george wilson
11-27-2010, 10:47 PM
These are a couple of 300# anvils I made the casting patterns for. They are in the Anderson Blacksmith shop in Col. Williamsburg. Before they had these,they used modern anvils.
The one on the stump was one I copied and enlarged from a smaller early anvil. I carved it out of soft pine,and made its surface irregular so it would look hand forged. This was in the late 70's,and there are several of them in the blacksmith's shop,in daily use since then. There is even the tell-tale gob of metal beneath the horn to simulate where it was welded on,like the original had.
They were cast in a foundry in Texas from 4140 steel,and the tops were ground,and they were hardened. No sign of wear yet.
The unfinished one was one I was working on in pine when I retired. It is an earlier model(both are 18th.C. types),which has a 5th. foot,and a rather strange,small horn. It was cast in Newport News,but they have not yet ground the top,or hardened it. They also made the hardy hole too large for some reason. It was submitted as a sample,and corrections will be made.
Very early anvils had "church windows" on their sides. The vestigial 5th. foot is a leftover from this earlier form.
Maybe Harry can chime in and elaborate on the church window anvils.
I never got one of the earlier anvils for myself,being in a smaller house at the time. The foundry closed down,and the pattern got lost after I spent about 2 weeks getting it just right for the Master blacksmith. Hopefully they will keep better track of this pattern.
I don't know if I'll try to get one of the latest anvils. I already have a nice anvil,and these are sure to cost over $1000.00 (probably way over) by the time they are done. Plus,I don't like the smallish horn. I liked the first anvil better. THEY WON'T be sold to the general public. It is a lot of trouble persuading anyone to cast and grind them,more in the nature of a favor to Williamsburg.
These have to be cast,as there is no way to get a forged anvil made anymore,with welded on face. It takes special facilities to make large forgings like these,and a waterfall to quench them. It is way beyond what a normal blacksmith's shop can handle. Cranes,large tilt hammers,great big forges,waterfall,etc. are needed.
However,once in use and a little patina,they look just like originals,unless you can get a foot away,and know what to look for.
The chain is tight,holding the anvil down to the stump so it doesn't ring. Mine is set up that way,too. Other anvils might have to be damped some other way. Ringing anvils deafen the smith over time,so,they do not want ringing.
The one on the stump was one I copied and enlarged from a smaller early anvil. I carved it out of soft pine,and made its surface irregular so it would look hand forged. This was in the late 70's,and there are several of them in the blacksmith's shop,in daily use since then. There is even the tell-tale gob of metal beneath the horn to simulate where it was welded on,like the original had.
They were cast in a foundry in Texas from 4140 steel,and the tops were ground,and they were hardened. No sign of wear yet.
The unfinished one was one I was working on in pine when I retired. It is an earlier model(both are 18th.C. types),which has a 5th. foot,and a rather strange,small horn. It was cast in Newport News,but they have not yet ground the top,or hardened it. They also made the hardy hole too large for some reason. It was submitted as a sample,and corrections will be made.
Very early anvils had "church windows" on their sides. The vestigial 5th. foot is a leftover from this earlier form.
Maybe Harry can chime in and elaborate on the church window anvils.
I never got one of the earlier anvils for myself,being in a smaller house at the time. The foundry closed down,and the pattern got lost after I spent about 2 weeks getting it just right for the Master blacksmith. Hopefully they will keep better track of this pattern.
I don't know if I'll try to get one of the latest anvils. I already have a nice anvil,and these are sure to cost over $1000.00 (probably way over) by the time they are done. Plus,I don't like the smallish horn. I liked the first anvil better. THEY WON'T be sold to the general public. It is a lot of trouble persuading anyone to cast and grind them,more in the nature of a favor to Williamsburg.
These have to be cast,as there is no way to get a forged anvil made anymore,with welded on face. It takes special facilities to make large forgings like these,and a waterfall to quench them. It is way beyond what a normal blacksmith's shop can handle. Cranes,large tilt hammers,great big forges,waterfall,etc. are needed.
However,once in use and a little patina,they look just like originals,unless you can get a foot away,and know what to look for.
The chain is tight,holding the anvil down to the stump so it doesn't ring. Mine is set up that way,too. Other anvils might have to be damped some other way. Ringing anvils deafen the smith over time,so,they do not want ringing.