Griswold collectors preserve cast iron pans.
Griswold Manufacturing, makers of cast iron cookware, started business in Erie, Pennsylvania, about 1865. Wagner Manufacturing, an American competitor for years, purchased Griswold in 1957, so Griswold had 92 years of production in Erie. That is nearly a century of production for collectors to date collectible Griswold items. Production continued after that time by another company, and reproduction of Griswold cookware in recent years complicates dating Griswold cast iron pans. You can review the basics in a short time, but some of the finer points take years to learn.
Instructions
1. Look for the oldest Griswold marks from 1865 to 1909. The original company name was Selden and Griswold, and occasional items are still available with this name. There was a spiderweb logo from this same time period that marked teapots and a few skillets. The diamond Erie mark, or "Erie" in a horizontal diamond, was used for griddles and toys during this era.
2. Recognize the Erie in a cross mark from 1897 to 1957. This mark has "Griswold" in a slant font. There were other marks used during this time frame, including the "Erie, Pa. USA" mark. From 1920 to about 1940, Griswold used a block font with no slant. This is the mark most collectors recognize, and this is the era of the most available collectible Griswold cast iron pans.
3. Look for "ERIE" on cast iron pans if you want Griswold. After the purchase of Griswold by Wagner, production continued in Sidney, Ohio, by Randall Company, division of Textron, for about 10 years.
4. Watch for counterfeit pieces and others not made by Griswold, including items with both Griswold and Wagner logos. Griswold & Cast Iron Collectors Association reports that items with both logos came from General Housewares Co. in the 1960s when they owned rights to both logos. Recent counterfeit items are slightly smaller and heavier and the mark is not as clear. They are not as smooth as the original Griswold cookware.
Tags: iron pans, cast iron, cast iron pans, both logos, collectible Griswold