Two more additions that I picked up at the N.E. gtg. Midwinter brought a pile of cast pans that we all were able to pick through. The first one is a Lodge #3 skillet. Nice thick walls, ground bottom, small cast pour spouts and 3 notches. I think this a 1950's era. Second one is an unmarked breakfast skillet. I have to research it some more. Both got a wire wheel treatment on the angle grinder and veg oil on the stove top heated until smoking. Thank you again Midwinter, these are nice additions to the collection.
Now that garage season is upon is has anyone found any good iron? Seems to me around here it's common knowledge that cast iron retains it's value and/or people sky rocket the value. Also, most of what I've seen at garage sales so far has been crappy Asian brands that people price higher than what they probably were new, and a good amount of the "Wagner 1891 Original" the 1990's brand that non collectors also think is a real gem because they probably mistake it for a vintage Wagner. Saw a #8 of that brand at a recent garage sale for $45. What a joke. I bought 3 pans yesterday at an antique dealer for a reasonable price. They weren't a steal, but I've been so fed up with finding that magic price that I'm willing to just pay a little more within reason. One was a decent deal, a nice smooth surfaced Wagner 8 for $15 which I plan to use at our cottage. The other two I got are a #8 Erie, and a #9 Wapak. I'll post pics after I clean them up.
The prices are outrageous!! My big complaint is for those of us that enjoy using them it sure makes it hard to get decent hardware at a fair price. The 1891 Wagner stuff cracks me up too! I see a lot of it and would be happy to own them, but not at double the price I could buy them new Forgot to add... I’ve been on the search for a nice waffle iron!
Yeah that's the thing, when even the non collectible stuff has climbed in price, it makes me tolerate the "normal" prices of the actual collectible stuff. I've come to realize the trade off is you may spend more but at least it's on something that will last the test of time
A few before and after pics of the cleanup on the few I got earlier this week. Method used was plastic media blasting.
OK, I have a round Lodge griddle which I suspect is of modern production. Could anybody confirm this? Next I have a 9" X 20" griddle that is American made and been in our camp gear for ages. Back says only 9, griddle, cast iron and USA. Any Ideas on this? Was considering selling both at a garage sale. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Yes that Lodge is modern though I don't know exactly the production dates for that logo. My guess for the griddle is possibly a department store brand which if I'm not mistaken were often times unbranded but marked Made In USA (post 1960) and the size/style of pan, and usually made by the normal companies like Griswold or Wagner. I'm no expert and a lot of my knowledge has come from this exact thread on here. Some of the others can probably be a little more helpful than me.
woody5506 , thanks for your reply. I figured the round griddle would be modern. Appreciate the confirmation. The large griddle may have some more info under all the crud, or not. I'll read here how to clean them up and see. Nothing ventured nothing gained. At the very least, I will be able to restore them to usable condition!
I have been looking at all of the pictures of cast iron cookware in use in this thread. Particularly the corn bread and one pot meals. I got hungry and excited and rushed out and bought a Lodge 3.2 qt oven/skillet with cover. Figured it would be an all around useful set. We had roast chicken tonight and tomorrow I'm making the biscuit crusted chicken pot pie from the Lodge recipes out of the leftovers. My Wif makes a good pot pie but never has quite enough gravy for me. Maybe this deeper skillet will work for more gravy. We'll see how this recipe works out. Also grubbed around in the camping gear chop box and out popped a nice cast skillet. I think it may be a gooder! Pretty sure there is another one in the other box. If I find it I'll post a picture. .
Going on The Hundred Mile Yard Sale tomorrow. I'll be watching out for cast iron as usual. Last year Mrs. TD brought me home an unused Wagner 1891 for $5. Still had the sticker on it Gotta remember to take my blue book with me!
Lodge makes a great pan new or old. I'm impressed with the price point I see of the brand new pans. I think the standard #8's are priced at about $15 at my local Wegmans, and they have various other sizes there too all priced cheaper than most fancy teflon coated pans. If you figure the price along with this type of cookware far out living any of us if used and cared for properly it's really a no brainer.
Made it back from the Hundred Mile Yard Sale. I'm beat!! Well... I found a 20" Griswold! Very nice shape! Slightly overpriced at $1500 So I came home with $7 dollars worth of skillets. An 1891 wagner for $2 and a #3 Lodge 3-notch for $5. Rusty Gold. The little Lodge has a very nice surface inside and a heavy build-up of baked-on gunk right around the fire ring. Gave it a quick once over with a brillo pad and a few drips of vinegar and it shined right up. Sprayed it down with oven cleaner and it should look good tomorrow. The 1891 looked pretty bad but I went over it twice with the brillo and vinegar then gave it a good coat of oven cleaner also. Should turn out just fine. I really do like the 1891's for everyday use. I might polish this one up with a worn out flap disc on the angle grinder and smooth out the rough surface just a bit.
Good finds and good work done right there. I really like the cast iron to cook with. I can only use a few pieces. Too heavy for me to store under the cabinets so I have to leave them setting out. Usually a couple skillets is what I need. One big one and one smaller. This and my gas stove and everything is wonderful.
I like the versatility and durability of cast. It can be used to cook over a campfire, stove top, inside a wood stove, used to bake in an oven, put under a broiler... so many uses. Nice score on the rusty metal.
My turn to post some cast iron in use! Biscuit crust chicken pot pie in my new lodge oven/skillet. It turned out great. My Wif says I can buy any more cast pans I want to as long as I use them often. This just means that I do more of the cooking, of course!
What is this stone grinding you speak of, Dave? I've been working on this 1891 since Friday evening and I've coated it at least 4 times with oven cleaner... today I took a flap disc and the wire wheel to it to get the rest of the black crud off. I sanded the inside surface to knock down the sand paper finish it had from the factory and its in the oven now getting seasoned
