I’d looked at & looked over this anvil for two years at a shop owned by some friends of ours & managed by an Amish father and son.
All I knew was that it was an old style and it had an odd sized hardy hole compared to the modern anvils so as a working anvil I wasn’t interested.
I bought a 160lbs Arm & Hammer from this shop previously and have posted pics here.
I’d recently bought what is considered to be the reference book on Anvils in America.
Guess it’s no surprise that it’s called “Anvils in America written by Richard Postman.
I got a signed edition and he’s still alive & living in Michigan.
In it I discovered that the old anvil I’d dismissed for the past two years was actually a nice little piece of history.
I went back, took high definition pics and did my research then made an offer.
It took a few day for the Amish guy who owned the anvil to come in and hear my offer & the shop to get back to me that he’d accepted.

So today I brought the ”old man” home and cleaned it up.
This is a 145lbs Alsop anvil made in Sheffield, England circa 1790.
(Info from the blacksmiths reference book, Anvils in America is in the pic below).
I have absolutely no need for this anvil and could have gotten a nice Peter Wright or Hay Budden from Yoders Blacksmith Supplies instead for the same price.
But since I don’t need another anvil it freed me up to buy a piece of history.
To think of all the work this thing has done and what was occurring throughout its 229 years is really interesting to me.
My working anvil is a young pup at 101yrs old compared to this “old man”.

George Washington was president, Rhode Island, the last state to ratify the constitution did so at this time.
The French Revolution was occurring at this time as well.... and a little piece from that era now resides in my shop.
Call me weird but I think that’s kinda neat and thought I’d share !

That's a great piece of history you have there.

The anvil I owned (and sold) in the 1990s had that same patina, maybe darker. And the top was more heavily dished. I assumed it was an 1880s anvil. Would a busy shop put that much wear on an anvil in 40 years?

Wow, great piece of history!

I decided to alter my will and leave my Anvils to my county’s historical museum as I don’t have kids and the Arm & Hammer anvil was made in Columbus Ohio.
At least someone won’t unknowingly abuse the Alsop.

Nice. Thank you for posting this, and donating it to the museum where others will appreciate it as well.

Nice anvil Grumpy -

I buy items for historic value as well. As far as anvils, I have only one, a Budden I believe. Something north of 100 lbs. Don’t do much forging, but it is handy once in a while for banging something flat. Do a lot with my hands so having tools is important to me.

Friend of mine is a Blacksmith. We built a power drop hammer for his shop. It has a 35# hammer, 5’ swing and is motorized with a cam and gearbox. Some serious power when that hammer drops 12-18”.

Like your other anvil as well. Beautiful piece.

That's really neat. Any history on how it got to America?

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing a great piece of history... It looks good for 229 years old!

WOW!!!!

If only that Anvil could talk.

Thanks for sharing that amazing piece of history.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Cool. A decent anvil is something I've wanted for decades, even though I don't do actual blacksmithing. We used them a lot setting rivets and snaps in the leather shop I worked in when I was young. I'd just like to have one around when I need to pound on something really solid.

EDIT: Those were two thoughts combined in one post; I didn't mean just pounding away on your wonderful piece of history!

That is a nice piece of history. Just think of all the smiths who have used it, and what has been made on that baby for 200 years. That is really very cool.

Your anvil shares a birthday with The United States Coast Guard, which was created by Congress on 4 August 1790 at the request of Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue-Marine, it is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the United States.

Very historic and cool.

That is very cool. I can only imagine what that anvil has seen and made.

Beyond cool. Sip a dram with appreciation and respect of ownership. My Mennonite ancestors are buried in Mahoning Co, Ohio, pre-Civil War. You have a wonderful piece of history.

That is really gorgeous. Will you consider using it to make some special items or is it only a collector piece?
It would be nice to think it will still create useful and beautiful things, occasionally.

Bruce

So you'll let us know when you schedule the anvil shoot, right?

Kidding aside, great story and thanks for preserving a unique piece of history. Wish it could talk.

That is so cool. Just imagine the stories that it could tell.

Nice find. That anvil has seen a lot of use over the years. I have an old Peter Wright anvil that is pretty worn as well. I am letting one of my sister's nephews (on her husband's side) use it right now. I am in the market for a new one.