Originally Posted by
Caroline S
Your work bench is always fascinating Steve. What is the thing at the top of the treadle irons? Looks like a mold of some kind.
Hehe. It is a blacksmithing tool called a swage block. It is a piece of solid cast iron with shaped molded into it on all sides for doing "hot" work mostly, but occasionally used as a cold forming anvil/stake.
Funny story, the maker is in Oregon and found that if he makes them just the right size they fit in a USPS "If it fit's it Ships" box.... and be 8lbs under the weight limit. Shipping cost under $20.
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Boy howdy was my mailman grumpy about this one.... He no longer complains about sewing machine heads being delivered