[TheForge] Old tools

[Bob Ehrenberger]

I have never seen a $20 anvil, but I came close.  I got my main anvil, a 170 
lb HB, for $75 from a friend who got it for $25 the day before.  He fell 
into a great deal and so did I. That was 13 years ago.  I sometimes see old 
beat up anvils at flea markets for under $200, but given the condition, they 
aren't really that good of a deal. If you keep your eyes open, and have some 
cash in your pocket you can still find an ocational deal, but they are 
getting fewer and fewer.  I like making tools so it doesn't bother me to 
spend time on tools, even if it ends up costing me more in time than it 
would have to just buy it.

In BAM we have some members that like to go to auctions, they frequently by 
stuff just to bring to meetings and resell. They make a little profit, and 
the members that don't have time for auctions get some tools at a reasonable 
price. Like the kick press I got this summer, a friend got it at auction 
just about for free, and I traded something for it that I just had lying 
around, that my friend needed.

It's not gouging to make a profit. If the price is too high it won't sell.

PS: I do remember when I would see anvils in the hardware store along with 
the other shop tools, it's been a while.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net