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- Identifying and Dating Unmarked or Unknown Maker Vintage and Antique Cast Iron Skillets
- Dating Wagner Cast Iron
- How to Identify Markings on Wagner Cast Iron | Our Pastimes
Wagner Manufacturing started business in in Sidney, Ohio. It manufactured cast iron and tried other products over the next century, including brass and aluminum. Randall Company purchased Wagner Manufacturing in , and Griswold, its biggest competitor, in Wagner Ware markings help identify the era of production, but because of reproductions, confirmation is necessary.
Look for the oldest Wagner items by name and patent dates.
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Many items have patent dates in the mold, and this helps identify Wagner markings. Watch for quality cast iron cookware. Wagner made molded cast iron with a polished exterior and interior, and the best production was from to An article in "The Kansan" reports that manufacturers of cast iron during that period polished it in a drum or turned it on a lathe to make cooking surfaces smooth. Use the Google timeline to see different marks used and patent dates on the bottoms of some of the items.
This is a source for learning nuances in the marks and acquiring information about new patent numbers. This mark bends around a circle, and the circle may contain a patent date. Look for items marked both Wagner and Griswold. In , Textron sold both companies to General Housewares Corp. These items are not very desirable in the eyes of collectors because they are not Wagner or Griswold products. Look for reproductions and recognize the difference.
Vollrath Manufacturing Company, Sheboygan, Wisconsin: Vollrath manufactured many items of kitchenware from the late s until today. Some of the Vollrath cast iron skillets have the Vollrath name on them, and some do not. If you run across a pan with an underlined number imprinted sideways on the bottom center of the pan, you likely have a pan that was manufactured by Vollrath pan in thes and s. Vollrath cast iron skillet no. BSR manufactured many pieces of kitchenware. BSR manufactured non-enameled cast iron pans between about and Take a good look at the underside of the handle of your no-name skillet.
Is there a ridge that goes all the way to the outer wall of the pan?
This is a telltale sign of all unmarked BSR pans. There are three primary BSR lines of cast iron skillets. All have the ridge on the underside of the handle that goes directly to the side wall.
Our cooking, grilling, smoking, preserving and fermenting journal.
These skillets typically have only a number, often followed by a letter, incised in the bottom of the pan near the handle. The pour spouts on these skillets are smaller than seen on other skillets. Beneath the number is the diameter of the pan in inches, i. They are marked the same as the s Century skillets, but the name of the piece — i. Wagner Manufacturing Company, Sidney, Ohio: Unmarked Wagner pans are commonly found. Often times unmarked Wagner pans are mistaken for BSR pans. One notable difference is that the ridge on the underside of the handle flattens out before it meets the side wall of the skillet.
Identifying and Dating Unmarked or Unknown Maker Vintage and Antique Cast Iron Skillets
The flattening out is a telltale sign that the pan was not manufactured by BSR. Unmarked Wagner cast iron skillet; ridge on underside of handle flattens out where it meets the outer wall. The bottom of unmarked Wagner pans may be smooth, or they may have a heat ring. They may be marked with the size in diameter, e. The pans often have a letter on the bottom of the pan in a Times New Roman-type font, and on the underside of the handle. Unmarked Wagner Ware cast iron skillet; marked only with B on the bottom of the skillet and on the underside of the handle.
Dating Wagner Cast Iron
Unmarked Wagner Ware skillet. Note the Times New Roman type face and break in ride on underside of handle. Note letter on bottom of skillet and underside of handle. The line is therefore somewhat blurred as to whether certain pieces were manufactured by CHF or by Favorite. There is debate in the cast iron world as to whether these pans were manufactured by CHF or by Favorite. I hope that this little dissertation on identification is helpful to you as you hunt for vintage cast iron cookware! Bookmarked the website and will definitely order again. The waffle iron from is beyond what I had Imagined.
How to Identify Markings on Wagner Cast Iron | Our Pastimes
One pan I tried immediately and it was totally non […]. Even though it traveled cross country it arrived before Christmas so I could have it out on display. Thanks for another great one. Have a wonderful Christmas.
I am over the moon with happiness!!!!! Merry Christmas to you […]. Copyright The Pan Handler , , , , Old gate marked skillet griddle. Number 8 Lodge cast iron skillet circa s — ; 4. Griswold ERIE spider skillet, mfd.
Iron Mountain pans have a distinctive shape to the handle. Telltale BSR ridge on underside of handle; fully reaches to side wall. BSR Century Series skillet no. Note the Times New Roman type face.