I made twelve videos of the O’Neil collection. The first three showcased the O’Neil home’s kitchen and dining room. Now, we’re moving on to the basement, which is jam-packed with treasures! The O’Neil Basement Collection Coming up next: the Museum! You can also see all of the videos (12!) on my youtube channel.
Griswold Cookware
Collectors and Collections,
History and Stories
Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!
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 this particular piece, however, was 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…
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…
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…
Ask Mary: Value of cast iron collection – Where to start?
What reference materials to use when trying to determine the value of a cast iron cookware collection.
The O’Neil Home Collection: Kitchen and Dining area
I’ve spent some time with Marg and Larry O’Neil both at their beautiful home in Tacoma WA, and their chock-full pole barn private cast iron museum located on farmland in the outskirts of Tacoma. Each time I see the collection, I learn more and see more; the collection seems to be never-ending. Some people believe…
Best batter for use with Griswold cast iron cake molds?
Directions for baking a cake in a Griswold cast iron cake mold.