old anvil

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jun 15, 2018

I have an anvil that my Dad had. I do not know if he bought it at a farm sale, or it belonged to a family member. My grandfather was a machinist, and my great grandfather was a wheel wright, who with his brother built wagons for the California gold rush. I do have some of my great grandfathers small tools, including an odd drill press. It has no gears, the shaft is turned with a crank, and the the shaft is lowered by a hand wheel. I was told it was intended to be mounted on a stump horizontally. I am curious if anyone may know anything about the two of them.

teddy52food · Jun 15, 2018

I have a drill like that. It belonged to my grandpa. No bits for it though.

47fivewindow · Jun 16, 2018

You are aware that is a very desirable anvil? Don't ever part with it without letting your old
tractor pals know.

Deere Mark · Jun 16, 2018

Peter Wright anvils are very collectable . Made in England. The numbers "113" probably give the weight using an old system (1* 112 plus 1 * 28 plus 3 = 112 + 28 + 3 = 143 pounds). Note imperial hundred weight = 112 pounds, and 1/4 of a hundred weight = 28 pounds.
Made from about 1830 until WWII. The older ones made with steel faces forge welded onto wrought iron bodies.

dr sportster · Jun 16, 2018

Peter Wright is the one I picked up at a sale and foolishly sold too cheap. It had a stone weight on it. The hardy tool you have is worth money too. The side of your anvil has taken some abuse.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jun 16, 2018

Thanks everyone, I thought it was made in England but not sure.That gives me a time frame.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jun 16, 2018

None of my family is interested in it, and when I am no longer able to care for the place it along with everything else will probably be sold at auction. Which will be about 70 miles south of St. Louis. I figure I still have a few years to go yet though. How many is up to a higher power.

Kansas4010 · Jun 16, 2018

Anyone have any ideas on this one? My dad
used to say he bought it from the railroad.
They hooked up a horse to the cart and
pulled it around. Been sitting there since
before I was born.

shaun wallace · Jun 16, 2018

If anyone is into anvils there is a collection of them at Ag Hall of Fame at Bonner Springs Ks. There is about 300 of them.

Larry EC-OH · Jun 16, 2018

Look for a name or markings on the side.
How long and high is it, so I have an idea of how big it is.

Kansas4010 · Jun 16, 2018

There are some markings but mostly unreadable. The anvil is 28 inches long, 12 1/2 inches tall, 5 inches wide at the top, and 11 1/2 inches at the base. On the cart it stands at 28 inches tall. The only markings I can make out apear to be 2 I I 5. That's about it. I've never seen another one like it. Not a whole lot to go on.

Kansas4010 · Jun 16, 2018

Maybe this will help give you an idea of how big it is.

Larry EC-OH · Jun 16, 2018

Thanks, that helps. It looks like an English made anvil and probably a Peter Wright like John's
Not knowing for sure, but fairly certain it's about a 250# anvil. Generally, the bigger they are the more they are worth.
Your's has some condition issues, but the thing that your anvil has going for it is the base.
My gut feeling is that it may well be worth as much as the anvil to a collector.

It would be a shame to see these things end up at the scrapper.

Larry

Kansas4010 · Jun 16, 2018

Oh heck no, I'm not getting rid of it. I use it to much. No scrapper stands a chance of getting it.

T.R.K. · Jun 16, 2018

I have a drill press like yours but mine does not have anything to 'press' against with it. I bet if I look, there is at least one bit
around here that would fit it. I got it at an auction about 20 years ago.

I also have a smilar drill press made with an arm to fasten to a workbench so it can drill into a plate vertically. Sorry, I can't post a
picture.

ivan in michigan · Jun 16, 2018

I have my grandfathers anvil and I also have a giant pair of tin snips or at least that is what I use them for that goes into that square hole.

Ultradog MN · Jun 17, 2018

I needed an end table...

K Effective · Jun 22, 2018

One of my coworkers is into blacksmithing, and collects anvils. He told me of a nearby farmer, who has quit farming and only buys/sells/restores old anvils. Hard to believe there could be much margin with shipping, but some are incredibly valued.

buickanddeere · Jun 23, 2018

We have a hardback book “Anvils in America “ . Chock full of info when anvil questions arise .

87nassaublue · Jun 25, 2018

The 2115 indicates the weight in "stones". I can't remember how that translates to pounds, but if you google it a bit, I'm sure you can figure it out. I believe it's 253 lbs or more. That one appears to be a wrought iron anvil and I'd estimate it was from the mid to late 1800's. It looks to be in excellent condition, especially for it's age. I really like the pull cart it's mounted to.

87nassaublue · Jun 25, 2018

the side marks are common on old anvils. That's how they used to test the temper of cutting tools, picks, axes etc. It doesn't hurt the anvil a bit.

old anvil

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