OT - Cast Iron Skillet Identifier

vb4677

Snagged a WagnerWare 8 and another nice 8 skillet at an auction this weekend for $4/each.  Doing the reseasoning now, and noticed the unknown skillet has a small "D" at the bottom of the handle next to the body of the pan.  Anyone know what brand this is, or does anyone have any good online (free) resources for searching what brand it could be?  The Google Image search using the picture itself didn't bring back any solid results...

Focker

The old typewriter, aka Times New Roman font is unmarked Wagner.  Is there anything on the bottom of the skillet?

BSR skillets, the ridge goes to the wall.
https://thepan-handler.com/blog/identifying-and-dating-unmarked-or-unknown-maker-vintage-and-antique-cast-iron-skillets/

TN_Egger

This site might help:

http://www.castironcollector.com/numbers.php

vb4677

Focker said:

The old typewriter, aka Times New Roman font is unmarked Wagner.  Is there anything on the bottom of the skillet?

Nope. Just that little "D"...

BigGreenBean

VB:  from the site TN_Egger mentioned:

D - Danish Cake Pan 

But who knows.

Thanks for the kick in the backside, too.  I have an old Wagner that was my long-passed Grandmother's.  It is easily as old as I am (54), and possibly much older.  Motivates me to figure it out.  It is an awesome piece of cooking equipment and I'll have it until I croak.

1voyager

The "D" is a casting identifier. This would usually, but not always, mean the forth cast used for a particular model.

If you would post a picture of both the top and bottom I may be able to help identify the manufacturer. 

thetrim

Deez NUTS!!!!

vb4677

BigGreenBean said:

VB:  from the site TN_Egger mentioned:

D - Danish Cake Pan 

But who knows.

Thanks for the kick in the backside, too.  I have an old Wagner that was my long-passed Grandmother's.  It is easily as old as I am (54), and possibly much older.  Motivates me to figure it out.  It is an awesome piece of cooking equipment and I'll have it until I croak.

Yeah... but it's a skillet...  And that's cool about your grandmother's pan - wish I had my grandmothers!

Killit_and_Grillit

vb4677 said:

Focker said:

The old typewriter, aka Times New Roman font is unmarked Wagner.  Is there anything on the bottom of the skillet?

Nope. Just that little "D"...

vb4677

@1voyager

BigGreenBean

Well, but that could be a kind or shape of skillet whenever it was manufactured.  Keep after that, brother.  Post more photos, and I will, too.  Is that the only marking on it? 

But enough about your skillet!  I just determined, from photos on that website, that mine was manufactured between 1922-1924.  She was born in 1899, so she would have acquired this in her mid-20s, if bought new, and cooking for a young family.  Holy guacamole.  I need a cocktail...

Thanks for the motivation!

vb4677

@BigGreenBean
Yeah - what you see there is it for any markings.  It's a nice weight for its size.

And that's so cool about the dates of your pan.

BigGreenBean

Looks cool, too.  Nice score on your part.  Well done.  Here's mine...

1voyager

I was thinking the skillet was an unmarked Wagner Ware but your picture of the top of the handle has me stumped. The handle is wider near the pan than any Wagner Ware I have ever seen. The "8" looks wrong also. I'll do some more digging for you.

This is an example of one of the many reasons collecting and restoring cast iron cookware is so much fun.

Focker

Don't fool yourself.
It's a Wagner.
This #6 is 1950s.

Handle is similar in width.

OPs is earlier, likely from Sears or something, 1940s, maybe even 1930s.

Focker

BigGreenBean said:

Looks cool, too.  Nice score on your part.  Well done.  Here's mine...

Good work.  The built in heat ring is older, lighter yet.
Gifted my buddy RRP a Monkey Wards Wagner skillet like that.  Great pans.

BigGreenBean

No work at all.  Mom died a dozen years ago, and it fell to me.  It was her mom's, likely bought when she was a young wife and mother.  

Focker

BigGreenBean said:

No work at all.  Mom died a dozen years ago, and it fell to me.  It was her mom's, likely bought when she was a young wife and mother.  

Makes it even more special.
A true family heirloom.

BigGreenBean

Indeed, and I'll pass it along to my daughter when I'm no longer here.  Some skillet; we should all look as good pushing 100.

vb4677

So @Focker, are you suggesting my unknown is actually a WagnerWare?

chzplz

This doesn’t match any of the ones I know, or referenced here:  http://www.castironcollector.com/unmarked.php

maybe try try posting the top/bottom pics on www.reddit.com/r/castiron - they’re a knowledgeable bunch of cast iron collectors. 

vb4677

Turns out both skillets have a small crack... but I can attest that they each did a great job last night in frying up some chopped bacon!  So, for $8 and a handful of trips through the cleaning and seasoning cycle, I think I did ok, regardless of whatever brand they are.  And the 8's are a good size for couple of empty-nesters, too!  I can see how collecting these things could get addictive...

1voyager

I own 26 cast iron skillets. Collecting cast iron cookware is a serious addiction. It is so satisfying to take a rusty, carbon encrusted skillet or griddle and transform it back to an almost new condition. 

500

Cool.  I have three given to me from my Mother, and a Dutch Oven I bought on eBay.  Now I have something to do in figuring out the age.

DoubleEgger

Any help in identifying these would be appreciated. There are no other identifying marks on the pieces. They came from my maternal grandmother. 

Focker

First one is BSR, Red Mountain Series.


Second one is old Lodge, 3 notches in heat ring, 0900, 1200, 1500.

Third one is a BSR, ridge on bottom of handle goes to wall, no notches in heat ring.  Another Red Mountain Series.
http://www.modemac.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl/Corn_Bread_Pans_by_Birmingham_Stove_and_Range

DoubleEgger

I appreciate that @Focker. Thank you. 

Focker

DoubleEgger said:

I appreciate that @Focker. Thank you. 

Your welcome. 
Hope that helps.

vb4677

1voyager said:

I own 26 cast iron skillets. Collecting cast iron cookware is a serious addiction. It is so satisfying to take a rusty, carbon encrusted skillet or griddle and transform it back to an almost new condition. 

Yeah I may have had an extra beer or two in me when I fired up the Self Cleaning Oven mode late on Saturday and nearly fumigated SWMBO into the next county, but I was really stoked to see a bunch of crud fall off of the skillets the next morning.  It was almost magical how "clean" they were from the night before.

Focker

For point of sale assessment...

1.  Look at price tag.  
2.  Take a credit card and put the long side of it on the skillet.  If you see light under the side of the card, pan is warped
3.  Knock on the middle of the pan like you would a door.  It should have a bell-like ring.  If there is no ring, the skillet has a crack.
4.  Stage rust.  Interior pitting is the worst.  

If price is right, it's not warped, cracked, or stage IV rust, then it's time to consider taking it home to restore.

Most times with Griswold and Wagner, I walk away after #1.

The unmarked Griswolds and Wagners, and BSRs, and others, are the hidden gems.

vb4677

Thanks!
You, @Focker just might be an enabler... ha!