Pritchel holes took off about 1820, but.many older anvils were retrofitted with pritchels by blacksmiths. Wanna say 1800-ish, but I don't remember, before pritchel holes anyways. And then sometimes you just end up guessing.Ĭutting steps became popular early 19th century. Broken heels/horns are common to Fosters. Shaped depressions on the bottom, the faint outline of logos on a cast anvil (fishers especially). Hundredweight markings are a dead giveaway. Stepped feet? Probably Peter Wright, Sharp angle on the corners and a squarish feel, often an english wrought iron brand. A general shape is a good guideline, like the skinny waists on trentons and hay buddens. You learn to look at the overall general dimensions. Say Peter Wright, Mousehole, Foster, Brooks, Hay Budden, Trenton, Southern Crescent, Vulcan, Fisher, Kohlsa, Columbians. Multiply each, then add all together for the total. 3rd number identifies actual remaining pounds. 2nd number identifies the quarter hundredweight (28 pounds). 1st number identifies how many hundredweight (112 pounds). There's not an overwhelming number of the common brands in America, maybe a dozen or so, although even they varied in make. English anvils (like Peter Wright) used the hundredweight system to identify weight. There are literally hundreds of makers out there, but some are much more common. It's like looking at old cars. I don't know every antique out there, but I know a Pontiac's split grill when I see one, you just build up familiarity by reading up and looking at a bunch of them.
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