Forge value?

[bobsaunders]

We saw a forge in an antique mall for sale. It has a handle you pull to run the blower. Not hand cranked. Like new.Price was $225+. Not sure how you price such an item as I never seen one for sale. If any body is getting into the hobby I can pass the location on to you. I am not connected to the mall.
Bob
P.S. I assume most weld up their own table?

[David Hughes]

An old (antique) forge is an odd creature. It has value as an antique, and value as a working tool. Most blacksmiths, including me, build their own forges. Modern construction, materials and design often are more useful than the cuteness and brittleness of the antique. Having said this, I also have an antique Champion forge. I get more useful work done using my homemade brake drum forge.

Value as a working forge=$100? $150? $225 sounds like too much. Value as an antique if in like new condition=maybe more than $100, if it is a "named" forge, is in great condition (not spray painted black to cover the wear and corrosion), cast iron vs stamped steel, or has some history (military forge, etc). I got my Champion for $100, it is available.

Anvils and post vices, on the other hand, are antique tools that are highly valued by blacksmiths. My ~150 year old Joshua Wilkinson anvil is my main anvil right now, my un-named but dated 1901 post vice is in use only because the ~150 year old Peter Wright vice wasn't finished (missing parts, since assembled) before I built the vice stand. Beware of cast iron ASOs (anvil shaped objects)

David Hughes

[Peter]

I saw one of those hand lever type forges last weekend. Asking $300. The design is interesting with a big fancy gear with inside teeth and everything worked smooth. To me it seemed like a good looking old piece of iron for the price. but I did not need it enough to buy. The big lever seemed to spin up the air supply much easier than cranking on a handle.

[Cal Blacksmith]

What you are looking at is a rivet forge. Used in construction at the turn of the century before welding came into use. A smith would heat up rivets and throw them to a catcher who used a sheet metal cone to catch the rivet in. The rivet would then be placed in the work and headed.

As a working forge, the price is too high, they are common and are of limited use to anyone but a beginner. As a flower holder, it would be of higher value to a lady who wants to place it in her front yard.