OT - Cast Iron Skillet Identifier

1voyager

Focker said:

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.

Excellent suggestions. 

Also, try to stay away from pans with an excessive amount of carbon buildup until you have a bit more experience. You might do the credit card test and the pan looks fine. Then you clean off the carbon and find you have a warped "spinner". 

As your addiction grows, add dutch ovens and griddles to your list. 

Focker

Somebody needs to jump on this.
https://gearpatrol.com/2018/06/20/why-you-should-buy-vintage-griswold-cast-iron/

vb4677

Focker said:

Somebody needs to jump on this.
https://gearpatrol.com/2018/06/20/why-you-should-buy-vintage-griswold-cast-iron/

Right.  I had to snatch the bid number from SWMBO to bid a measly $4 each for the two I got... AND she said I already had too many CI's...
(a new Lodge 12" and 10", a new Lodge 7qt DO)  Amazing her perspective of "too many"...

Focker

This is the first pan that started it all for me.  It's a slippery slope.

#8 Griswold EPU, dickered down to $3.  Could barely make out the cross.  Love the cheap gems.  I can honestly say I've never paid over half of book value(likely even less on avg), on any piece....never will.  The more gunked up the better...


My Wagner chef's skillets are my favorites, great design with the rounded sides, thumbprint for tossing.  Of the 3(9", 10", 11"), I need an 11" to complete the set.  Bagged the 10" for $10 in Albany, IL.


Recently got an unmarked #9 Griswold user for around $20 to fill that 11" void on the rack.  The sides aren't as high, and it's lighter than the #8 above.
The bottom looks exactly like this.  700# with letter, is the Griswold loose pattern mold #.




It was hard for me recently to cough up the coin on a 9qt LeCreuset DO to match my mom's old one, even with BBB knocking 20% off online.  Spent more on that piece than all combined.

Waffle irons, griddles both round and rectangle, get off the damn slope! 

vb4677

WOW.  Oh.  My.  God.  That's fantastic!

vb4677

And yeah, it's crazy.  Spend $8 and get some really decent skillets or spend $70+ and get a dutch oven...

mEGG_My_Day

@Focker - nice collection 

Focker

Thanks much guys for the kind words on Fe Porn Friday.

I have a Griswold, Wagner, Lodge carbon steel problem. 

Substituted much cheaper 50% off clearance Lodge CS for the bigger Griswolds.  I couldn't swing $200 for a #14 at the time, and they are lighter.  I did find a beautiful small logo #12 Griswold for $65 that I haven't seasoned yet.  Love the Griswold large logo EPUs.