OT: needing a quick down and dirty cast iron advice: OT

RRP

my neighbor's s-i-l father died earlier this summer. This weekend is the estate sale. The deceased couple had multiple collections over their 60 years. The only one that caught my eye was "Multiple cast iron" - but the ad didn't say cast iron what! I asked my elderly neighbor and she. did not know...but she told me the deceased couple had a basement full of antiques. SOOOOOOOO I'm looking for advice of what of value/use to look for.

td66snrf

Buy what you think is a fair deal and what you want and what you can lift. I'm realizing as I get older cast iron gets heavier. 

HeavyG

Might want to scroll thru ebay and see what is being sold for big money - https://www.ebay.com/b/Collectible-Cast-Iron-Cookware/976/bn_3117131?rt=nc&_sop=16

and/or look thru this persons site/listings - https://thepan-handler.com/shop/

CPFC1905

HeavyG said:

Might want to scroll thru ebay and see what is being sold for big money - https://www.ebay.com/b/Collectible-Cast-Iron-Cookware/976/bn_3117131?rt=nc&_sop=16

and/or look thru this persons site/listings - https://thepan-handler.com/shop/

Clicked the link and have added the site to my 'special list'.  My word, works of beauty all of them.

JethroBodeen

Pretty much anything with "Griswold" on it that you like or can use. Its not getting any cheaper.

1voyager

Start with large-logo Griswold. #9 cast iron skillets and above are hard to find, great to use and great to sell on eBay if that's what you're thinking of doing. Small-logo Griswolds sell for a lot less but cook just as well. Griswold dutch ovens are also a great find. Griswold's predecessor, ERIE, is even more valuable. If you're just looking for cast iron cookware for yourself, consider #3, #5, #8 and #9 skillets. Also, #8 or #9 dutch ovens.

Next in line of popularity is Wagner Ware. Wagner Ware made beautiful cast iron cookware and is 1/2 the price or Griswold. If you're looking for value, Wagner Ware is the way to go.

Rather than continue to rattle-off brand names, check out Cast Iron Collector. It's the best source of identifying and collecting cast iron cookware that I have found.

Pass on "spinners" - warped pans that spin on a flat surface. Also hairline cracks and excess pitting. Don't worry about thick coating of carbon. There are several ways to bring that ugly-looking pan back to almost brand-new condition.

Feel free to PM. Collecting cast iron cookware is a lot of fun, but be careful. Doing so can easily become an addiction that is far worse than buying accessories for BGE. 

Lit

Griswold you want large logo and italicized logo. The small logos aren;t worth much and are really heavy. The heat shields are good too. Check that they are not warped. Like this is their older nicer stuff. 

Lit

Image didn't post. Google large logo italicized griswold and you will see. Also different sizes are more rare and worth more like a #8 is pretty common where a #3 isn't and even though its much smaller its worth way more. 

1voyager

Lit said:

Griswold you want large logo and italicized logo. The small logos aren;t worth much and are really heavy. The heat shields are good too. Check that they are not warped. Like this is their older nicer stuff. 

Excellent advice on the slant logo. They're beautiful and highly collectable.

1voyager

Last post, I promise. Here's a comparison of the large/small Griswold logo:

Large logo



Small logo



CAUTION:

There's also a medium logo. This was the last run after Wagner Ware acquired Griswold. The skillets are almost as heavy as a Lodge and cook unevenly. They are referred to as "Wagwold". Pass on those.

kl8ton

Please post back your winnings @RRP

Jupiter Jim

1voyager said:

Last post, I promise. Here's a comparison of the large/small Griswold logo:

Large logo



Small logo



CAUTION:

There's also a medium logo. This was the last run after Wagner Ware acquired Griswold. The skillets are almost as heavy as a Lodge and cook unevenly. They are referred to as "Wagwold". Pass on those.

Just wondering how you know the small emblem pans cook unevenly?

SmokeyPitt

Slant logo: 


Source:
https://www.castironcollector.com/griswoldtm.php#

Jupiter Jim

At the peak of my Griswold collection it was at about 500 pieces, as a collector I wouldn't use a valuable piece for cooking, also a crack or rust pits kill the value. 
Be careful at the auction things can sell for much more than what the real value is, Good luck and hopefully you will get some CI you like.

1voyager

Jupiter Jim said:

1voyager said:

Last post, I promise. Here's a comparison of the large/small Griswold logo:

Large logo



Small logo



CAUTION:

There's also a medium logo. This was the last run after Wagner Ware acquired Griswold. The skillets are almost as heavy as a Lodge and cook unevenly. They are referred to as "Wagwold". Pass on those.

Just wondering how you know the small emblem pans cook unevenly?

The small logo doesn't cook unevenly. The medium logo cooks unevenly. I have two of them (ugh!). It's easy to see when cooking anything, just like when you know there are hot spots on a gas grill.