Anvil Question *LINK*

Re: Anvil Question

Todd Hughes


>One of the common jobs for the old time blacksmiths was the refacing and repointing of plows. A plow after time would become worn and would need either a new steel face welded on or if enough steel still left it could be re pointed by being drawn out and made longer. Was important that the plows face remained true and not off at angle and I am guessing that this anvil with this cut out at a certain angle made so it would be easier to do this. Obviously a rather specialised anvil, though of course it could still be used like a common anvil not sacrificing to much of the table. Not common though I have seen a couple over the years, [not sure if Hay Buddens].

As to worth that is a hard call. Hay Budden anvils are a desirable anvil and sell for a premium, and there are lots of anvil collectors out there with many having deep pockets looking for the unusual. I think if not to rough it is worth at least the same as a common but nice 200lb. anvil though perhaps a little harder to sell. I believe if I had it I would put $400 on it and see how it flys....but that is just a guess

Might be a good idea and email the guy that has the one on the blacksmith site and see what he thinks....Todd

Grand Detour, IL . . .

Steve Mackay


>I'm from Oregon, IL, a couple miles from Grand Detour the home of John Deere's origanal shop. They've got a BUNCH of the origanal tools & fixtures as well as an "archealogical" site inside. If you wanted to find out what that specific face on the anvil did might start with them. Have'nt been inside since Boy Scouts but we drove past last August and it was still in operation.

I've gotta say it, I've just gotta

Bill Houghton, avoiding work in Sebastopol, CA


>If state road agencies ever decide to establish a museum honoring their summer work restoring our roads, they HAVE to put it in Grand Detour.

You've BEEN there !

Steve Mackay

Re: Anvil Question

Dale Stansbery


>I think Todd's got it. The old plow shares were one piece and had a sweep off the back side of the point that pressed against the furrow side to firm it as the plow passed and also helped keep the plow straight in the furrow. To repoint, it looks like the plow share point could sit straddle that wedge shape. I saw dad sharpen plow shares when I was little, but they were the newer replaceable shares which were flat without the sweep, and he used a conventional anvil. There'd be very little need for that function today, as I doubt that too many 150 year old plows are getting sharpened.