Subject: Re: strange anvil, what is it

From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 11:13:02 -0500

>>   I have one of these also. This one has a face that is 6" x 10". It is 8"
>>high and tapers down to a base that is 7" x 12", and weighs 140lbs. ...
>>   According to a reprinted advertisement for Fisher & Norris in the back
>>of Jess Hawleys' book, The Blacksmith and His Art, the face is "one piece
>>crucible tool steel." The body is "solid piece gun iron alloy."
>>   It does not ring but has a decent rebound.
>
>I'm curious to know how you would rate the hardness of the face.
>I'd also like to know exactly what the sawyers used these for...
>
>-Phil Plumbo

Phil, As to why sawmakers anvils are shaped this way I have no clue. The
face is harder than the Trenton anvil that I use most of the time. The
Fisher is more or less in new condition, no chips or dings. Fisher & Norris
were made in Trenton NJ. I wonder if they became Trenton Anvil or if
Trenton was just an anvil making town? It would be interesting to know how
hard it would be to reproduce this process of anvil making today.
Bob

---

From: [email-masked] (Frost, Jerry)
Date: Sat, 04 May 1996 23:08:21 -0800

> hard it would be to reproduce this process of anvil making today.

My guess as to why sawyers anvils are shaped the way they are is that 
saw blades need to be flat and strait. I imagine most of the hammer work 
done on blades would be straitening, welding and planishing. The kerf is 
set with special tools and sharpening is done in a sawyers vise. 

I met a man a year ago that would've been the perfect person to ask, 
unfortunately he passed away last spring from stubbornness, had 
pneumonia but refused to see a doctor. He was a sawmaker and had the 
most extensive collection of sawyers tools I've ever seen, including 
about a dozen sawyers anvils and the coolest little bench mounted 3.5lb 
 powerhammer. He had it running off an electric motor, we never got the 
chance to fire it up, when I met him I only had a couple hours. I was 
very sorry when I stopped by my uncle's place last december and found 
out he was gone. His wife selling me all his non-sawyers blacksmithing 
tools and equipment was small consolation.

I only knew him for a couple hours but feel a great loss at his passing 
and more than a touch of anger that it was for such a poor reason. 
Regardless of why he's gone, I'll miss him, his knowledge and can do 
style. 

Jack Browning, sharpening the saws and keeping the donkeys running in 
that great forest in the sky.

Frosty
-- 
If it ain't forged
It ain't real
wrought iron is
The FROSTWORKS