Old company catalogs are incredibly valuable to collectors as they assist in educating, identifying, and dating antique and vintage cast iron and aluminum pieces, as well as in viewing complete product lines. However, these old catalogs are often difficult to come by. Occasionally, a collector may offer reproductions of a catalog from their collection for…
Ephemera and Advertising
Posts that include vintage advertising or other paper concerning a manufacturer or its product(s).
The “Mrs. Potts” Sad Iron
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…
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…
Best batter for use with Griswold cast iron cake molds?
Directions for baking a cake in a Griswold cast iron cake mold.
Griswold “Clean-Easy” Dutch Oven Cover
The Griswold vintage cast iron “clean-easy” Dutch oven cover had a coated underside, which was advertised as an assist in cleaning.
Antique Trader Special Report: Indiana Cast Iron Cookware Auction Draws Bidders from Afar
I wrote a blog post about my excursion to Indiana for a vintage cast iron auction. I have also posted a few videos from the auction on my YouTube channel. I wrote up the story for Antique Trader, and it was published in their April 24, 2019 edition. It is also published on their website….




