Some time ago, someone in one of the many cast iron Facebook groups posted a photo of a brown beer bottle, with raised lettering marked “Wagner” and “Sidney, O.” The person asked whether the bottle was related to the Wagner Manufacturing Company of Sidney, Ohio. The answer? Yes, in a sense. At least the heads…
Griswold Cookware
Collectors and Collections,
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Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!
Ask Mary: My Griswold vintage cast iron skillet is flaking!
Shirl’s Question: Shirl M. from Ann Arbor, Michigan sent in two photos of her large block logo Griswold no. 5 cast iron skillet, and said: “Hi,I purchased a set of Griswold pans from [a seller] a couple of years ago.I’ve really enjoyed them. I don’t use soap, mostly plastic scraper.However, one of my pans is…
Real and Reproduction Griswold Skillet Racks
Consider this scenario: You’ve stumbled across an awesome-looking wire skillet rack marked “Griswold” at a flea market or antique store. You’re thrilled because the price is $40, and you’ve seen Griswold racks sell on eBay for more than $100.(note) Authentic racks sell for a wide range of prices. An authentic rack sold in August 2024…
M. Etta Moses – Aluminum Cookware Pioneer!
I’m a fan of M. Etta Moses, Griswold’s “Aunt Ellen.” In addition to being the face of Griswold as “Aunt Ellen,” Etta Moses is credited with being the force behind Griswold’s entry into the aluminum cookware market. When Etta Moses died in 1948, newspaper articles hailed her as a “pioneer” and “the first woman to ever…
Aunt Ellen, the Betty Crocker of the Griswold Mfg. Co.
I wrote a little story for Southern Cast Iron magazine about M. Etta Moses aka “Aunt Ellen,” the Betty Crocker of the Griswold manufacturing company. Aunt Ellen appeared on the scene in 1922 and soon became the cornerstone of Griswold’s marketing platform. Southern Cast Iron magazine was kind enough to publish my ditty in the…
Ask Mary: Griswold “Victor” Skillet
The Griswold “Victor” vintage cast iron skillet: pricing, markings, damage and more.
Joe Zawadowski and his Vintage Cast Iron Pups
Joe Zawadowski is a vintage cast iron pup collector. He is also a turtle champion, wood carver, bog hunter, dog judge, and skull seeker. I had wanted to see, learn, and write about Joe’s vintage cast iron pup collection for quite some time. The visit that Linda and I made to Joe and Nancy Zawadowski’s…
The Word from Marg on Griswold Cast Iron Quaker Ware
I posted a series of photos of old advertisements for Griswold Quaker Ware. Old ads such as those are very helpful when trying to determine what pieces were part of a particular line of pans. Larry and Marg O’Neil have the full collection of Griswold Quaker Ware, and I had the opportunity to photograph the…