Vintage Cast Iron Cookware Collectors Brenda Bernstein & Doyle Pregler

Brenda and Doyle

Cast-iron collectors Brenda Bernstein and Doyle Pregler live in New London, Minnesota, a small community located about two hours northwest of the Twin Cities.

If you’ve been to one of the national Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (GCICA) conventions and saw a huge semi parked in the parking lot of the convention hotel, it’s a likely indicator that Doyle and Brenda are there. Doyle drives a truck for a living, and Brenda and Doyle try to coordinate his loads with the GCICA national and chapter meetings. They even arrived via semi to the 2016 GCICA convention in Maine! It’s hard to miss Brenda – her beautiful red hair stands out in the crowd.

What Piqued their Interest in Vintage Cast Iron?

Brenda and Doyle’s interest in cast iron cookware began after they bought a few pieces from Cracker Barrel and started cooking with them. After that, they followed an online auction and watched the bidding on a Griswold Square Utility skillet. They had heard of Griswold and “bid like crazy,” winning it. ¹

After winning the pan, they did some research and concluded that they likely paid too much (as often happens when you get caught up in cast-iron auction excitement), but they loved the pan. They could see the difference between their modern cast-iron cookware and the vintage Griswold. They appreciated the quality and artistry, as well as the fine feel of the old iron. They began educating themselves about vintage cast iron, which led to an even greater appreciation of the old Griswold.

Brenda, Doyle, and Cast Iron Collecting

During their research, Brenda and Doyle learned of the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA). In 2014, they saw that the convention was being held near their home in Fargo, North Dakota, and decided to attend. Linda and I also attended, and first met Brenda and Doyle there, at that year’s G&CICA national convention.

It was also Linda’s and my first time attending a G&CICA national convention, and we were all buzzing with excitement. We couldn’t wait to meet fellow cast-iron enthusiasts, see and learn about some incredible pieces, and hunt for a few “new old” treasures of our own.

There’s something especially rewarding about connecting with people who share a passion for vintage cast iron. Sometimes, when I start talking about old iron in everyday settings, I can practically see eyes glaze over. But not with members of the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA). They are deeply enthusiastic about the history, craftsmanship, and character of the old iron—and it shows.

Since that first meeting in Fargo, Linda and I have met up with Brenda and Doyle at various locations throughout the United States, including cast iron auctions, chapter meetings, camping, and at the annual GCICA conventions in Maine, Missouri, Louisiana, and Erie. Brenda and Doyle have attended each annual convention, as well as every Heartland meetup, since the first convention in Fargo.

Brenda and Doyle’s favorite aspect of the group are the members.  They appreciate that the members are friendly and open, treated equally, and come from all walks of life. They enjoy the meetups for the camaraderie and knowledge sharing, as well as the opportunity to see rare and unique cast iron pieces they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to see. 

Brenda is currently the Vice President of the G&CICA, having been elected in 2025. Prior, she was treasurer for three years. She has also served as an “at large” Director. In 2022 she received a service award from past president Scott McCarter, and in 2024 she received the President’s Award from then-president Art Chatfield.

Brenda says that their membership in GCICA has played a big part in their fascination with the old iron. Brenda says,

“The people [in the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association] are absolutely the best and have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to cast iron. The conventions and chapter meets are the place to see rare and unique pieces of cast iron that you won’t see anywhere else.”

Brenda Bernstein

When asked what her best advice was for a new collector, Brenda said: do your homework, join the G&CICA, and talk to—and learn from—the members.

Brenda and Doyle’s Collection

Brenda and Doyle’s collection ebbs and flows between about 500 and 700 pieces. Brenda and Doyle primarily collect Griswold cast-iron cookware, though they also have pieces from other manufacturers. Brenda has a particular soft spot for gem pans and is on the hunt for the elusive No. 1 and No. 7 G.F. Filley gem pans to complete her Filley lineup. Doyle, meanwhile, gravitates toward the classics: early Griswold “ERIE” skillets, big Dutch ovens, and waffle irons. They also have accumulated an interesting assortment of cast-iron odds and ends—coin banks, string holders, cast-iron cows, and even a few apple peelers.

They have picked up pieces at the GCICA national conventions and local auctions. They have also traveled to cast iron collector’s auctions in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky in search of goodies for their collection.

Doyle cleans their iron via lye bath and electrolysis, and currently does the seasoning with Crisco. Brenda takes before-and-after photographs of each piece and enters information about each into an inventory sheet that she created using an Excel spreadsheet.

Brenda told me that while it is hard to pick favorites from their collection, if she had to choose three, they are their Griswold four-paddle hotel waffle iron, Griswold #1 Vienna roll pan, and Griswold rabbit extender.

Brenda’s Mad Baking Skills

Brenda and Doyle’s cast iron collection isn’t confined to display shelves; it’s used every day. Doyle handles most of the family cooking, rotating through various skillets, griddles, and a Lodge wok, while Brenda is passionate about baking. She loves to make cakes but currently finds herself “constantly” baking bread in her Wagner double-loaf pan. ²

Before Brenda and Doyle began eating grain- and dairy-free, Brenda particularly loved to bake cakes, bread, and desserts. She makes the prettiest cake-mold cakes I have ever seen!

Brenda first learned how to frost cakes from a family member some years back. She says she also picked up some tips from the television show “Cake Boss.” Linda has sought out Brenda on more than one occasion to solicit suggestions and advice on how to make a successfully make a Griswold Lamb cake, but Linda has yet to make a cake that even comes close to the “Brenda” standard. I have yet to see a cake made from a Griswold cake mold that even approaches the “Brenda” standard. I’ve seen photos on the web from other bakers and have even come across a website with a plethora of pictures of Easter lamb cakes made in aluminum molds, but nothing I’ve seen to date compares to Brenda’s beautiful cakes.

If you’re game to give it a try, Brenda was kind enough to write instructions for the blog on how to make her beautiful cakes. ³

A Cast Iron Story from Brenda and Doyle

Remember what I said earlier about Brenda and Doyle paying too much at auction for their first piece of vintage cast iron cookware? That wasn’t the only time!

A few years ago, Doyle decided to multitask in the worst way possible: deer hunting from a tree stand while simultaneously following a real-time online cast-iron collector’s auction on his phone. While Doyle juggled a shotgun in one hand and his phone in the other, he suddenly dropped the phone. Chaos ensued. In the mad scramble to rescue his precious auction feed, maintain gun safety, and avoid falling out of the tree stand, he accidentally placed an excessively high winning bid on a Wagner cast-iron skillet. 

The moral of the story? Never try to bag a buck and a bargain at the same time. And, don’t mess with your phone in a deer stand unless you want a surprise skillet showing up at your door!

Brenda’s Advice for New Collectors

Brenda’s advice is succinct: do your homework, join the G&CICA, and talk to—and learn from—the members!

1. Small world. My interest in cast iron also started with the purchase of a Griswold piece (a gem pan) at an auction.
2. Brenda and Doyle currently eat grain- and dairy-free foods only. Prior, Brenda immersed herself in the art of cake-baking. Now, her cake-baking episodes are mainly limited to times when the grandchildren are visiting!
3. The previous owner of this website, Doris Mosier, also wrote a post about making cakes in Griswold cake molds. I have preserved it on this site.