[TheForge] anvil prices

Wed Jan 23 13:44:31 2002

There are almost as many opinions about
anvil pricing as there are about anvil
orientation and height. Pricing as
someone stated earlier is a matter of 1.
What area you are in. Which determines
both availability and competition for
the anvil. 2. Connections / what
networking you have done. and 3. Plain
dumb luck. (which negates numbers 1&2.

$3.00 may be reasonable or not. The more
important question is can you READILY
afford it? Even if you pick up a good
anvil for $1.00 a pound, soon thereafter
you will run across a widow lady with
one free for the lifting , if you will
get it out of the garage. She'll
probably throw in a bunch of "useless
tools" and offer you coffee and cake
too.

The fates have decreed that, with the
exception of those especially blest, the
location of the "widow finds" are hidden
from those who do not own at least one
anvil. The chances of finding one
appears to go up in direct proportion to
how much you spend on your seed anvil.

My advice, do not worry too much about
getting raped, or about finding the
absolute best deal.  Put some thought
into condition. For starters soundness
and in decent shape are good enough. If
you want perfection then buy new. 

Most smiths I have met are not crooks,
pricey perhaps, but not crooks.
The "Antique" market is probably the
only one I would stay away from.
competing with folks who are willing to
spend $5 or more per pound for a lawn
ornament does not seem wise.

Just do not spend so much that you and
yours need to go without, or SWMBO
objects. Then get to work. Unless of
course collecting the tools and getting
them all in one place, for the next
generation of smiths is your goal.

Mike Graf

Aaron Silver wrote:
> 
> My advice to you would be that unless there is something special about that
> anvil or if you didn't have a work surface already, I'd wait. I wound up
> lucking into 2 anvils on the same day for less than $1 per pound. The
> second one is in much rougher shape, however it still has a workable main
> surface. (Just forget about working on the tail)
> 
> I believe others have mentioned auctions, and the classifieds listing "barn
> sale" or such is a wonderful way to go. That's how I found my primary anvil.
> 
> Aaron Silver
> 
> At 08:32 AM 1/23/2002 -0700, you wrote:
> 
> >Woolley wrote:
> >
> > > > Might be.  Where are you located and how good is the condition?
> > >
> > > Greetings,
> > >
> > > New Jersey.  The seller says it is in good shape, is 100 lb but is not
> > > completely sure.  I haven't seen it yet.  Seller is about 75 minute ride
> > > from me.  I have a Hay Budden that is approx. 100 lb but needs to be
> > > resurfaced.  Time is tight, that is why I asked for some advise from the
> > > group before I took a ride up there.  I asked him if the price was
> > > negotiable and he didn't seem too excited about taking less money.  My
> > > guess is $250 could probably buy it.  Thanks to all for the help.
> >
> >To be honest, if it is in superb condition, I'd pay that money.  I
> >know many smiths that would not.
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