[TheForge] 700 lb Hay Budden

[Andy Vida]

Ries Niemi wrote:
> 
> 10 grand?
> The text said the big anvil was not swaybacked, but the photo showed
> otherwise.

	I immediately noticed the droop of the tail.

> It was not a particularly nicely proportioned anvil,

	You said it.  Definitely a HB, by all means, and though they
	are my favorite anvils, they are among the least pleasing to
	my eye.  I had a 138# HB that I rebuilt to better-than-new
	condition... sold it for $400 to some guy from Trenton.  I
	regret having sold it.  A lot.  I still have a 200#er whose
	tail is broken off.  It's a real fine anvil and the part of
	the tail that remains (one side of the hardy hole) has served
	well as an area for smaller work.  I traded it for a pristine
	150# Fisher.  I think we both did well. :)

> and I
> just cant see how it was worth anything near that price. I have seen
> bigger, and better looking anvils. They arent common, but they are out
> there, and for that price you could pay for a trip to europe to find
> one.

	Or two... or three... or...

> I wouldnt be surprised if
> peddinghaus 

	Did Peddinghaus ever make forged anvils that large?  I'm not
	sure they would make one that large for a whole lot less than
	the HB went for.  The setup time is $$.  Imagine the size of
	the dies to bang out a single piece 700# anvil.  I'd love to
	watch that procedure in the works

> So if you wanted an anvil to work with, you have other choices.
> That particular anvil didnt even have a "provenance" as they say in the
> auction biz- that is to say, its past was not well documented, nor very
> interesting. It wasnt like it belonged to elvis or anything.

	Elvis' anvil is over here in my living room.  Elvis drops in
	now and then to visit.  We watched "Viva Los Vegas" just the
	other night.  He fell asleep on the couch.

> So if you were a knowledgeable collector, it wouldnt seem that
> desirable. Unless there is someone who MUST collect every Hay Budden or
> some silly Beany Baby collector mindset like that.

	There's a guy in Monmouth county that has something like 1000
	or more anvils.  He buys every anvil he lays eyes on (he's loaded).
	Bruce Freeman might know something about this guy.  Our mutual 
	friend Bill Ker	knows him.  Bill told me he buys them, places them
	into a warehouse, and basically forgets about them.  Sad.

> I would be interested to hear from the purchaser why they thought it
> was worth that much.

	Well, drop him an email.  Perhaps s/he'll tell you why.