Identification of a new-to-me 350# Anvil

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Saturday I finally found an anvil which           suited me! It is in fantastic condition! I can't figure out           how to identify it.  There are no maker's marks or weight markings on it.  Have seen one very similar in a you tube video and have contacted the author to see what he knows.I lifted it with my tractor           and nothing on the bottom either.  The hasty base it is on is made of 6x6 treated wood held together with 12 threaded rods.  Base is 16x16x16"          It came from a 78 year old fellow nearby who inherited it from his dad           and he thinks it was first on his grand dad's farm here in VA.           The anvil weighs approx 350 lbs.  The  steel       surface plate extends over the horn as can be seen by the       horizontal line in one of the pics.  I hope identification is       possible. Approx weight 350, length 29", Height 11 1/2",  working top       width 5 1/2", top length 17 1/2", hardie hole 1.25x1.25".  Thanks for any help you might be able to give.  I'll try to post to Anvilfire as well. JerryLast edited by storeman; 01-12-2016 at 03:15 PM.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Nice score Jerry! Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:More picsAttachment 1320101Attachment 1320111Attachment 1320121Attachment 1320131Attachment 1320141Last edited by storeman; 01-12-2016 at 03:16 PM.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Nice score Jerry!
Reply:Naaah. You didn't do too bad on it. It's clean and big. The bigger they get, the more the price per/lb.I think I paid $350 for my 150 lb Hay Budden, and it's not perfect by a long shot. I know I wouldn't have a problem getting more and more than that out of it if I wanted to sell it tho.That's a nice piece Jerry.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:I think you did really well. Those heavy 300 pounders are really rare by me. I haven't seen one for less then $1,000.00. And they sell. I think you could resell with no problem and make some bucks.
Reply:Thanks Bob.  And Steve.  I tried posting to Anvilfire but all you can do is ask Guru questions and can't post pictures.  There is an active blacksmithing big site but I can't remember it's name.  Can you guys?Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:www.iforgeiron.comDSW can prolly help you out with that better than I could tho.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Thanks Steve.  I'll check it out.  Believe I book marked that site a year or two ago but have lost it.   From the shape I suspect it is possibly a Fisher-Norris Eagle Anvil   They made some with what appeared to be medallions identifying them.  The medallion may have been attached at the rough casting spot that shows.  Also the reinforcement ribs on either side beneath the Hardie hole is similar to the shape of mine and the size of the Hardie hole matches with what I have been able to find for a 350# model.http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/an...ardy_holes.php   30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:That's a Hebby anvil.  Probably their Backbuster model. I have an old anvil that is about 150 pounds and it has about 1/2" or more sag in the middle.  My brother got it for $35.  I think it's a special model for farriers who shoe swayback horses."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumThat's a Hebby anvil.  Probably their Backbuster model. I have an old anvil that is about 150 pounds and it has about 1/2" or more sag in the middle.  My brother got it for $35.  I think it's a special model for farriers who shoe swayback horses.
Reply:A Fisher anvil would have been my 1st thought looking at the side emblem. I can't see the 2nd set of picts, so I can't see if I can find any of the other easily identifiable Fisher traits.IforgeIron.com would also be my suggestion as to where to post for more info on that anvil. NJanvilman there is THE expert on Fisher Norris anvils. If anyone can identify it as a Fisher, Josh can. I need to get with him at some point on my bigger anvil. I think the price is quite good, especially in that condition. I'd have jumped all over it at that price even though I'm tight on cash at the moment..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Jerry,One of my blacksmith "clients" when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand had about a 12 pound sledgehammer head as an anvil. It was sunk into a huge hardwood log that probably weighed  5,000 pounds, but it worked for him. Here's a picture of a similar forge and "bellows" setup, circa 1964. This guy had a smaller log and an anvil that looked like a foot-long pin from an excavator bucket.  Whatever works."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Dick,I've never been to Thailand but spent a fair amount of time in Vietnamese villages in 65 and 66 as an adviser.  Couldn't agree with you more.  The village smithy where I lived for a bit could fix just about anything and the tools he used were identical.  Life was simpler then.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:may be a arm and hammer
Reply:I'm pretty sure I can just make out the Eagle and Anchor symbol on the side of that anvil that says "Fisher" the more I look at it. I tried to sketch out what I can see of the Eagle and anchor on the original pict. If the OP takes a piece of chalk to the surface the image may show up better on his anvil..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks guys.  I'll try the chalk.  Weight may be 300 instead of 350.  I don't have a way to weigh it.  Fisher 350s supposedly had 1 3/8" square Hardy holes.  This one is 1 1/4 inch Hardy.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Bathroom scale..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:DSW, I think you nailed it. Incredible.Jerry, my wife is of Vietnamese background. I need to visit her older sister in Vietnam some day. They got re-acquainted about 10 years ago after 30 years of separation.  Sad stuff.  But her sister is as smart as my wife, picked up the Thai language pretty well from some study and a brief visit to Thailand. One time she called up on Skype.  She and I communicated with our limited knowledge of the Thai language. It wasn't too bad, except she's a talker, LOL.PM on the way."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Jerry, to weigh that, you could get a board and position fulcrum points such that a bathroom scale would work.  Just do the math on the lever arm distance.  Easy-peasy.  Works for trailer tongue weight as well."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Probably is a Fisher. And that would also account for "not too loud of a ring."You really scored well. That would easily fetch much higher prices IMO. Especially if it's a Fisher.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWBathroom scale.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumJerry, to weigh that, you could get a board and position fulcrum points such that a bathroom scale would work.  Just do the math on the lever arm distance.  Easy-peasy.  Works for trailer tongue weight as well.
Reply:When all else fails, check with a local farm or feed store if they have a scale you can use. Many have those old sliding weight scales used to weigh out feed. A 2nd idea is to see if the local fish and wildlife folk have a scale. Many times states require some animals to be checked and weighed in after being shot. They are often set up so you simply have to back the truck under the scale and they can hoist the animal and weigh it.I little token of appreciation can go a long ways. Forge up a few bottle openers and you might be amazed how willing people are to help with things like this..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWWhen all else fails, check with a local farm or feed store if they have a scale you can use. Many have those old sliding weight scales used to weigh out feed. A 2nd idea is to see if the local fish and wildlife folk have a scale. Many times states require some animals to be checked and weighed in after being shot. They are often set up so you simply have to back the truck under the scale and they can hoist the animal and weigh it.I little token of appreciation can go a long ways. Forge up a few bottle openers and you might be amazed how willing people are to help with things like this.One of these days I have to get over to his museum in Jersey. Every time I've tried, I've either had work interfere,  or he's been away out of town.  I've met him on several occasions. He's a member of the blacksmithing club I belong to, and I saw him with a few of his anvils in Delaware at the ABANA conference last year. I'm pretty sure he beat me at an auction not far from my place bidding on a large 300-350 lb Fisher anvil just after I got back into smithing.Anvils seem attracted to each other. It seems once you find one, they start popping up all over the place. You are in a great area of the country to find then and other smithing related items..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAnvils seem attracted to each other. It seems once you find one, they start popping up all over the place. You are in a great area of the country to find then and other smithing related items.
Reply:Yesterday I got a Peter Wright 214 lbs anvil in pretty decent shape for $400..  Snowed on it today after I painted it with OSPHO.  Will rinse and take pictures tomorrow.  Happy boy!Jerry  30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press