Wright anvil

[couv]

Finally put a wire brush to the old anvil. Discovered it is a Wright (Peter ?). If I've figured the english system out properly, it weighs about 148 pounds.

Does anyone know the purpose of the rectangular hole thru-and-thru the BASE ?

Buffalo Forge #700 blower is complete & working. Tuyere has no manufacturer's mark, but it could also be a Buffalo.

It sits on the original stump my wife's grandfather worked on, and is still stable. I have 2 original hammers, but no tongs or other tools.

 

[Bob in KS]

Not sure the exact reason but I've used holes through and anvil like that to bend long stock. It's just another way to hold the metal as you work it. Might not have been the intent but it works well.

 

[Randy SE-MN]

I have my great Grandfathers Mousehole Forge (M&H Armitage) Anvil, dated about 1830...It is about 148 lbs too. It has the same square hole through it as well. I've read a book or two on anvils and I have never seen that hole mentioned anywhere. I'm real curious too.

 

[Brian G. NY]

Most all the old anvils I've ever seen (including my Dad's that I now have) are mounted
on a piece of tree trunk like the one in the picture using bent over spikes.
Was that the original plan? The bases all seem to be built the same way.
Seems like those old "cut" spikes wouldn't have bent over quite as nicely as these new- fangled "wire" ones.

 

[Anonymous-0]

THEY HAD TOOLS OF DIFFERANT SHAPES TO FIT THE HOLES FOR DIFFERANT WORK. TOOLS BRING GOOD MONEY AT AMISH COUNTRY SALES. RENE'

 

[Anonymous-0]

I too have a Peter Wright . The square hole is called the "Hardie " hole.and is used to hold tools. Typically like a cold chisle facing up , and a 1"sq shank that fits in the hole.You hold the steel to be cut on the hardie tool and hit it with a hammer to cut it . The round hole is called the"pritchel" hole , and is used to punch holes or punch out rivets. Sometimes there are multiple size holes for different purposes.

 

[GeneMO]

Set it on the concrete, put a handfull of black powder under it and see how high you can shoot it!

Gene

 

[Howard H.]

But he asked about the square hole in the base, not the top...

I also wondered what it was for...


HH

 

[bc]

Nice setup. Wish I had it or one like it. Good luck adjusting the anvil to the right height for hammering iron all day.

 

[Nolan (foxtrapper)]

Here's a link to some anvil accessories or tools that fit into that square hole.

Not sure about the lower square hole.
Anvil accessories

 

[Anonymous-0]

If I knew what that one was for , I would have mentioned it, lol

 

[Kansas 4010]

I have my dads anvil he bought from the railroad. It is mounted on a special iron wheel cart they used to pull it along with a horse. I haven't noticed any writing on it but I have never seen another one like it. Still gets used almost every day.

 

[CWH]

The square hole in the base or through the waist of a Peter Wright or any other wrought iron anvil is a maniplution hole which was used when forging the anvil. All early English anvils were made from wrought iron, ezcept the face which forge welded on. The anvil as shown is a very early Peter Wright. One make of American anvil (which I'm in possession of) is a "Arm and Hammer" wrought iron anvil. Mine is a 200 pounder in nearly showroon condition (I have it insured for $2,000 and it is worth every penny). English anvils (Peter Wright, Mouse Hole, etc.) are good anvils but when they get some age on them have problems with the faces becoming sway-backed or seperating from the anvil body. There is an excellent reference book ("Anvils In America" which covers just about every anvil either manufactured or imported into the United States. I have a copy and when I dig it out I'll be glad to answer just about and question(s) you all may have. Email me <[email protected]> or give me a call (919.542.6286 after 6PM Eastern time). Hope to hear from some of you.------Charles Hinton

 

[Cliff(VA)]

As someone below stated the square hole in the base is used in the manufacturing process. Can you imagine heating the top of that anvil to a white hot heat and then moving it to forge weld on the steel top? That must have been some operation. Then you still had to harden and temper the face.

Peter Wrights are considered "good" anvils. As long as it is not dished or the edges too chipped you have yourself a gem. Enjoy it.

Cliff (VA)