New to me Anvil

[Tyler2045]

So I went home for a funeral here just last week. And I decided to stop in and talk to one of my uncles, we got to talking and I had seen the anvils in His shop and asked him about them. Well before i left he grabs his dolly and puts about a 75 to 100 pound anvil on it. I asked him why we were putting the anvil on the dolly and he says " This was your great grandpas and I want you to have it and put it to work." I thank him and give him a hug and head home. Got home and wanted to see how it sounded don't know why I just had to drop a hammer on it. I did not put any force into my blow. But I basically dropped a 2 pound sledge on to its face and it bounced off probably 2 to 4 inches (not good at judging such short distances) But I am happy now I just have to get a forge.

[Steve Nuckels]

How cool is that!!  What kind of anvil is it?  Company name?

Steve
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Potomac Forge
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IN GOD WE TRUST

[Wampus]

That's awesome to have a functional family heirloom that you can enjoy and get some use out of.  Nice score!

[Tyler2045]

Not sure the writing is really worn, I have to got some paper and pencil it when I get back home.

[Tyler2045]

I do know it is only about 25 to 30 years old my grandma bought it for him. They say he used it up until the day he died, which was about 3 months before I was born.

[prarieboy]

That B a true treasure!

[Tyler2045]

So the lettering i can for sure see on the side is as such

line 1 M  H
line 2 A M TAGE  could be armitage
line 3 MOUSE
line 4 HOLE
line 5 0   7     could be 027

have not done any research yet

[Tyler2045]

So it looks like this thing is M & H Armitage Mouse Hole Anvil. still not sure on weight but glad to have some background on it.

[Wampus]

027 in the hundredweight system would only be 63 lbs.  Think it could be 037?  That would be 91 lbs.

http://www.anvilfire.com/article.php?bodyName=/FAQs/anvil-6.htm&titleName=anvilfire.com%20Blacksmithing%20FAQs%20Anvils

[Tyler2045]

there are large spaces in between the numbers that i cant read or find numbers in and i am guessing on the 2 but i know it is more than 63 ponds

[Wampus]

Armitage Mouse Hole anvils went out of business sometime before 1850 so I'd say it's a good bit older than 25-30 years.

[Tyler2045]

ok well that is when my grandma bought it for Her dad about 25 to 30 years ago.

[Tyler2045]

i have decided i can not see the first number i think it is    ?-0-?7

[Wampus]

The following is a rough guide to Mouse Hole anvil age from Jim Wallace at the National Ornamental Metal Museum.

If the anvil does not have a step, has an even smaller horn than the small one on other Mouse Hole anvils, and is attached directly under the end of the face; then the anvil would have been made in the 1725-1775 time frame. It may or may not have a steel face.


If it has a step, and is made by Armatage, marked as an Armatage Mouse Hole, then the face is hard steel.


If there is no pritchell hole, it was made before about 1790-1795.


If it has a PUNCHED pritchell hole, it is in the 1795- 1850 manufacture range. Some of the older Mouse Hole anvils had pritchell holes drilled in them, to bring them up to a more "modern" configuration. The punched hardy and pritchell holes leave a slight bulge on the bottom, as they seem to have been through punched from the top, with no counter punching from below.


Some of the Mouse Holes had no horn. This indicates it is older, from the early 1725 period, but is not conclusive.

[Tyler2045]

It has a pritchell hole and a hardy hole but I can not tell if punched or not

[Steve Nuckels]

Wow, very cool info Wampus!  

Tyler, sounds like you made out like a fat rat with that anvil, and it has a close recent history, your Uncle and Grandpa!  

Now find a good ole coal forge and have some fun!

Steve
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Potomac Forge
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IN GOD WE TRUST

[Tyler2045]

I am trying to get the stuff to build myself a forge but I am also trying to get a propane forge here soon.