13
taste of
the
south
/
january
february
2014
/////
southern sideboard
cast iron
If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit your great-
grandmother’s beloved skillet, you can still own
a cast-iron heirloom. Internet auctions, antiques
stores, and estate sales are great places to look.
Here are a few tips to guide your search:
Know Your Brands.
Many collectors pick a brand to build a collection
around. Major collectible brands include
Griswold, Wagner, Favorite, Martin, Vollrath, pre-
1960 Lodge, and Birmingham Stove & Range Co.
a note on numbers
While there’s no standard across brands,
numbers stamped on the bottom or handle
indicate a general size. For example, a Wagner #3
measures 5½ inches in diameter, while Griswold’s
#3 is slightly smaller. Rare vintage #2s can go for
up to $1,500 at auction.
if you see it, grab it.
•
Griswold
pieces stamped with a logo that
resembles a cross in a double circle, or a logo in
all block letters, or in italics
•
Wagner
pieces stamped “Sidney -O-” or
“Sidney, O.” If you find one with a pie-shaped
logo, buy it. They’re very rare.
warning signs
•
Excessive rusting or pitting.
A little surface-
level rust can be removed, but watch for deep
rust and pitting in the cookware’s surface.
•
Warping.
Place the piece on a flat surface, and
check for major rocking or wobbling (a little is
acceptable).
•
Hairline cracks.
Hold the pan up to the light.
Look for a scratch that starts at the rim and
moves vertically toward the bottom of the pan.
•
“Made in the USA.”
Chances are, if the pan
has “Made in the USA” stamped on the bottom,
it’s not vintage.
Find more tips at castironcollector.com.
Collectible
By the
Numbers
1.75 million
Approximate number of Dutch ovens it
would take to hold all the water in the
Mississippi River
84 years old
The average age of our Facebook friends’s oldest cast-
iron heirlooms
It would take approximately
7,112,160
(12-inch) cast-iron
skillets to span the distance between Miami, Florida, and
Little Rock, Arkansas.
7.4 pounds
The average weight of a 12-inch cast-iron skillet
cast iron
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