What is a “Sad” Iron? The sad iron got its name from its weight and heft. It played an important role in households of the past, similar to the electric irons we use today. These old irons were heated on wood or coal stoves, a testament to the era they belong to, and were then…
Griswold Cookware
Collectors and Collections,
History and Stories
Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!
Vintage Cast Iron Glue Pots
I usually love thinking about the history of the old pieces of iron that I run across – where they have been, how they have been used, and who used them. The history of the glue pot, however, is not quite as charming for me to ponder. I ran across a pretty little cast iron…
“Griswold” Pup: Authentic or Reproduction?
How can you tell whether a pup marked “Griswold” is authentic or a reproduction? Griswold pups have been widely reproduced. With just a little knowledge and education, you can quickly determine whether a pup marked “Griswold” is authentic or a reproduction. I spent time with Joe and Nancy Zawadowski of Durham, North Carolina, in September…
Ask Mary: Can you identify the maker of this large gem pan?
Update: Facebook reader Michael Cumminskey identified your pan, Steve. It is a “Takoyaki” pan. Do a little google search and you’ll learn all about it. **** Steve Z. of Newell New Jersey wrote to me via the contact form and said: I picked up a large round Gem pan with 28 spots for muffins. The…
The Griswold Burglar Alarm
Griswold made much more than just a line of cookware. Did you know that Griswold also made, and held the patent for, a burglar alarm? I didn’t think so. Inventors John Harvey and David Shields obtained a patent in 1894 for the gadget, and the patent was assigned to Matthew Griswold, founder of the Griswold…
Identifying the Griswold Iron Mountain Line of Vintage Cast Iron Cookware
Tips to help identify the Iron Mountain (by Griswold) line of vintage cast iron cookware, made in the 1940s.
Antique Trader Cover Story: Joseph Zawadowski and his Cast Iron Pups
My little ditty about Joseph Zawadowski and his cache of cast iron pups was the cover story for the February 27, 2019 edition of Antique Trader. I’ve written a bit about Joe’s pups and snuggle pups as well as the infamous “Griswold” “silver” pups, how to identify a reproduction Griswold pup, and current values for…
Vintage ACCO Cast Iron Pup
Jennifer M of Livermore California wrote to me to ask a question about a vintage ACCO cast iron pup via the “Contact Mary” form. She wrote: “I was going through a few boxes of my grandparents special items. I came across the little orange puppy and remembering it sitting on my grandfathers side table. I…