Hay Budden anvil VS generations of anvils

[HandsomeBlueCollar]

I was at my dad's last week and saw his Hay Budden anvil, it makes me want to dig a little history about this top tier quality anvil brand. The manufacturing changed a lot over time, from my research, there are 4 generations of anvils and each is unique:
Gen 1: Old school, it's forged wrought iron anvil with a steel plate.
Gen 2: it was the start of the "Rhino horn", the design was interesting, it was all tall and skinny.
Gen 3: Rhino horn again, but with a better shape, they made it shorter. It starts with an A in the serial number
Gen 4: They tried making them out of one solid piece of steel, right before they went bust.
40 years ago, everyone wanted Peter Wright anvils, like they were the king of anvils. But I like the Hay Budden anvil because it made more sense, my dad has one too. The anvils were cheaper because they were super loud. But, if you bolt them down good, they don't ring at all.

 

[j0zuking12]

great info, thanks for sharing! been thinking a lot about getting one for myself.

 

[Tinker.man]

that Gen 3 with the A serial is probably my favorite, nice weight distribution, cleaner lines than the earlier tall ones. And yeah, they're loud as heck unless you mount 'em right, but once you do, they're great

 

[Honeymoon Ave.]

I was at my dad's last week and saw his Hay Budden anvil, it makes me want to dig a little history about this top tier quality anvil brand. The manufacturing changed a lot over time, from my research, there are 4 generations of anvils and each is unique:
Gen 1: Old school, it's forged wrought iron anvil with a steel plate.
Gen 2: it was the start of the "Rhino horn", the design was interesting, it was all tall and skinny.
Gen 3: Rhino horn again, but with a better shape, they made it shorter. It starts with an A in the serial number
Gen 4: They tried making them out of one solid piece of steel, right before they went bust.
40 years ago, everyone wanted Peter Wright anvils, like they were the king of anvils. But I like the Hay Budden anvil because it made more sense, my dad has one too. The anvils were cheaper because they were super loud. But, if you bolt them down good, they don't ring at all.

Cool history! Thanks for laying it all down. Yeah, love the detail you mentioned about the sound... Hay Buddens do have that ring but if you bolt them down you'll really notice the difference.

 

[SheriffWoody]

@Tinker.man I hear you on that Gen 3, the proportions just feel right compared to the lankier ones. OP, you're spot on about bolting them down, it changes the whole experience with a Hay Budden.

 

[FPDoc]

I appreciate the history.. Hay Buddens are beautiful and well respected, definitely top tier (they do ring-chain wrap/anchor does help). Ive been using Peter Wrights for over 50yrs (have 6 now since I can't abide letting them just vanish into wherever heavy things disappear to (prob go where the socks do)