two. Even a worn, old, dimpled anvil will give you 4-5" of rebound. It's also possible to find an anvil with good rebound in some places, and no rebound in others...that means the weld is failing/failed between the top plate and body at that spot, which will likely only get worse with use.
Wrought iron anvils will have a high pitched ring, and cast iron anvils will tool steel faces will have a much quieter "ping" sound, but both will have significant rebound.
There are also cast iron anvils without a tool steel face...those are really ASOs, and cast steel anvils, but they aren't quite as common.
The edges of the face look decent, and there doesn't appear to be any major damage, so if it has good rebound anything under $3/lb is a pretty good deal these days. For something unmarked like that I'd try to get it for closer to $2/lb.
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Not all good anvils have a ring. A Fisher or Vulcan won't ring, but will still have excellent rebound if they are in good condition.
justme-
Well-known member
Am I wrong, but don't all fishers have the weight, mold year and "Fisher" deeply "impressed" on the base aside from the eagle/anchor? My 160# from 1900-02 does. Anvillefire has a link to anvil Id info.
It certainly has the right shape, but both Vulcans and Fishers have the logos cast in, so they protrude from the side of the anvil quite a bit.
I have a 151lb vise I can't ID that has the same sort or proportions....no markings on it anywhere. It's very clearly a cast body with a tool steel face....quiet "tink" sound, but very good rebound. It's anybody's guess who made it, but I suspect it was either Fisher or Illinois Iron & Bolt Co (Vulcan).
ndnchf
Well-known member
My Fisher has no other markings besides the eagle. It's an early one of the Norris period.
I missed out on it I got them to $125 on it and decided to wait till the next day to buy it when they started lowering prices... I know its already cheap but Im a cheap ******* there were people fighting over paying 150 for it. one guy offered 200 to the person who bought it for the asking price of 150.
I screwed up on this one.
I screwed up on this one.
ndnchf
Well-known member
Too bad, but there are others out there. If you see a good one at a good price, then remembers that others will see it too. Sometimes you just have to jump on it.
justme-
Well-known member
There are many sources of anvils...the best can be scrappers depending on your relationship. I know a big scrapper who gets them regularly and resells them to a guy in another state that sells them highly overpriced as lawn decorations. Coworker (who is a blacksmith) bought a big one off said scrapper, sold his shop anvil to student of his who sold me his anvil...all of these went below "market", er.. Craigslist value.
They did so because all are interested in furthering smithing...so if you're genuinely interested in blacksmithing get involved with local groups and not only learn and make friends, but get more sets of eyes looking for a good anvil at a reasonable cost.
They did so because all are interested in furthering smithing...so if you're genuinely interested in blacksmithing get involved with local groups and not only learn and make friends, but get more sets of eyes looking for a good anvil at a reasonable cost.