I have an old Griswold pan i got from my parents. i am 60 years old and my family has used this pan since the 50's. my dad worked as a garbage man on a truck and someone threw it away then. my mom used it ever since and now i do. times were tough then and no money to buy much of anything. i love it and pretty much use it daily/weekly.
My grandmother gave my mother a couple cast iron pieces in the early 1960's. My mother is from East Germany and had never used cast iron and didn't know how to use it. She likely also thought it was just dirty (She was fastidious about such things and I can see her turning her nose up at the idea of cooking in something with such a black coating.) Anyway, she threw them in the trash. She has since learned of her error. I always hope the trash man saw them and pulled them out so that they can live on.
Thank you so much for the tutorial! Unlike others I have seen, I really enjoyed your teaching style-- very approachable and easy to understand. Thank you so much!
Thank you. I’m new to collecting and found a true passion for cast iron and this has helped my knowledge and learning. I wish you had more videos or a book! You can see your passion and I love it! The history of cast iron is amazing! Thank you!!
Very impressive! It's a beautiful collection, one that could be appreciated. I don't know why, but I'm very attracted to collecting cast iron cookware! I can't even cook! I just enjoy researching and collecting! Just wanted to compliment and congratulate u on your very beautiful collection.
The number on the handle or on the bottom of the pan No.8 No.9 was a reference to the hole it fit in on the old Glenwood stoves. They had removable lids called eyes, and the pan fit in the eye for cooking.
Great video! Thank You! I have a small collection of cast iron and just recently purchased a 1950s era Wagner. It is so nice to have and is my oldest piece... :)
Thank you for giving me some of your knowledge on Cast Iron skillets and dutch ovens, I truly appreciate it. I would really like to find a skillet made up in Erie, Pa. Considering I was born just 32 miles away from there! I found everything that you said very interesting, again thank you very much.
Being from Ohio and not far from Wapakoneta where the Wapak "sounds like Wapauk" cast iron was made, you made me chuckle. I needed that on this dreary day!! I'm new to learning about "Vintage" cast iron. I've used them in the past quite alot but just never thought much about it until recently. Loved your video !!
That was very interesting! You are well versed in the world of cast iron. You have me wanting to start looking around for some older pieces like you have. Very nice surface on those older ones. I can remember my mother cooking on nothing but cast iron all the years I was growing up. I have no idea what kind she had, but she sure did cherish her cast iron. Great video!!!
Great Video, Just got my first Griswold Skillet today! Its the Griswold Skillet Griddle 108 slanted Erie model. Found it for 79 bucks and its in perfect condition and had to purchase. Im new to cast iron as my girlfriend has introduced me to them. Thanks for sharing this great video, lots of info!
man my dad used to find clean and sell cast iron at our yard sales for years!!!! i wish i kept them all had TONS of griswold wagner and wapak everyone wants a mint for them now! great video buddy!
The good pieces are getting expensive and hard to find. I should do another video, I've learned a lot and collected a few more pieces since I made this video, almost 3 years ago. Thanks for watching..
Loved your video, i had a deep skillet (Lodge) for my 60th Birthday. Now I am hooked ! Every opportunity I get I cook with my skillet. Looking forward to your next video.
Great video. Just got into cast iron cause a friend was getting rid of things from her granny’s & I ended up w/ a Birmingham #8w/ a lid & 2 #5’s 1940’s lodged. Great cookn w/ these
A couple of months after my mother passed away, my siblings and I were going through her house to get it ready to sell. My sister was on the way to the trash with a cast iron skillet. I stopped her and said "What are you doing?" She said she was throwing out this old back greasy pan. I said "It's cast iron, I'll take it." She called me nuts and said "Ok, if you want this old thing I don't care." The pan she was about to toss was a Wagner Ware number 6 a smooth bottom made during the 1935 to 1959 era.
Ryhla A couple of months ago, I inherited a Griswold Number 8 from my mother. I have put aside the All-Clad stainless steel pan I had been using, and now use the Griswold exclusively.
I really enjoyed this video, lots of good info. I've recently started using cast iron for cooking and started a small collection, now I know what to look for! Keep up the vids!
Very nice history lesson, Lodge is my favorite, and my and I have a ton of them. I never new lodge made any unmarked pans, I have seen ones that looked like a lodge with no marking, good info, thank you.
Hey man, great video. Friend of mine just inherited a very old Wagner. Pre Wagner ware branding, with the Sidney O, arc letters. Very nice shape. Told her to hold onto it forever, and that if for some reason she did want to pass it along to keep me in mind!
Hey, Gregg! I found several sites listing my Dutch oven as a pre-Griswold skillet. They are running around 85$ to 100$. Can't wait to see your next video!
Great video . thanks for sharing. you have a great collection. I use to have a small collection , but it was stole a few years back when we were gone . but I trying to collect some here and there. I have a few now . but I really enjoyed your video on yours. again thanks for sharing. take care.
Loved this video. I've had new Lodge cast iron for years. Just started looking for the old stuff. In the last couple months I've found several Griswold and Wagner skillets at flea markets and junk stores. Even bought a few off Ebay.....might have paid to much..LOL. My wife accepts my little hobby. We don't have the wall space in the kitchen, so most are hanging on the wall of the laundry room. None of my cast iron are wall hangers. We cook on every one of them. Looking forward for your next video.
+Tim Clawson Nuting Sounds like you are part of the club for sure. Hunting the pieces is addicting, makes it easier if she is on board. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I just started a collecting a year ago. Last weekend I found a Griswold 9, a Mi-Pet 8 and a Wardway 1432 at a rummage sale. 18 bucks for all of them! Also, a unmarked Wagner at Goodwill for 9.99.
Very informative. I never realized what the ring on the bottom of the pan was; just assumed it was part of the casting process. Most of my pans are lodge's and wagner's; some are no name. There's one piece of cast ironware I have used no more than 4 or 5 times over the decades. It's a turkey roaster and weighs more than a small turkey. The roaster is used as a storage container now and at one time a doorstop. I don't have any vintage cookware since they were all bought at retail stores. One thing I have to tell you, when I was stationed at Tinker AFB, OK the wife and I dropped into a local dollar discount store and saw a bunch of cast ironware for sale. Believe it or not we got 2 dutch ovens and lids for $4 , a chicken fryer for $4, medium and small skillets for $3 Must have been about 75 lbs of ironware. The owner told me he was surprised we bought as much because he thought he wouldn't be able to give it away. The fun part was getting it back home in ME. The quartermaster at the base had a fit about the weight.
I would like to have a turkey roaster, haven't seen one for sale. I spent a lot of time around Tinker back in the late 70's wish I would have started buying Cast Iron back then. Thanks for watching.
Cast Iron BBQ I can't help but wonder how long it takes you to choose which skillet to use! ;) How I wish I had my mother's old spider!!!!! I'm in my 9th decade and truly enjoyed your video! Thanks for sharing.
I wish you were here and would clean up a REALLY ugly skillet I bought for a dollar a few years ago. I don't have the strength to lift it, much less clean it. Also ~ I was given a NEW skillet some 25 yrs ago. (It's still "new"!) I've never seen one like it and know nothing about it. On the bottom It has a duck flying over a body of water during a full moon. Might you be able to tell me anything about it? It "lovingly" hangs on a kitchen wall. Again, I can't lift it, and even if I could, I can't use it as I have a ceramic top stove. It does put a smile on my face, however. (As does your video!) I plan to watch more this evening. God bless you, dear one!
Good video. My mother just turned over to my wife 2 cast iron skillets. One is an Erie and from some research think it is called a griddle. It’s almost flat and on the back has Erie at the top and letter A at the bottom. The other pan is a Wagner Bacon & Egg Breakfast Skillet. We have others and I am trying to learn about these things.
tjar12 Welcome to the cast iron family. There is a ton of info out there on the interweb. I would like to see a picture of the "ERIE" Thanks for watching.
I really enjoyed watching them... I just got don't grinding my new lodge pans to a smooth almost mirror finish and seasoned them. I've never had an egg slip and slide like these do other than a non stick pan
I just restored a Second Series "Erie" that I picked up at a Consignment Store for $5 !... It was so covered in carbon & rust that I couldn't see any markings so I didn't know what I had until I cleaned it up :)
Thank you for the education, every pan has a story just the same as an old hunting rifle and don't we know they go hand in hand no pun intended. cheers
Many years ago my father who worked in the Steel Mills of Birmingham AL, when I was a young boy I ask about different sizes of cast Iron skillets. He told me the NO. 8 stamped on skillets was the number the person counted to when filling the mold with molting Iron, that way as not over fill the mold and it run over on the concrete floor that would blow up and spray molting iron and concrete. The size and description was just that. Any other random numbers, letters were often used as mold marking. As a child almost everyone I knew had a wood cook stove, of many sizes, shapes, makers and number and sizes of eyes, some even had griddles and ovens, some even had water pipes to make hot water for the house hold. Not all skillets would fit the eyes of the stoves and would smoke up the house, hints the smoke ring / heat ring.
I enjoy using my oldest skillets too. A 9 and 10 ERIE are my regular users. Piqua Favorite is darned good stuff too. Not as light but excellent cooking surface. The gate marks you mentioned were where the molten iron was poured into the sand mold. Later they poured into the sidewall rim of the skillet and then ground it off. You can see evidence of that grinding on some skillets. Nice collection of cast iron you have there. I try to resist buying any more. I gave in recently though for a pre 1900 " WAGNER" no9 griddle and a Wapak waffle iron.
MichaelSerial The BBQ Bus has been out on the road a few times this week. I'll get a video up of the adventure soon. Thanks for watching. I have a Facebook page now for the bus. "The BBQ Bus" Come on over and check it out.
Congratulations on such an amazing collection of cast iron, it really is impressive. Extremely difficult to get hold of such cookware where I live, so I envy you my friend. I can buy new Lodge from the UK for example, but I would rather use old stuff, which, again, is very hard to come by. Been searching for ever on boot sales and flea markets, no success. Nice shirt by the way. Thanks for sharing.
I found a really nice wagner drip drop roasting lid and skillet matching $20 great shape little surface rust in the skillet easy restore for me. All the patents inside my lid. My new favorite cooker.
My friend, thankyou for an awesome video.. you are a true collector... I have a few.. and are right, they are hard to NOT buy, no matter what kind they are...
After I get them cleaned up good I put a thin coat of oil on them and put them in a 350 degree oven for an hour or so. wipe it down good and repeat a few times. That's it....
I've got a few, and I decided I really like the handle on the 1891 original Wagner (made in 1991 of course) but I like the beefy handle,doesn't get hot as fast, hit it with a random orbital to smooth it out
👍My 93yo MeMa watched this video with me & she liked it. She has & uses cast iron cookware handed down to her from several past generations (it's old & great). 😃
I think your "farmer's furniture" pan is a promotional piece made by Lodge for that company. It's certainly in the style of a Lodge skillet, with the three notches, small pour spouts, and handle design.
You are correct. The pan is at least 20 years old. Lodge started removing the raised rings on the bottom in the late 90's early 2000's. It also should be a number 7 skillet.
I tried the fire method on a old rusted griddle that I found in my barn. I guess the fire was hotter then I realized. This morning I pulled it out of the pit and it had warped. I'm hoping that I can repair it by heating it red hot than clamping it to some angle iron. Don't know if it will work, but I'm retired and have plenty of time to play with it!
I picked up a wagner ware pan for $5. It was pretty dirty so I used a weed burning propane torch to clean it. It looks like the center bubbled/arched up. Is that something the torch did?
AzDadOnFire probably, sounds like it got too hot too fast. I have a few friends that use a weed burning technique.. probably different than yours. Thanks for watching
From what I inherited from my Grandmother, The Wagner Ware seemed to be thicker than the Griswold. What's your thoughts? Would love to see you do a video on it.
Just discovered I have a Griswold #9 griddle in my cabinet. Makes beautiful pancakes, and I got it for nothing! Seriously, my parents probably got it from a friend or bought it at a garage sale. They used it for camping, then stuck it in a box in the garage for years until I bought a house. Box came with me, along with the griddle. I've just been using it and appreciating it without realizing it's value! Beautiful glassy finish on top, and I'm gonna keep using it for Saturday morning pancakes for years to come.
Someone (whether it is your or someone else does not matter to me) should make a cast iron poster or book that has some cast iron information (e.g. progression, identification, and quality). As someone who has a few pieces and is beginning to collect more non-lodge pieces, I would really enjoy seeing all of the variety out there.
I have an old Wagner Ware that has a 7P on the opposite side of the bottom from the name. I can’t find that model anywhere. Flat bottom and small heat ring. Was in a guys shed and I cleaned it up. Pitted but works like a charm
i also have the ghost marked erie pan size 9 and it’s also my favorite pan. they must have been nice molds, my erie pan and my wapak ghost mark pans are identical. The older pans are very nice to cook in.....
Like your video. I have a cast iron cookware that has on ( Top of bottom... ERIE) ( middle....710A) (bottom No 9) is this like the one you where excited about at the yard sale. What do these numbers mean.
Question: what year did Griswald and Wagner go out of business, just wondering. Believe it or not, my wife dug out a really old WAPAK 12'' skillet she had passed down to her from her great grandmother, it was sitting out in our shed, totally forgotten about. We now use it almost every day for frying, tonight chicken, yum. enjoy your videos, please answer the question if you know, thanks ray lowery
Hey, thanks for the video! I'm cureently looking for some nice small vintage cast iron pan for outdoors use and you give some good clues about the old pieces. However, your theory that cowboys and farmers made the first simple pans by themselves is highly unlikely correct. It's nearly impossible to cast iron in home/field conditions, not to mention that there's more to make cast iron cookware than just filling a mold. Lead, tin, copper, brass, bronze, alluminum can be cast in rather simple conditions, but cast iron is quite tricky, not to mention the temperature needed. The gate mark surely is a trace of the casting technology, but I highly doubt it was anything homemade. But anyway, thanks!
I agree, I have done a ton of research and learned a lot since I made this video, almost 2 1/2 years ago. I said semi accurate.... I can't change this one but I am planning an updated version soon. Thanks for watching.
When casting metal, you have a sprue (where molten metal enters the mold), a gate where metal travels from the sprue to the cavity of the mold, and risers that allow air to escape and indicate that the cavity is full. Because metal shrinks when cooling, the sprue is highly susceptible to cracking. The purpose of a gate when sand casting is to deliver an even flow and prevent the crack from moving into the thin casting.
I have a shallow round griddle that says 8 on the bottom. Has the name ERIE (no PA) and has the Griswold cross. I am wondering if you can direct me where I can find out more about it's vintage and history.
GREAT VIDEO .going to buy some cast iron (only cast iron ) for my travels .I was going to buy lodge but I think I will look at the many flee markets around where I live for some of the old brands . THANK FOR THE VIDEO
Awesome video, thanks! Question. I came across a 17" pot with a lid that is gate marked on both pieces. I think the lid has 16 or 18 on the top. I have put in an offer on it but wondering what the street price could be. Not looking to flip it, just want to be sure I won't lose money
I enjoyed watching your video on skillet historical manufacturers I've just purchased a 7" skillet with a turned wooden handle I haven't cleaned it yet but already u can see what looks to be a 2 etched on the handle stock What year and who made them with wooden handles
Not sure about who and when. Lots of manufacturers made them with wooden handles. I remove the handle when seasoning them. Not much help.. Thanks for watching.
Do you know anything about Wagner 1268 Dutch ovens? They are very plentiful on eBay but I can’t find any information about them. I have 3 of them and just bought my 4th one. This one has a flat camp oven lid. Do you think it is an original lid or an added lid?
G,Day I'd like to see your entire collection Your video was the first collection videos I saw on RUclips and myne has grown quite a bit now I'll be doing a collection video soon I'm just waiting for my VICTOR 8 Favourite 8, lodge and BSR red Mt 5, 9" Ebelskiver pan and Wagner 6 griddle to be posted from The States
It is about time for me to do an update video. I have learned a lot from other RUclipsr's comments and would like to correct a few things I said in this video. I'll work on it over the Holidays. I don't comment a lot but I do enjoy your videos, congratulations on the new cast iron pieces. Thanks for watching and stay tuned
G Day I haven’t seen this for a while and I still enjoy watching this video in my first comment the VICTOR 8 I was waiting for when it turned up was an Unmarked Wagner Ware but it still cooks ok Good news is I got another VICTOR just the other day and I’m currently waiting on a second series ERIE Sooooo excited Wish I could write a list of all the CI I’ve got since this vid but it’ll take up too much space Anyway great to see you again Love to see another collection video Hope all is well with you mate
if i use a skillet over a open camp fire and i wrap the bottom of the skillet in tin foil will it keep it from being covered with smoke and turning black so it will be easier to clean? thanks for your video
Sir do you have Wagner Original 1891 griddle I bought at 90's I haven't used. It never been season because it brand new. Do you know how it surface feel griddy and rough. If you want to know.
I hear a lot about unmarked Wagner and now unmarked Griswold....so how do you tell if it is unmarked? Also, if you know anything about one called "Favorite Piqua" I would appreciate knowing because I have one handed down to me. It is #9. Thank you.
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Excellent! My cast iron is from grandma...1920s vintage Wagner...I use it every day here near Ester, Alaska.
I love the way you have your skillets displayed
I have an old Griswold pan i got from my parents. i am 60 years old and my family has used this pan since the 50's. my dad worked as a garbage man on a truck and someone threw it away then. my mom used it ever since and now i do. times were tough then and no money to buy much of anything. i love it and pretty much use it daily/weekly.
I bet it still looks like it did when your dad "picked it up" Thanks for watching.
@@CastIronBBQ yepper!!! your welcome. i loved the video
My grandmother gave my mother a couple cast iron pieces in the early 1960's. My mother is from East Germany and had never used cast iron and didn't know how to use it. She likely also thought it was just dirty (She was fastidious about such things and I can see her turning her nose up at the idea of cooking in something with such a black coating.) Anyway, she threw them in the trash. She has since learned of her error. I always hope the trash man saw them and pulled them out so that they can live on.
I love cooking with cast iron. Great video! Thanks for the history lesson.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the tutorial! Unlike others I have seen, I really enjoyed your teaching style-- very approachable and easy to understand. Thank you so much!
Video is almost 4 years old, time for another one. Thanks for watching.
Thank you. I’m new to collecting and found a true passion for cast iron and this has helped my knowledge and learning. I wish you had more videos or a book! You can see your passion and I love it! The history of cast iron is amazing! Thank you!!
Welcome to the club, good luck hunting and thanks for watching.
Very impressive! It's a beautiful collection, one that could be appreciated. I don't know why, but I'm very attracted to collecting cast iron cookware! I can't even cook! I just enjoy researching and collecting! Just wanted to compliment and congratulate u on your very beautiful collection.
I appreciate the kind words, I enjoy collecting cast iron for the history it holds. Thanks for watching..
You can see the Erie over the Wapak really well at the 5:22 mark. Thanks for sharing this.
The number on the handle or on the bottom of the pan No.8 No.9 was a reference to the hole it fit in on the old Glenwood stoves. They had removable lids called eyes, and the pan fit in the eye for cooking.
Great video! Thank You! I have a small collection of cast iron and just recently purchased a 1950s era Wagner. It is so nice to have and is my oldest piece... :)
Thank you for giving me some of your knowledge on Cast Iron skillets and dutch ovens, I truly appreciate it. I would really like to find a skillet made up in Erie, Pa. Considering I was born just 32 miles away from there! I found everything that you said very interesting, again thank you very much.
Being from Ohio and not far from Wapakoneta where the Wapak "sounds like Wapauk" cast iron was made, you made me chuckle.
I needed that on this dreary day!!
I'm new to learning about "Vintage" cast iron. I've used them in the past quite alot but just never thought much about it until recently.
Loved your video !!
Thank you for taking your time to share your knowledge and collection . I found it very informative as well as interested .
Thanks for watching, glad you liked it.
That was very interesting! You are well versed in the world of cast iron. You have me wanting to start looking around for some older pieces like you have. Very nice surface on those older ones. I can remember my mother cooking on nothing but cast iron all the years I was growing up. I have no idea what kind she had, but she sure did cherish her cast iron. Great video!!!
Yeah man, go find some. I love cooking in the old skillets. They make the food taste better. Thanks for watching.
Great Video, Just got my first Griswold Skillet today! Its the Griswold Skillet Griddle 108 slanted Erie model. Found it for 79 bucks and its in perfect condition and had to purchase. Im new to cast iron as my girlfriend has introduced me to them. Thanks for sharing this great video, lots of info!
+Will “Red Beard” Wood Welcome to the club and thanks for watching.
man my dad used to find clean and sell cast iron at our yard sales for years!!!! i wish i kept them all had TONS of griswold wagner and wapak everyone wants a mint for them now! great video buddy!
The good pieces are getting expensive and hard to find. I should do another video, I've learned a lot and collected a few more pieces since I made this video, almost 3 years ago. Thanks for watching..
Loved your video, i had a deep skillet (Lodge) for my 60th Birthday. Now I am hooked ! Every opportunity I get I cook with my skillet. Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for watching and stay tuned, I'll get one loaded soon.
you the man!! thank you for showing a portion of your huge collection!!! much appreciated:)
Great video. Just got into cast iron cause a friend was getting rid of things from her granny’s & I ended up w/ a Birmingham #8w/ a lid & 2 #5’s 1940’s lodged. Great cookn w/ these
That’s great! Welcome to the family….
Nice collection, and I enjoyed your video. Thanks.
It's about time for a new video. Thanks for tuning in.
A couple of months after my mother passed away, my siblings and I were going through her house to get it ready to sell. My sister was on the way to the trash with a cast iron skillet. I stopped her and said "What are you doing?" She said she was throwing out this old back greasy pan. I said "It's cast iron, I'll take it." She called me nuts and said "Ok, if you want this old thing I don't care."
The pan she was about to toss was a Wagner Ware number 6 a smooth bottom made during the 1935 to 1959 era.
Good save..
Yeah it was. To this day my sister still doesn't understand.
Ryhla A couple of months ago, I inherited a Griswold Number 8 from my mother. I have put aside the All-Clad stainless steel pan I had been using, and now use the Griswold exclusively.
MegaFortinbras
Stuff like that is so awesome.
Ryhla
I really enjoyed this video, lots of good info. I've recently started using cast iron for cooking and started a small collection, now I know what to look for! Keep up the vids!
cillaloves2fish Thanks for watching.
Very nice history lesson, Lodge is my favorite, and my and I have a ton of them. I never new lodge made any unmarked pans, I have seen ones that looked like a lodge with no marking, good info, thank you.
Hey man, great video. Friend of mine just inherited a very old Wagner. Pre Wagner ware branding, with the Sidney O, arc letters. Very nice shape. Told her to hold onto it forever, and that if for some reason she did want to pass it along to keep me in mind!
Sounds like an old one, let her know you'll take good care of it.... Thanks for tuning in.
Continue learning so thank you for your extensive knowledge and teaching!
I appreciate your honesty on what you know and do not but you seem to know a lot. Great video.
Thanks for the comment. have a great day and stay tuned.
john difrancisco I agree.
so John do you have a you tube channel where you share your knowledge of cast iron or anything else?
I didn't realize Erie pans were made before Griswold pans. I need to look at my cast iron pans now😊
thanks for taking the time to make the video, enjoyed it.
Thanks for watching, I'll post a new video soon.
Thank you for your info...I LOVE all of my cast iron cook ware.
Hey, Gregg! I found several sites listing my Dutch oven as a pre-Griswold skillet. They are running around 85$ to 100$. Can't wait to see your next video!
+MichaelSerial I am going to in search of one, thanks for the update. I have a competition this weekend I'll put some kind of video of it up soon.
Nice Collection !!! seeing the ghost Erie Wapak was cool
Thanks, It is my favorite.
Great video . thanks for sharing. you have a great collection. I use to have a small collection , but it was stole a few years back when we were gone . but I trying to collect some here and there. I have a few now . but I really enjoyed your video on yours. again thanks for sharing. take care.
Sorry to hear about that, but glad you are still looking for more. Thanks for watching..
Thank you .:-)
This was so helpful for me. Thank you
Love your video cooking with cast iron is a love affair I even enjoy cleaning mine
Loved this video. I've had new Lodge cast iron for years. Just started looking for the old stuff. In the last couple months I've found several Griswold and Wagner skillets at flea markets and junk stores. Even bought a few off Ebay.....might have paid to much..LOL. My wife accepts my little hobby. We don't have the wall space in the kitchen, so most are hanging on the wall of the laundry room. None of my cast iron are wall hangers. We cook on every one of them. Looking forward for your next video.
+Tim Clawson Nuting Sounds like you are part of the club for sure. Hunting the pieces is addicting, makes it easier if she is on board. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I just started a collecting a year ago. Last weekend I found a Griswold 9, a Mi-Pet 8 and a Wardway 1432 at a rummage sale. 18 bucks for all of them! Also, a unmarked Wagner at Goodwill for 9.99.
You are doing a great job, keep up the good work! Stay tuned.
This is awesome! Learned a lot of cast iron history here. Thanks man.
+Kahisawheel You are welcome, thanks for tuning in.
Very informative. I never realized what the ring on the bottom of the pan was; just assumed it was part of the casting process. Most of my pans are lodge's and wagner's; some are no name. There's one piece of cast ironware I have used no more than 4 or 5 times over the decades. It's a turkey roaster and weighs more than a small turkey. The roaster is used as a storage container now and at one time a doorstop. I don't have any vintage cookware since they were all bought at retail stores. One thing I have to tell you, when I was stationed at Tinker AFB, OK the wife and I dropped into a local dollar discount store and saw a bunch of cast ironware for sale. Believe it or not we got 2 dutch ovens and lids for $4 , a chicken fryer for $4, medium and small skillets for $3 Must have been about 75 lbs of ironware. The owner told me he was surprised we bought as much because he thought he wouldn't be able to give it away. The fun part was getting it back home in ME. The quartermaster at the base had a fit about the weight.
I would like to have a turkey roaster, haven't seen one for sale. I spent a lot of time around Tinker back in the late 70's wish I would have started buying Cast Iron back then. Thanks for watching.
I can’t cook a lick, but now I want to collect cast-iron. Thanks.
I can't cook either but I have a nice small collection of cast iron. I look for it all the time
Cast Iron BBQ
I can't help but wonder how long it takes you to choose which skillet to use! ;)
How I wish I had my mother's old spider!!!!!
I'm in my 9th decade and truly enjoyed your video! Thanks for sharing.
I wish I had your mother's old spider too. Glad you enjoyed the video. It's time I did an updated one. Thanks for watching.
I wish you were here and would clean up a REALLY ugly skillet I bought for a dollar a few years ago. I don't have the strength to lift it, much less clean it.
Also ~ I was given a NEW skillet some 25 yrs ago. (It's still "new"!) I've never seen one like it and know nothing about it. On the bottom It has a duck flying over a body of water during a full moon. Might you be able to tell me anything about it? It "lovingly" hangs on a kitchen wall. Again, I can't lift it, and even if I could, I can't use it as I have a ceramic top stove. It does put a smile on my face, however. (As does your video!) I plan to watch more this evening.
God bless you, dear one!
Love your passion. Thanks for sharing.
Good video. My mother just turned over to my wife 2 cast iron skillets. One is an Erie and from some research think it is called a griddle. It’s almost flat and on the back has Erie at the top and letter A at the bottom. The other pan is a Wagner Bacon & Egg Breakfast Skillet. We have others and I am trying to learn about these things.
tjar12 Welcome to the cast iron family. There is a ton of info out there on the interweb. I would like to see a picture of the "ERIE" Thanks for watching.
Thanks, I put up a video of the two pans on my RUclips channel if you want to check it out.
I really enjoyed watching them... I just got don't grinding my new lodge pans to a smooth almost mirror finish and seasoned them. I've never had an egg slip and slide like these do other than a non stick pan
Master Shake I have some new lodge pans. I hate the rough finish. What did you use to grind yours?
I just restored a Second Series "Erie" that I picked up at a Consignment Store for $5 !... It was so covered in carbon & rust that I couldn't see any markings so I didn't know what I had until I cleaned it up :)
Great, lets see it.
👍I have one of the old Wagner Ware 10" pan/skillets from the 1920s . It's in great shape, I love it 😁 and I use it a lot.
Good to hear it, use them! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the education, every pan has a story just the same as an old hunting rifle and don't we know they go hand in hand no pun intended. cheers
From field to table,, Thanks for watching.
Many years ago my father who worked in the Steel Mills of Birmingham AL, when I was a young boy I ask about different sizes of cast Iron skillets. He told me the NO. 8 stamped on skillets was the number the person counted to when filling the mold with molting Iron, that way as not over fill the mold and it run over on the concrete floor that would blow up and spray molting iron and concrete. The size and description was just that. Any other random numbers, letters were often used as mold marking. As a child almost everyone I knew had a wood cook stove, of many sizes, shapes, makers and number and sizes of eyes, some even had griddles and ovens, some even had water pipes to make hot water for the house hold. Not all skillets would fit the eyes of the stoves and would smoke up the house, hints the smoke ring / heat ring.
Great memories. Wish we could go back in time with a with a pen and paper and ask all the questions we have... Thanks for watching
Thanks a lot. I just bought a griswold #9. Got it for 50 bucks. Know I know from you it's a 1920 - 1930 griswold. Awesome.
That's great! Thanks for watching.
I enjoy using my oldest skillets too. A 9 and 10 ERIE are my regular users. Piqua Favorite is darned good stuff too. Not as light but excellent cooking surface. The gate marks you mentioned were where the molten iron was poured into the sand mold. Later they poured into the sidewall rim of the skillet and then ground it off. You can see evidence of that grinding on some skillets. Nice collection of cast iron you have there. I try to resist buying any more. I gave in recently though for a pre 1900 " WAGNER" no9 griddle and a Wapak waffle iron.
My thoughts exactly by now, ask questions later! I always put them on a flat surface and check to see if they're warped, before I buy.
MichaelSerial The BBQ Bus has been out on the road a few times this week. I'll get a video up of the adventure soon. Thanks for watching. I have a Facebook page now for the bus. "The BBQ Bus" Come on over and check it out.
I'm on Twitter, but I don't have a Facebook account. But I will get on my friend's and check it out, as soon as i can
There is something ADDICTIVE associated with the old cast iron. I'M HOOKED, I'M HOOKED, I'M HOOKED!
ME TOO, ME TOO, ME TOO!
They also altered the size of the Large Block Letters to fit smaller pans and lids. Some even call it a med button. Loving the info !!!
I made the video a couple years ago and have a long list of things I would like to add or change. Thanks for the info and thanks for watching!!
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I certainly learned a lot.
The video is a few years old, I should do another one soon. Thanks for watching!
NICE collection!!!!
Scarlett Gypsy Thanks. It’s grown since this video went up. I am going to do an updated video soon! Thanks for watching.
Great video I learned a lot I'm just getting into collecting these pans, you have some great ones!
Welcome to the club! Thanks for watching.
Congratulations on such an amazing collection of cast iron, it really is impressive. Extremely difficult to get hold of such cookware where I live, so I envy you my friend. I can buy new Lodge from the UK for example, but I would rather use old stuff, which, again, is very hard to come by. Been searching for ever on boot sales and flea markets, no success. Nice shirt by the way. Thanks for sharing.
+Juicylime Film Production Keep looking, you'll find some. Thanks for watching.
I found a really nice wagner drip drop roasting lid and skillet matching $20 great shape little surface rust in the skillet easy restore for me. All the patents inside my lid. My new favorite cooker.
Really good video here
My friend, thankyou for an awesome video.. you are a true collector... I have a few.. and are right, they are hard to NOT buy, no matter what kind they are...
Thanks for the comment. I am still tempted to buy a Taiwan once in a while...
VERY NICE COLLECTION IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU COULD DO A VIDEO UPDATE ON YOUR COLLECTION AGIAN JUST SEE WHAT OTHER SKILLETS YOU HAVE NOW.....
Thanks, I should do an update video. Maybe this fall.
I would really love to know how you season your skillets. They look amazing!
After I get them cleaned up good I put a thin coat of oil on them and put them in a 350 degree oven for an hour or so. wipe it down good and repeat a few times. That's it....
I've got a few, and I decided I really like the handle on the 1891 original Wagner (made in 1991 of course) but I like the beefy handle,doesn't get hot as fast, hit it with a random orbital to smooth it out
👍My 93yo MeMa watched this video with me & she liked it. She has & uses cast iron cookware handed down to her from several past generations (it's old & great). 😃
That's fantastic, get the stories if you can. Glad she liked the video.
Love your content. Did you have any part of your collection you would be willing to part with?
Thanks, I’m going to keep the collection together for a while longer.
Great video. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us I have a pile of cast I have bought over the years and getting ready to start cleaning it
cabotbluegill Send them to me! It would save you the hassle of cleaning them.... Thanks for watching.
I think your "farmer's furniture" pan is a promotional piece made by Lodge for that company. It's certainly in the style of a Lodge skillet, with the three notches, small pour spouts, and handle design.
Thanks for the info.
You are correct. The pan is at least 20 years old. Lodge started removing the raised rings on the bottom in the late 90's early 2000's. It also should be a number 7 skillet.
I tried the fire method on a old rusted griddle that I found in my barn. I guess the fire was hotter then I realized. This morning I pulled it out of the pit and it had warped. I'm hoping that I can repair it by heating it red hot than clamping it to some angle iron. Don't know if it will work, but I'm retired and have plenty of time to play with it!
Sorry to hear that, I have done it a few hundred times and never warped one. Thanks for watching.
Excellent video!
Thanks.
I’ve got one with the three notches, but “JAPAN” marked on the bottom. It’s a nice pan and I enjoy cooking with it.
I picked up a wagner ware pan for $5. It was pretty dirty so I used a weed burning propane torch to clean it. It looks like the center bubbled/arched up. Is that something the torch did?
AzDadOnFire probably, sounds like it got too hot too fast. I have a few friends that use a weed burning technique.. probably different than yours. Thanks for watching
Got a question how would one recognize a pan from say the 1850 or 1875 just wondering
Research. The more you do your research the easier it gets ti identify the older pieces. Thanks for watching.
Randy Vinson the ones made late 1800 have sharp corners not radius at bottom of skillet .
From what I inherited from my Grandmother, The Wagner Ware seemed to be thicker than the Griswold. What's your thoughts? Would love to see you do a video on it.
Thanks,I learned alot of details
Thanks for the viideo
Just discovered I have a Griswold #9 griddle in my cabinet. Makes beautiful pancakes, and I got it for nothing! Seriously, my parents probably got it from a friend or bought it at a garage sale. They used it for camping, then stuck it in a box in the garage for years until I bought a house. Box came with me, along with the griddle. I've just been using it and appreciating it without realizing it's value!
Beautiful glassy finish on top, and I'm gonna keep using it for Saturday morning pancakes for years to come.
Someone (whether it is your or someone else does not matter to me) should make a cast iron poster or book that has some cast iron information (e.g. progression, identification, and quality). As someone who has a few pieces and is beginning to collect more non-lodge pieces, I would really enjoy seeing all of the variety out there.
Sounds like a great idea. Meanwhile, check out this site,
it's all here--->>> www.castironcollector.com
Thanks for stopping by.
I have an old Wagner Ware that has a 7P on the opposite side of the bottom from the name. I can’t find that model anywhere. Flat bottom and small heat ring. Was in a guys shed and I cleaned it up. Pitted but works like a charm
Not sure about the markings. Glad you saved it.. Thanks for watching.
Cast Iron BBQ thanks! Yeah, it’s really thin like what you showed to begin with. Looks almost exactly like that one. Thanks for making the video!
i also have the ghost marked erie pan size 9 and it’s also my favorite pan. they must have been nice molds, my erie pan and my wapak ghost mark pans are identical. The older pans are very nice to cook in.....
Like your video. I have a cast iron cookware that has on ( Top of bottom... ERIE) ( middle....710A) (bottom No 9) is this like the one you where excited about at the yard sale. What do these numbers mean.
I have a larger folded ,and hammered steel pan .its lighter and can go in or on the fire. Any ideas on that?
I googled your "Farmer's Furniture" pan and found a reference to it as being made in 1992. Hope that helps.
Mike Simms Thanks for the help.
I just subscribed to your channel do you know how to identify wash pot makers
Sure appreciate the info! Yup, im now hooked!!!!
Thx
Welcome to the club. Thanks for watching.
I was wondering what is your method of cleaning ...Very good video ..
Albert Hutchison Lots of videos on that here on RUclips. I put the cheap ones in a fire to burn off the carbon, nicer ones I will use other methods.
Cast Iron BBQ Thank you for your response. .
Question: what year did Griswald and Wagner go out of business, just wondering. Believe it or not, my wife dug out a really old WAPAK 12'' skillet she had passed down to her from her great grandmother, it was sitting out in our shed, totally forgotten about. We now use it almost every day for frying, tonight chicken, yum. enjoy your videos, please answer the question if you know, thanks ray lowery
ray lowery Griswold and Wagner where bought out in 1957 by the same company. Glad to see you using that skillet. Thanks for watching.
Hey, thanks for the video! I'm cureently looking for some nice small vintage cast iron pan for outdoors use and you give some good clues about the old pieces. However, your theory that cowboys and farmers made the first simple pans by themselves is highly unlikely correct. It's nearly impossible to cast iron in home/field conditions, not to mention that there's more to make cast iron cookware than just filling a mold. Lead, tin, copper, brass, bronze, alluminum can be cast in rather simple conditions, but cast iron is quite tricky, not to mention the temperature needed. The gate mark surely is a trace of the casting technology, but I highly doubt it was anything homemade. But anyway, thanks!
I agree, I have done a ton of research and learned a lot since I made this video, almost 2 1/2 years ago. I said semi accurate.... I can't change this one but I am planning an updated version soon. Thanks for watching.
When casting metal, you have a sprue (where molten metal enters the mold), a gate where metal travels from the sprue to the cavity of the mold, and risers that allow air to escape and indicate that the cavity is full. Because metal shrinks when cooling, the sprue is highly susceptible to cracking. The purpose of a gate when sand casting is to deliver an even flow and prevent the crack from moving into the thin casting.
I have a shallow round griddle that says 8 on the bottom. Has the name ERIE (no PA) and has the Griswold cross. I am wondering if you can direct me where I can find out more about it's vintage and history.
GREAT VIDEO .going to buy some cast iron (only cast iron ) for my travels .I was going to buy lodge but I think I will look at the many flee markets around where I live for some of the old brands . THANK FOR THE VIDEO
Cast Iron hunting is always fun. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Awesome video, thanks! Question. I came across a 17" pot with a lid that is gate marked on both pieces. I think the lid has 16 or 18 on the top. I have put in an offer on it but wondering what the street price could be. Not looking to flip it, just want to be sure I won't lose money
I enjoyed watching your video on skillet historical manufacturers
I've just purchased a 7" skillet with a turned wooden handle
I haven't cleaned it yet but already u can see what looks to be a 2 etched on the handle stock
What year and who made them with wooden handles
Not sure about who and when. Lots of manufacturers made them with wooden handles. I remove the handle when seasoning them. Not much help.. Thanks for watching.
Do you know anything about Wagner 1268 Dutch ovens? They are very plentiful on eBay but I can’t find any information about them. I have 3 of them and just bought my 4th one. This one has a flat camp oven lid. Do you think it is an original lid or an added lid?
G,Day
I'd like to see your entire collection
Your video was the first collection videos I saw on RUclips and myne has grown quite a bit now I'll be doing a collection video soon
I'm just waiting for my VICTOR 8 Favourite 8, lodge and BSR red Mt 5, 9" Ebelskiver pan and Wagner 6 griddle to be posted from The States
It is about time for me to do an update video. I have learned a lot from other RUclipsr's comments and would like to correct a few things I said in this video. I'll work on it over the Holidays. I don't comment a lot but I do enjoy your videos, congratulations on the new cast iron pieces. Thanks for watching and stay tuned
G Day
I haven’t seen this for a while and I still enjoy watching this video in my first comment the VICTOR 8 I was waiting for when it turned up was an Unmarked Wagner Ware but it still cooks ok
Good news is I got another VICTOR just the other day and I’m currently waiting on a second series ERIE Sooooo excited
Wish I could write a list of all the CI I’ve got since this vid but it’ll take up too much space
Anyway great to see you again
Love to see another collection video
Hope all is well with you mate
if i use a skillet over a open camp fire and i wrap the bottom of the skillet in tin foil will it keep it from being covered with smoke and turning black so it will be easier to clean? thanks for your video
Good idea! Thanks for watching.
Sir do you have Wagner Original 1891 griddle I bought at 90's I haven't used. It never been season because it brand new. Do you know how it surface feel griddy and rough. If you want to know.
thanks. this was helpful. do you know if the post WWII griswolds or wagners ever used teflon (c8/pfoa)?
We have a Griswold, Erie, PA, #8, marked "704 K" What does the K mean? I've seen other 704s with different letters? Thanks!
www.castironcollector.com/numbers.php
I am trying to identify my #2 Lodge skillet with 4 vents on the bottom of the pan. It has a matching vented lid.
I hear a lot about unmarked Wagner and now unmarked Griswold....so how do you tell if it is unmarked? Also, if you know anything about one called "Favorite Piqua" I would appreciate knowing because I have one handed down to me. It is #9. Thank you.
Good stuff, one of my favorites!
You'r the man, and your bus is awsome..
Thanks Scott, I get a lot of help....
I wonder if I buy a Lodge skillet and leave it like it is (pebbly inside) will it be just as non-stick as the polished ones with repeated use?
Yes, I think it would be. Thanks for watching.