Current curiosity

[Frank Beck Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Beck]

I'm a craigslist cruiser and not ashamed. My favorite category these days is tools. Over the last couple of years I've noticed anvils creeping up in price. Survey the ad below and tell me what's wrong with this picture?

Haybudden Blacksmith Anvil 203# - tools - by owner - sale (craigslist.org)

The old guys I know who actually know how to use an anvil would never, ever spend more than $300-400 on one. Maybe, just maybe more if it had history like someone famous died while using it or the first connecting rod was shaped on it.

Is it cool for nouveau gearheads/fabricators/wannabes/steampunk geeks to use an anvil for decor? What am I missing?

[bob joyce 2.4L Find all posts View Profile Close bob joyce]

maybe it is the popularity of the history channel? "forged in fire show"
just a guess...

[JP aka LiveFromNY Find all posts View Profile Close JP]

Sadly, I have to admit to being one of those guys who buys vintage tools as art as opposed to having any use for them. Drives my wife insane but I like having them around.

[Gold71 2.2L Find all posts View Profile Close Gold71]

Guys
we do need some photos !

[jaudette3 Really? Find all posts View Profile Close jaudette3]

Stuff is stuff...

[9er 2.0L Find all posts View Profile Close 9er]

Anvils are crazy prices on markets here in Australia also, I can't offer any insight.

[flatsixer aka rstarga Find all posts View Profile Close flatsixer]

Probably no one making them anymore+shipping costs+raw material costs

[soterik HTH....! Find all posts View Profile Close soterik]

Every seen what a red handled Klein screwdriver goes for?

[Frank Beck Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Beck]

Ever seen what a red handled Klein screwdriver goes for?

Eric, at least a tool kit enhances the overall value of the car so I actually embrace that!

Probably no one making them anymore+shipping costs+raw material costs

That's a reasonable explanation David, but it still takes a disruption in the anvil market (can't believe I even said that ) from "new" buyers to actually increase prices. Again, every single pro fabricator I know would never, ever pay this kind of dough for an anvil so it sounds like boutique buyers who are not actually using them for their utility are driving increases. It never occurred to me to have an interior decorator assist with selling my old tools! lol


Update: I did some anvil hunting across the U.S. and realized my numbers are skewed. Just like homes, values are over-inflated out west. Midwest and NE anvil prices are much more realistic... but still pricy. What also occurred to me was that old timers will never need to buy an anvil so it doesn't really matter what they would pay!

My final analysis is that increased prices are caused by popularity in blacksmithing (Oops. Don't watch the History Channel) and new people getting into the art of hammer sculpting.

[jaudette3 Really? Find all posts View Profile Close jaudette3]

New opportunity: Geographic anvil arbitrage. Sounds better than the ads I see encouraging retired seniors to supplement their income with options trading.

Cheers,
John

[uai 2.0L Find all posts View Profile Close uai]

Mine's from 1908 and solely for work - not a design object - but it's a pretty small one only weighing 20 kgs