By Mary, as told by Gary Taylor
About Gary
Gary Taylor of Henderson, North Carolina, retired after a successful management career with General Electric. He is the father of two adult children and grandfather of four. Gary was married to his beloved wife, Peggy, for 30 years before her passing in December 2023.
Warm, engaging, and every bit the Southern gentleman, Gary is the kind of person who can strike up a conversation with just about anyone. During our wide-ranging interview, I quickly discovered that his interests extend well beyond cast iron. He has been playing guitar since he was 13 years old and celebrated his 76th birthday on June 28, 2026.
Music has been a lifelong passion. Gary is a member of the “Muley Holler Gang,” a bluegrass band named for the community of Muley Holler in North Carolina, where his mother was raised. Over the years, he has also played guitar with several well-known groups, including The Kingsmen.
Gary’s Connection to Vintage Cast Iron
Gary’s “cast iron addiction,” as he calls it, began around 1988 with a fifty-cent estate sale find—a wood-handled, chrome-plated Griswold No. 8 skillet. Drawn to its craftsmanship and distinctive markings, he couldn’t resist taking it home. Today, that very skillet occupies a place of honor on the wall of his kitchen.
As Gary tells it, “one thing led to another.” He began haunting antique shops and connecting with fellow collectors through the Cast Iron Marketplace newsletter, a collector-produced mailing that listed people who had specific pieces of cast iron for sale. When eBay arrived on the scene, Gary enthusiastically embraced the new marketplace, purchasing what he laughingly describes as “a lot” of iron. In fact, he quickly added, “I mean a lot!”
Gary also acquired a substantial amount of cast iron from Doris and Bob Mosier, charter members of the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA). Beyond selling him cookware, the Mosiers encouraged Gary to join the association and became important mentors, teaching him what to look for and helping him develop the knowledge that every serious collector values.
At its peak, Gary’s collection numbered approximately 1,000 pieces. Today, it stands at around 700, although he is still actively collecting, with a particular interest in rare and hard-to-find items.
The centerpiece of Gary’s collection is a Griswold “Up to Time” clock, a gift from Peggy. In March 2026, he donated the clock to the Mitchell Cast Iron Museum in her honor—a fitting tribute to both her memory and their shared appreciation of the hobby. Other cherished pieces include a Griswold inkwell, a Griswold-marked desk thermometer, an aluminum Dolly’s Favorite stove, a Griswold burglar alarm, and Griswold service pins.
Gary’s Involvement with the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association
As the collection continued to grow, Gary and Peggy eventually found themselves needing more space. They began selling pieces through a couple of antique malls, allowing them to thin the collection while helping other collectors find treasures of their own.
Gary has been a devoted and active member of the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA) since joining in 1994. Over the past three decades, he has attended all but two national conventions, along with numerous Dixie and Northeast Chapter meets. Gary and Peggy also gave back to the organization by hosting the 2005 national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as several Dixie Chapter meets.
His service to the association has been extensive. After serving as Vice President, Gary was elected President, leading G&CICA from 2007 through 2009. He has also served as a director on the Board of Directors and chaired the Auction Committee for approximately five years. Convention attendees know Gary as a frequent contributor to the popular “Table Talks” and “Show and Tell” (“Stump the Experts”) sessions, where he generously shares his knowledge and experience with fellow collectors.
Gary’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, he received a Service Award recognizing his many contributions to the association, and he has also been honored with the President’s Award on multiple occasions.
Yet, when asked what he values most about G&CICA, Gary doesn’t mention the offices he has held or the awards he has received. Like so many members featured in these spotlights, he points instead to the fellowship. Over the years, the association has given him something even more valuable than cast iron—it has given him many lasting friendships.
A Story from Gary
While serving as President of G&CICA, Gary received a memorable phone call from the son of a former employee of the Favorite Stove & Range Company in Piqua, Ohio. The man explained that he had approximately 15 unused Favorite pieces he wanted to sell, including a bread pan.
That caught Gary’s attention. A two-loaf Favorite bread pan had recently sold for $20,000, so he asked whether that was the model in the collection. When the caller confirmed that it was, Gary asked what he wanted for the entire group.
“$500,” came the reply.
Gary could have accepted the extraordinary bargain without another word. Instead, he explained that the bread pan alone had recently sold for $20,000 and offered $1,000 for the collection. The son declined, insisting that he wanted the cookware to go to someone who would truly appreciate it and that maximizing the sale price was not his priority. After a friendly discussion, they settled on $800.
A short time later, five carefully packed boxes arrived at Gary’s home containing all 15 pieces. It was an unforgettable acquisition—not only because of the remarkable cookware, but because the transaction reflected the honesty, trust, and mutual respect that have long been hallmarks of the cast iron collecting community.
Gary’s Advice for New Collectors
When asked what advice he would offer new collectors, Gary encourages them to focus on rare and hard-to-find pieces. In his experience, those are the items most likely to hold their value and attract strong interest if the time ever comes to sell.
Gary also believes that it is often easier to buy cast iron from a knowledgeable collector than from someone unfamiliar with the cookware. An experienced collector understands the subtle differences that distinguish one piece from another and is more likely to price it fairly. By contrast, an uninformed seller may assign an unrealistic price based on assumptions or internet searches rather than a true understanding of the item’s rarity, condition, and desirability.
