anvilfire.com Anvil Gallery

Photos provided by Greg Bunch, digitally processed by Jock Dempsey

The original mini-anvils were Salesman's samples given away to hardware store owners, anvil distributors and perhaps a few blacksmiths. Originally highly finished white metal (probably zinc) casting, copper plated and patinated. A quality touch is that this anvil is stamped with the Hay-Budden logo on both sides.

John Catchings, author of Anvil Manufacturer's Advertising Anvils says he had found 3 varieties of H-B anvils.

#1 - base metal body with no coating.
#2 - base metal body with a chrome (it's heavier than nickel) coating.
#3 - brass/bronze body with a nickel coating.

And this ones is a fourth type, a brass/bronze type of coating over the base metal body.

Length 3.5" (89mm)
Height 1.5" (38mm)

Many Salesman's samples get used like they were jeweler's anvils. They are not. Most are non-ferrous and those that are iron are soft. It only takes a few taps like this one shows to learn the difference. Jeweler's and bench anvils are hardened steel.

Note the Hardy and pritichel hole. While the hardy holes can be cast the small pritichel holes are usually drilled. This is an extra operation adding to the cost of production. This anvil also has the square handling holes at the waist under horn and heal.