![trenton anvil identification trenton anvil identification](https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/attachments/f19/174950d1467654532-trenton-anvil-100_3699.jpg)
Well, I finally have it in my hands for evaluation. If you're in a rural area, you can probably get it for less. If you're in a major metropolitan area, supply is going to be massively overwhelmed by demand. If you're in more of a hurry because you really need one, you'll probably have to pay more as you won't have the luxury on passing on the ones that aren't real deals.Īlso, location is going to be a big deal. I guess the operative lesson is that if you hunt and wait, you can find old anvils for a couple of bucks a pound occasionally. The edges were mildly munged up, and the face was decent. Then I found an old "acme" (also made by trenton) at 100# for I think it was ~$200 or so. Then my third anvil, a #100 Cast steel Vaughan-Brooks with a fairly clean face and nice edges for $225 or so, also a steal. I actually tried to offer the guy more telling him that he was ripping himself off. Next I got a near pristine "Phoenix" (made by trenton) at 75# for $75, definitely a super-steal. The face is pretty dinged up, and the edges fairly rounded, but it's otherwise in good shape. I bought my first "real" anvil, a 140# peter wright for $250. "fair" is going to depend on how bad you need it. Pricing is a real tough one as I truly believe that many anvils sell for ridiculous prices. What are they asking for it? #120 is pretty good mass, and if it's in good shape a couple of bucks a pound would be a steal. This one looks pretty good, but it's kinda hard to see in the pics. Got to make sure that it hasn't been through a barn/smithy fire and lost it's HT 2) is the face completely solid? No spots of delam etc. Is this a 120lb door stop or one of those decent finds? What approx value would this have if any?Ĭould it be an old "arm and hammer"? I'm not so good with the brands, but I will say that the more important things than brand specifically, are 1) rebound. Overall, it appears to be in decent shape with the steel plate not looking deformed and having some chips on the sides. Below and to the left is the word 'SOLID', to the right is a string of what appears to be letters and numbers. On the top front are the underlined words 'WARRANTED' in an arc, below that is a graphic that kind of looks like a hammer but that is a wild guess. At the base below the horn are hand stamped numbers 2355. It appears to be wrought iron with a steel plate. It is somewhat rusty and painted silver which obscures markings. I am in a barter situation in which someone wants to trade this old anvil that was found about 10yrs ago in the collapsed remains of a barn from a century farm.
![trenton anvil identification trenton anvil identification](https://www.iforgeiron.com/uploads/508/anvil.jpg)
These anvils still exist, and if you find one with just an anchor, it's likely a Southern market anvil.Hi, it's been awhile since I've posted so if I load the pics in violation of the size constraints please advise and I will try better the next time. The Southern people were reluctant to buy Fisher anvils post Civil War because of the Eagle symbol, so the company removed it for anvils being shipped South. This made it very difficult for Smith's to make horse shoes and general repairs for the southern army. The Federal Calvary, when raiding towns in the South, would make a point to finding the Blacksmith shop and destory their anvil whenever possible. United States Southerners did not like the eagle as a symbol because it represented the Federal Government, which the South held in contempt. There were continued eagleless anvils but there's an interesting reason for this, at least after the Civil War. By the end of the Civil War, they had the Eagle holding an anchor as their solidified symbol. The government bought mostly Fisher & Norris anvils and they came to be known as "Old Reliable." I think this is the case, because pictures of anvils pre-Civil War may or may not have had the Eagle, but more commonly an anchor. This is my personal conjecture, but I think the name they aquired by the government may have contributed to the Fisher & Norris symbol we are familiar with today.