There use to be an auction barn in my town back in the 80’s and 90’s that had a sale every Wednesday and although my taste was and is still eclectic, I bought quite a few cast iron skillets with lids, mostly Griswold or Wagner,bean pots, Dutch ovens and corn bread pans also.A lot of them are not marked. I think I paid no more than five dollars apiece except for a three legged Dutch oven with a lipped lid, I paid twelve dollars for it. The old auction barn is now gone and looking back I wish I had bought a lot more of them and old recurve bows, what an investment if I’d only known what they would be worth now. My mom had a wagner she used all the time when I was growing up. Thinking back on all the fried chicken, gravy and cornbread she prepared in that old skillet brings back great memories. She told me that the old timers would put the skillet in the wood burning stove when there was just a few coals left to burn off years of lard crust on the outside of the pan or skillet. I’ve heard that the folks living out west would hang them outside to get sand blasted clean. Sorry for being so breezy, all I intended to say was this was fun and educational to watch compared to the other useless drivel on u tub, thanks.
Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed my video! I try and put useful information that others can learn from on YT as I learned it from my years of doing this hobby!
I've just discovered your channel and subscribed to it. I'm a cast iron nerd that hasn't been collecting very long and I need this type information. I live in SE Tennessee so I find more vintage unmarked Lodge and BS&R, any marked piece is always harder to find. I don't even see many Martins because of the logo. That just makes it sweeter when you do find one.
Welcome aboard! Thank you for subbing and stopping by! I don't hunt for it as much as I did as I have no more room to add to the 40+ pieces I have now unless I get rid of some! I will continue to be on the lookout for pieces. In my area, I typically now find Lodge, BSR, Wagner more often than other brands like Griswold, Vollrath, antique Wagner, and such. I don't believe I have ever found a marked Martin. I did find Piqua Ware 3 years ago, but it was sold as I couldn't use it!
This was very helpful. I picked up a #5 skillet at a thrift store yesterday that had about an 1/2 inch of crust all over it and you could not see if it was marked, just 5. Ran it through the clean cycle on my oven and it came out beautiful. Just has a #5 and a dot on the bottom with a continuous heat ring. By the handle it looks like a Birmingham. It's in the oven now enjoying a seasoning sauna.
Sounds great! You will love it when you finish the whole process. Be sure to catch my video on updated seasoning techniques I put out late in 2019. It is foul proof! If you need help finding the link, let me know. It should be in my cast iron play list. Anyway, thanks for watching and best of luck with your new pieces!
I have an old "Erie" skillet that i I'm guessing was my great great grandparents. Cleaned it up a few years ago, but unfortunately I found a hairline crack by the handle. Sometimes I use it for cornbread, but it's mostly for decoration now. Most of my other skillets are newer lodge. The skillet from the combo cooker is my favorite, and now it has become smooth as glass from everyday use. The price is hard to beat. Been wanting more vintage pieces, love that milled finish and lighter weight. Found an unmarked wagner #5, cleaned, seasoned and now have a perfect scrambled egg pan. Its addicting, wanting to collect and save all these pieces of history from being destroyed or forgotten.
I can surely relate to the disappointment felt when spotting a hairline crack on a skillet following the initial thrill of finding an old potentially valuable skillet or in your case just having one you find is valuable and better constructed than their modern equivalents. As time marches on, it makes the older ERIE pre-Griswold and Griswold skillets even more rare without damage and the ones that still exist are at exposure for damage in the future. So adding functional pieces of modern cast iron that work makes perfect sense, but nothing beats the excitement of finding an old antique or vintage piece!
Thank for the video! I have 2 of my grandmothers unmarked iron pans and I’ve been curious to find their age. The main one I use is a number 7 with the BSR handle design and a solid heat ring. All it says on the bottom is No. 7 10 1/4 IN and has an X with a circle around it. The other I believe is a Dutch oven. It’s a No. 8 and has taller sides with the BSR handle design but no heat ring and I have the matching lid. Or at least a lid. Looks identical to the lid from your video but without any numbers stamped on the top. There’s more at my grandfathers house and now I want to go check them all out! Thanks!
I am glad that you found my video and stopped by to watch! Good luck figuring out the rest of your grandmother's skillets! Check out this link: www.castironcollector.com for a lot for good info on collecting, restoring, cleaning, identifying cast iron skillets!
I may just have a Griswold like your favorite pan you've never used!!! I'm currently trying to restore the cast iron skillets my nana left to me after she passed. They were originally my great grandmother's... so they're about 80 years old. They're so incredibly covered in crud! The only thing I can read on the bottom is a number & the letter P (another pan has the letter L) the pour spouts & handle definitely looks like yours. All of my pans have the heat rings on the bottom too
The little Lodge "griddle". I've got one very similar but it's always been known as a "comal". It's what the tortillas get cooked on. It has no made in USA stamp or any markings for that matter that I can see. Like my other cast iron cook ware it's pretty much covered in crud though. I never really thought about how much crud was on them until I started watching a few of these awesome videos, they've always just been that way, funny. So time to clean 'em and see if I can identify them, cool stuff.
I have several old Lodge, Wagner and Griswold's, and recently bought a Field. It is AWESOME. the quality is off the charts and the walls a bit thiner like a 100 year old Griswold. Unlike the new finish on the Lodge skillets which is like asphalt, the Field was nice and smooth out of the box. Great skillet.
Thank you Macca! I certainly feel for you and international shipping and the taxes/fees would make it most unaffordable. Cast iron might be an American thing because most of all the cast iron I have seen has been made here in the USA. You might have to buy modern, then totally strip, sand it, then re-season it to get it closer to vintage. Do you have any Walmarts in the outback?
We do have new Lodge for sale here but getting Griswold and Wagner here is very difficult. As for Walmarts, we don't have any here in Australia unfortunately. I live in Sydney and our 'outback' virtually has nothing.
I just bought, trying to identify… a #8 looks EXACTLY like your southern mystery!!! It’s unmarked. Has the unique handle, heat ring, a gate mark, and 8 on the top of the handle like yours. Keeping it for me.. would love to put a date on it!
Very cool! I love mine. It is a wonderful user. I don't believe mine has a gate mark. If yours does, it dates back to the late 1890s or so. Great pickup!
My fiancées grandfather gifted myself a #8 SMS skillet IDENTICAL to the one you show towards the end of this video. I’ve spent many hours trying to identify this pan with little to no luck. But what peaks my interest about both of our pans is what the underneath of the handle looks like. At first I thought that mine had been repaired by a previous owner at some point because it looked as though it had been patched, but your pan has the same exact “flaw” as mine. In my opinion both of our pans had to have been cast using the same mold at around the same time. At the moment, my far fetched theory is that possibly the mold was purchased by another foundry and the that the mold was altered in order to not be identified as the original owner’s cast iron. Either that, or there was a problem with the original mold itself and was never sold to another foundry. Unfortunately for now I believe for our skillets to still be a mystery, but I firmly believe that it’s one that can be solved. Anyways, thank you very much making this video and sharing your knowledge and wisdom! You have sparked a new and stronger desire for me to identify our pans and have their story told. Thanks again!
I love this skillet! I re-examined my skillet based on your remarks and it does look like someone patched the underside of the handle. Your "far fetched" theory could have some merit as the manufacturer didn't want to be caught using someone else's mold. Who really knows?! I just know that I like it and it looks different than the typical vintage skillet out there. It has been a great user for me and I will not part with it because it is so unusual. I am happy to know that ours are identical, so the patching theory probably doesn't apply as both of them are the same. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry it took me so long to reply! It's been a busy summer! lol
I just purchased an early 60s Lodge #5 with the 3 notch fire ring. Paid $28.00 at a Peddlers mall. I did sand the cooking surface and seasoned it 4 times got it really slick. It cooks very well. I restored the BSR round cornbread skillet I have had for 50 years at least.
I would never recommend sanding cast iron as it can destroy the value. That said, if you intend to keep it as a user, then improving the cooking surface only helps in that situation. I have wire wheeled a few pans myself that I have kept.
Good video with lots of info. I just picked up a wagner #10 today at an antique shop took it home and cleaned it up and seasoned it and it works awesome..was curious to find out how old it was...I’m not sure if I’m correct but all it has on the bottom is a Wagner ware stylized logo no sidney-o and on the bottom made in USA and 11-3/4” skillet..I think if I’m reading the website correctly it would put it somewhere between 1960-69..they had a bunch of other smaller sized Wagner’s there and I saw a griswold as well I avoided them because this one looked to be best condition of all and I’d never restored one before but I might have to go back and grab some of the others now...I’ve been wanting to grab some old iron for my kitchen set for a while...my grandma had some old school iron skillets that were her fathers that I wanted to inherit but unfortunately she passed and a family member in control of the house scrapped them all :(
Glad you enjoyed the video with all of the information I got from my own experience! I should be uploading another one soon with my collection as it is now. Please stay tuned and thanks for watching!
I haven't been to an antique mall in quite a while. I suppose I am over due, but it was very lean last time I was there! Now that you know something, when you go back, you might just recognize one of these pieces if they are in stock! lol Thanks for stopping by. :-)
Great video. I’ve been trying to identify a Dutch oven I recently got and looks identical to your Birmingham. Is the oven stamped on the boots? Mine is 8G1
My family passed along some old cast iron that I would like to know more about. What is a good resource? One of the large pots has three legs for cooking on an open fire simply marked 1 N 1... any feedback would be appreciated
My go to site is www.castironcollector.com which is loaded with all sorts of information from collecting to unbranded cast iron, to restoration and cleaning. Best of luck to you!
I recently inherited my grandparents cast iron. Now I am curious as to what I have as there are no markings except for numbers. I thought the numbers were the size of the skillets. Thank you so much for video!
Thanks for watching! Yes, the numbers on the skillets correspond to the sizes that would have traditionally fit the old range rings of the cooking stoves of the early 1900s. A number 3 skillet would fit the number 3 ring on the stove and so forth. A #3 actually is about 6.5 inches in width. If you are looking at several skillets with the same size #, they are also not exactly the same size either. Hope this helps.
Some of the unmarked Wagner skillets were marketed with paper labels which said they were Griswold on the labels in the 1960's and 1970's. Wagner Ware did buy out The Griswold Manufacturing Company in the 1950's. I remember looking at cast iron skillets with my father in the 1970's at the variety store that had the paper labels that said Griswold but looked exactly like Wagners.
Yes, I remember reading about Wagner buying out Griswold. Too bad really. I really think Griswolds were much much better in quality than Wagner. I find many more Wagners that are warped or cracked which might be in part to how they were taken care of. On the other hand, perhaps Griswold was more expensive in general and their owners tended to take care of them better? Just thinking out loud! lol
Great video I picked up a skillet that has the heat ring and has a number 5 recessed in the handle and on the bottom it also has the number 5 underlined. Can’t find any for sure info. Any idea. Thx
Thank you! Your skillet sounds like an unmarked Vollrath. I have a couple in my recent videos. I bought a #8 in July and more recently a #5 over Labor Day weekend. I will find the link for you. In the meanwhile check out this site: www.castironcollector.com Here is the link to my video where I show a Vollrath #5 with a heat ring that could be like your skillet. Start at 19:34 in the video. ua-cam.com/video/uw07hTZalOM/v-deo.html
LadyLibertyStacker thanks I found the information I was looking for from the web site you said in the beginning of your video. Your right it’s a Vollrath I think late teens to early twenties I think. Thanks for a quick response
I've been trying unsuccessfully to ID a large cast iron chicken fryer. Very smooth bottom inside and out. A small D under the handle. The lid has drip nipples and a hourglass shape symbol on the inside center of the lid made from two triangles. Any ideas? Belonged to my grandmother who died in the 60's.
Check out www.castironcollector.com and that web site has a section on how to identify unmarked cast iron. That should help. If you want, you can send me some pics to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and I can take a look. Thanks!
I have an unmarked pan that matches a few details of a few makers. And a few years. The only distinctive barking is a knot at the base of the handle right before it meets the pan. I would love to find out how old this is
Thanks for watching! I find these usually at estate sales which unfortunately now with COVID-19 are non-existent. I will be hitting them hard once they resume again, but it's hard telling when that will happen.
Yes, me too. They also seem to be in better condition than many other brands seem to be, whether they were better taken care of or simply better made is up for debate! Thanks for watching!
I found two skillets that are not marked with a brand. The only markings on the bottom are E 8 on the larger one, and E 1 on the smaller one. I just wondered if these were collectible or had any value. Thank you.
Without seeing them, I can't say for sure. I did a Google images search for "unmarked cast iron skillet Wagner 8 E" and images will come up. You can probably tell that way what you have. Without seeing it, it probably has a heat ring and could be a Favorite Piqua. Griswold didn't make that many unmarked pieces in comparison to other manufacturers which is why I say that. Best of luck!
I have a cast iron skillet passed down from my Grandmother with "No. 6" on the back, that's it and I'm 60 years on.. this skillet was manufactured way before 1960, any clues to how old this skillet really is?
I would actually have to have more information to be able to tell you this. here is a great web site that has all kinds of information on dating your cast iron based on features of the skillet. www.castironcollector.com Good luck!
Could you help with identifying my pan. All it has is 8 at the top with SK under that. At the bottom is D2. Also on the heat ring is one notch, above the number 8. The actual pan size in 10 1/2”
Just now saw this post! Forgive me or UA-cam for hiding it! lol It sounds to me like a 1 notch Lodge which was among their earlier offerings. Without seeing it, I can't be sure, but the tell tale signs are the 1 notch along with the SK markings which Lodge is known for. See www.castironcollector.com for help with identifying unmarked iron.
Nice! I have one of those mystery southern skillets, its a no 7 & it has 56 marked on bottom with the heat ring. It has a very smooth cooking surface. A nonstick cooker like my Griswold & Wagner but the spout ears aren't as big. I don't know who made it but its a favorite of mine.
Not a clue without more information or a picture. Please see this site as a reference. www.castironcollector.com It is one of my go to sites to look up information I don't know.
Not sure. Many times a letter like that is part of the model number or P/N. You can use www.castironcollector.com as a starting point to look up info on cast iron.
I honestly don't know because there are so many makes of vintage cast iron floating around out there. Here is a good reference source that should help. www.castironcollector.com There is a section on how to identify unmarked cast iron and other sections on the various manufacturers. Good luck!
Here is a web site for your review www.castironcollector.com. It has a lot of information about how to identify old vintage cast iron. Try Googling a description of your cauldron. Hope this helps.
If you just want a good cooker, it isn't a bad skillet. It is certainly not collectible in that it was made in 1991 commemorating Wagner's anniversary I think. Hope this helps!
Yes, I no longer collect, but I can't part with this one. I was super excited to find it and I remember that moment every time I look at it! Thanks for watching! 😊
Hi, I have a OLD cast iron number 8 with a heat rig on it, and a straight protruding line in the middle of the skillet. Can you send me information on what I have ? It was for the old stoves that used wood
Is that line on the bottom of the skillet or the cooking surface? If it is on the bottom, this is an antique made in the late 1800s before the more "modern" casting techniques were developed in foundries. If it is in good shape, just keep it in good condition. These are useful relics from the past.
@@linfordklahn3351 It's really hard to say without knowing it's condition. Restored with correct industry guidelines is worth more. You can go onto eBay and search for skillets like yours (same age and condition) then click on the sold listings too see what they actually go for. Hope this helps.
Your unmarked mystery piece looks like a Canadian McClary I've seen. It didn't have the heat ring or the raised number on the handle, but that might just be because yours is older and unmarked. The handle, pour spouts and general shape and size are the same. I can email pictures of it if you'd like.
Thank you Mykeal, that would be great! You can reach me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com. I've always been told it is a southern mystery skillet, so your pics would certainly be appreciated!
Great video! I found a cast iron skillet at a thrift store for $10 a few years ago. I finally decided to clean and season it. What I thought said 'PIE' underneath turned out to be ERIE. On the bottom is 710 and under that a C. It's got the heat ring and a no. 9 at the top. Also, the handle and outside of the pan were chromed, and well, most of it has flaked off. Anyway, I'm guessing this pan to be the "heat ring, slant epu, 1909 - 1929. I wonder what its worth!
Thank you Counting Sheeple! If you don't mind, you can send me a pic or pics to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and I can take a look. As to worth, all you would do is to do a search on eBay for active listings, then click on sold to see what has sold in the size you have. It all depends on the condition (restored or not, damage/flaws), size, chrome plated or not, etc. eBay just gives you an idea of what you could expect to get in the condition that it is when listed. Hope this helps!
It's hard to tell without a few photos. Please see www.castironcollector.com There is a section called how to identifying your unmarked iron. It might help.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you. From the description on the castironcollector.com site it may be from the Blacklock 1900-1910 group. I'll keep digging there.
If it has an external heat ring, you might be onto something! How cool to own an original Blacklock skillet. You might want to contact Lodge Manufacturing to see if anyone there might know if what you have is an original one. The info seems hard to come by. They are based in Cleveland Tennessee I think.
Sounds like an unmarked Lodge. Why don't you Google those specs and select images? I get you can fine a pan that looks like it. You can try "unmarked Lodge cast iron pans" and see what pops up.
Please I could use your help🙏 I have a cast iron that was my great grandmothers, I found that has ZERO markings. Absolutely no markings on it. The bottom is flat with no raised lip and the handle doesn’t have that tear drop hole. It’s just a circular hole with a SLIGHT indent tapering towards the skillet. It’s 11inches wide with two pour spouts and about 3 inches deep. The handle also looks a little suspicious, can’t tell if it’s crud or welding. It does have a lid similar to your Dutch oven lid. Without the dimples though and has two pour spout covers. It has 3 circular rows of raised teeth with the only marking being a (v) and a line under the v in the center underside of the lid. Could have come from a different set. Oh but when I tell you I’ve SEARCHED and searched 😭 I have. I tried the cast iron collector but I haven’t found anything. I’ve also looked up vintage cast iron markings…….. and nothing. I’ve done google search image and very similar bubble top lids with raised teeth markings but no v. I’m sorry I know this is a lot lol but please just tell me if it’s worth cleaning. I’m at my wit’s end with this thing. Great video and very helpful with my other cast irons thank you !!!
It could be an unmarked Wagner, but if you did all that research and still couldn't tell, then who really knows? If you send me some photos to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com, then I might recognize it, but I make no guarantees! I have an unmarked Wagner with a circular hole in the handle that I use occasionally because it has a nice lid and with it being about 3 inches deep, it makes a great chicken fryer. That said, if you think you would enjoy seeing more possible markings you should strip it anyway (I would throw it in my lye tank) just to see if the bones are good then if they are, go ahead and clean & season it. You might find a crack or some underlying damage like serious pitting (it has happened to me plenty of times - that is part of collecting and restoring old cast iron). If you do, then I wouldn't bother restoring. That is a call you will have to make! Good luck!
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you I would greatly appreciate it. No guarantees that’s it completely ok. I would love to use it or display it. Just not sure if it’s going to cause me problems or if I heat it up and it snap for whatever reason(🤷🏻♀️ not very knowledgeable with these if being fakes). I did some light scrubbing with hot water… but still no marks. Looks to be in good shape too. No pitting yet. Just needs a better cleaning and proper season. I will definitely send some pictures. Just looking to have a better understanding of what it is. So any help/insight is greatly appreciated.
I have an old large skillet with large pour sprouts and a heat ring on the very outside (your heat rings are slightly inset) I have yet to clean the campfire carbon off and have no guess who made it. Steep sides and deep but not as deep as a chicken fryer, about 1/3 inch deeper than most skillets. No numbers on the handle, nor a pronounced ridge, does have about a 1cm flat triangle at the connect point to the handle.... ANYONE HAVE ANY GUESS?
Without more information, I cannot. Here is a link that might help you. www.castironcollector.com. Click on the tab that says collecting cast iron and there is a drop down window. Scroll down to identifying your no name iron and this should get you start. Good luck!
@@ladylibertystacker2014 I found out it is a BSR Red Mountain Series #4, a rare one as they didn't make many of them. And I got it at an antique store for $15!
Found a Dutch oven in my garage. Hand me down. The lid is a Griswold. Stamped Erie Pa, 1098 C. I’m not convinced the bottom is a match. It only has a number 8 marking on the bottom. Been trying to hunt down what that could be.
You might want to check out www.castironcollector.com for the section on unmarked iron. There is also a Facebook group about cast iron identification which is extremely helpful. Here is the link: facebook.com/groups/630846790367804/?multi_permalinks=3270276086424848
Not too sure. Wagner has Made in USA stamped on bottom, while many Lodge pans have it stamped in the middle with a number on top. Is the heat ring continuous or does it have notches. There is a Lodge with 3 notches and also one with a single notch. My tip is to Google the cast iron pan with its features to see what images you come up with. It could also be a Wager because they often used the sizing (10 1/4 inch) on the bottom.
I've never run into a Martin before in the wild and just ran into a 3 notch #3 marked Lodge just recently. Yep, it had an "L" on the bottom, so it was a Lodge. It was not marked USA so it was from the 1950s. Your piece probably had Made in USA on the bottom.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Is there a way to upload a picture here? Dont use youtube often. My Lodge #8 has Made in USA so post 1960. The Martin #8 has just Florence, ALA. along with the 8 and Martin Stove & Range Co. Both have the 3 notches in the heat ring. Yours is the second sight that has said only Lodge had the 3 notches so I thought it was at least interesting to have a Martin with it as well.
That's interesting. I will need to do a bit more research on the Martin Stove & Range manufacturer as I am not as familiar with them as I am other makers. I don't know of a way to upload a photo other than make a post on your own channel showing the skillets side by side. If you just wanted to show me, then you can send to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com.
speaking about “notches”...Lodge is not the only one to make 3 notch skillets. I have a #8 (10 1/4”-1/2”) from Mexico that has 3 notches and I have a smaller Korean skillet that has 3 notches. But for American made ones, yes, Lodge was the only one that had notches in their heat ring.
Interesting comment. Now that you mention it, I saw a three notch Asian skillet in a thrift store that the vendor incorrectly stated Lodge! That said, I didn't realize that they were made in Mexico too!
Well, I eat crow at the end Of my comment because there actually were some other American manufacturers that had those notches in their rings I have noticed as of lately
I am selling out of most of my cast iron pieces. I am not actively doing it anymore due to lack of time and wear & tear on my oven. I do have a few pieces left. Here is a listing to one of them. www.ebay.com/itm/125307685959
It could be a less common Lodge piece or Chicago Hardware Foundry (CHF). If you do a Google image search using these names, you might be able to ID your piece. Good luck and thanks for your question.
I have inherited 4 cast iron pans at my mom passed and 2 are lodge and say usa but it has bsk. Just USABSK OR 8SK. and 1 with nothing but a 6 or 9 under it and 1 nothing on it. Can i email u to send photos to see if u might help me identify
I am really just curious about the circlular flat griddle my mother always used for flour tortillas and it has the 6 or 9 on the bottom and nothing else and the bottom is odd.... It a very deep indention all the way around it. And the very small one has nothing on either side
You can send an email to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and list the questions with the pertinent photos of the skillets in question and I will attempt to help you. I hope this helps.
I picked up a very old skillet at The Goodwill. It had years of crusty seasoning all over it, and the seasoning layers were almost 1/8 inch thick. The skillet needed to be cleaned, and reasoned. Due to the layers of seasoning, the skillet had no visible mark. I paid $3.99 for the skillet, and took it home. I cleaned the skillet, and reasoned it. After cleaning the years of seasoning off the skillet, I noticed there was an Indian head on it, and it was marked Wapak. The skillet was highly collectible, and worth several hundred dollars.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 On another trip to the same Goodwill, I came across a #2 Griswold cast iron skillet with the large logo for $2.99. It also was in remarkable condition, and needed no cleaning. It was another jackpot.
I really would have no idea without doing some research. Values tend to fluctuate over time going up and going down. The best way to find out is to do a search on eBay as to what the sales prices are. Once you do the search and get a list of items for sale that match your pot, scroll down on the left side to get what they actually sold for. You will want to click on SOLD and see. What you will find many times is that the sales prices are less than asking (typical for a lot of things) and sellers often ask for more than what they will actually take if there is a best offer option button. Good luck!
It wasn't in video. I was just askin if maybe you k ow off hand. Like the lids for pots. Some of them are skinny on one side and fat on the other. Someone told me tht you use tht to point the steam in any direction. Was wondering if it had truth behind it
Not sure. It all depends on the current condition of the skillet, not to mention the structural integrity of the skillet. If you can restore it, it could be a great user for you.
Unfortunately no. Please see this web site. It is a great starting point. www.castironcollector.com They have a lot of great information on unmarked cast iron and go into detail on logos, brands, fonts, numbers, and other markings.
That is difficult, but you can sometimes tell from the way the pour spouts were made along with the handle. Sometimes you can't tell for sure. Here is a site for reference: www.castironcollector.com. This should help.
Turns out I have a lodge #8. Is has KS at 12 o'clock, the inset hear ring with a bitch and 9 12 and 3 o'clock. Made in USA in the center and a D1 at 6 o'clock. I know it was made post mid 60s because according to the website that was when lodge started stamping made in USA on their pans. I wonder what the be D1 means and how much this skillet might be worth?
The D1 is either the mold used in production and/or shift of the worker casting the pan. As to current value, do a search on eBay for that type of a skillet, then click on the sold listings. That will tell you what they are currently going for. Hope this helps.
I am not sure. I started collecting 5 years ago, but have slowed down over the past year, partly because I used to sell a bunch of them (not so much anymore) but kept the best ones for my own collection. Recently I stumbled across a somewhat rare #7 Griswold skillet at an antique mall and got a decent deal on it, so I bought it. I think I am just going to keep it for now, although, I could make a decent profit if I restore it. I plan to put up a video on that one soon. But to address your collection, I think it is the thrill of the hunt and what you might find at least it is for me! lol
what is this pan called used for/ k cant add pic but griwald round Muffin pan // i just got it n cleaned it n cooked egs in it egg pit perfect in the hole
I just picked up for $4.00 - Bottom states, 6 1/2-inch. skillet then there is an H mark under it. Under the handle there is an H mark. No fire ring, top of handle the number 3 Thanks.... Just like the one you showed. Thanks PS" what is it worth, please?
You can do a search on eBay for that skillet to find listing prices and actual sold listings to determine actual value. They do change over time as the market demand changes for that skillet or cast iron in general.
Thank you! There are hallmarks of both Lodge and Wagner but no one seems to know exactly what it is. It has been referred to as a Southern Mystery Skillet by cast iron collectors.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 I definitely understand i wouldn't wanna part with it either. I hope you can help me identify this pan I picked up at at yard sale in NC last week while traveling
@@ladylibertystacker2014 your welcome. It wasn't easy. I had to do some serious research for a friend of mine who owns this skillet. He told me it's the best one he's ever owned but had no clue where it was made. Electrolux owned that company from what ive read. I'm assuming that's how it made itself into the u.s. to sell its skillets. Sorry I bothered you when I asked. At the time I didn't know. Just lucked out finding about it shortly afterwards. Have a great day.
I just found a 12in cast iron pan at goodwill. NO makers marks. Very faint very smooth gate mark. $40. Recessed bottom ring, secondary handle. The handles look like lodge. To me it's looks like very good condition. Anyone have a good idea on age? It rings and I hadn't had one that big yet. I'm Happy.
If it has a smooth gate mark, then that skillet would have been made in the late 1880s-1890s when they gate marked skillets. That was before more modern foundries modified the manufacturing techniques. Some of them have pitting patterns on the bottoms due to the sulfur found in cooking methods in the 19th century. Some don't have this, but many do. Hope this helps!
Without seeing your skillet I can't know for sure. If your skillet has the same design features mine did (inset heat ring), handle, smaller pour spouts and the like, it probably is, but 5B might have been an earlier run than 5N. 5 usually stands for the size skillet, the letter after is what series or run it was if that makes sense. Griswold and Wagner did the same thing.
Thank you Jay. Modern Lodge does lack character and is extremely heavy. That said it is quite useful on dishes requiring much heat retention or baking where the assist handle is quite helpful. Actually there are pros and cons to all cast iron pieces for one reason or another! Thanks for watching!
There is no law on the books that states that cast iron has to be stamped with Made in USA. they started stamping USA as a sales gimmick because Asian country were making inferior products and the US companies wanted to indicate US products from others.
Makes sense. Most things stamped Made in USA were manufactured at later dates (post 1960) from my experience. I use it as an aging tool for dating cast iron.
Most people who post videos of cast iron makers plainly state the FTC had this law made to protect the American industry from outside countries flooding the market.
@@CHAY-1 So your suggesting my "Martha Stewart Everyday" cast iron skillet was made before 1960? Nope! Also the Mason (jar) company put out a set of 3 cast iron skillets for christmas 2019..not marked where made. They have stopped doing this.
@@truneilson As a collector and dealer of cast iron for OVER 50 years (FAVORITE BRAND (PIQUA WARE) , GRISWOLD,WAGNER & more) I know what year they were REQUIRED BY LAW to mark cast iron USA. I did not say they still do mark the new cast they make. You can look at a new skillet and tell it is not old by the way they are made.Right now I am looking at all my skillets, griddles & cast iron pots. Shall you ever decide to look it up you will find 1960 and when it was required to mark skillets country of origin.Before 1960 MANY cast iron pieces were not marked.Some early GRISWOLD which was ERIE was marked only ERIE.PIQUA WARE was marked FAVORITE PIQUA WARE with no USA. Early pieces of cast iron,prior to 1880, had no markings at all. They had a gate mark going across the bottom of the skillet.
And that's exactly why I strip them down to bare bones base or gun metal gray bare iron. They are soaked in a lye bath and a vinegar bath interchangeably and scrubbed down in between. When the skillet has been stripped there should be only iron all ready to be seasoned. I apply 3-4 layers of seasoning and to date, no one has exhibited any lead poisoning symptoms to date. Most of the lead has been melted in pots to make bullets and the like, and I stay away from them for myself or to resell. What you should be concerned with is modern cast iron with accents that could have lead in them (think Finex) or many brands of enameled cast iron with the exception of Le Creuset made in France which has to meet California proposition 65 to be lead free under a certain low amount. Also any cast iron made in China could have lead as their quality controls are not what they are in the states. If one is concerned, they can always have their piece tested. As for me, I don't have concerns because I buy high quality pieces and all of them are stripped down to the base metal then seasoned.
false info about lead checking everything. I've used plenty of pieces and they were just wash, dried and put away. The lead scare is just that...a scare.
There use to be an auction barn in my town back in the 80’s and 90’s that had a sale every Wednesday and although my taste was and is still eclectic, I bought quite a few cast iron skillets with lids, mostly Griswold or Wagner,bean pots, Dutch ovens and corn bread pans also.A lot of them are not marked. I think I paid no more than five dollars apiece except for a three legged Dutch oven with a lipped lid, I paid twelve dollars for it. The old auction barn is now gone and looking back I wish I had bought a lot more of them and old recurve bows, what an investment if I’d only known what they would be worth now. My mom had a wagner she used all the time when I was growing up. Thinking back on all the fried chicken, gravy and cornbread she prepared in that old skillet brings back great memories. She told me that the old timers would put the skillet in the wood burning stove when there was just a few coals left to burn off years of lard crust on the outside of the pan or skillet. I’ve heard that the folks living out west would hang them outside to get sand blasted clean. Sorry for being so breezy, all I intended to say was this was fun and educational to watch compared to the other useless drivel on u tub, thanks.
Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed my video! I try and put useful information that others can learn from on YT as I learned it from my years of doing this hobby!
I've just discovered your channel and subscribed to it. I'm a cast iron nerd that hasn't been collecting very long and I need this type information. I live in SE Tennessee so I find more vintage unmarked Lodge and BS&R, any marked piece is always harder to find. I don't even see many Martins because of the logo. That just makes it sweeter when you do find one.
Welcome aboard! Thank you for subbing and stopping by! I don't hunt for it as much as I did as I have no more room to add to the 40+ pieces I have now unless I get rid of some! I will continue to be on the lookout for pieces. In my area, I typically now find Lodge, BSR, Wagner more often than other brands like Griswold, Vollrath, antique Wagner, and such. I don't believe I have ever found a marked Martin. I did find Piqua Ware 3 years ago, but it was sold as I couldn't use it!
This was very helpful. I picked up a #5 skillet at a thrift store yesterday that had about an 1/2 inch of crust all over it and you could not see if it was marked, just 5. Ran it through the clean cycle on my oven and it came out beautiful. Just has a #5 and a dot on the bottom with a continuous heat ring. By the handle it looks like a Birmingham. It's in the oven now enjoying a seasoning sauna.
Sounds great! You will love it when you finish the whole process. Be sure to catch my video on updated seasoning techniques I put out late in 2019. It is foul proof! If you need help finding the link, let me know. It should be in my cast iron play list. Anyway, thanks for watching and best of luck with your new pieces!
I have an old "Erie" skillet that i
I'm guessing was my great great grandparents. Cleaned it up a few years ago, but unfortunately I found a hairline crack by the handle. Sometimes I use it for cornbread, but it's mostly for decoration now. Most of my other skillets are newer lodge. The skillet from the combo cooker is my favorite, and now it has become smooth as glass from everyday use. The price is hard to beat. Been wanting more vintage pieces, love that milled finish and lighter weight. Found an unmarked wagner #5, cleaned, seasoned and now have a perfect scrambled egg pan. Its addicting, wanting to collect and save all these pieces of history from being destroyed or forgotten.
I can surely relate to the disappointment felt when spotting a hairline crack on a skillet following the initial thrill of finding an old potentially valuable skillet or in your case just having one you find is valuable and better constructed than their modern equivalents. As time marches on, it makes the older ERIE pre-Griswold and Griswold skillets even more rare without damage and the ones that still exist are at exposure for damage in the future. So adding functional pieces of modern cast iron that work makes perfect sense, but nothing beats the excitement of finding an old antique or vintage piece!
Thank for the video! I have 2 of my grandmothers unmarked iron pans and I’ve been curious to find their age. The main one I use is a number 7 with the BSR handle design and a solid heat ring. All it says on the bottom is No. 7 10 1/4 IN and has an X with a circle around it. The other I believe is a Dutch oven. It’s a No. 8 and has taller sides with the BSR handle design but no heat ring and I have the matching lid. Or at least a lid. Looks identical to the lid from your video but without any numbers stamped on the top. There’s more at my grandfathers house and now I want to go check them all out! Thanks!
I am glad that you found my video and stopped by to watch! Good luck figuring out the rest of your grandmother's skillets! Check out this link: www.castironcollector.com for a lot for good info on collecting, restoring, cleaning, identifying cast iron skillets!
BSR is from Birmingham Stove and Range.
I may just have a Griswold like your favorite pan you've never used!!! I'm currently trying to restore the cast iron skillets my nana left to me after she passed. They were originally my great grandmother's... so they're about 80 years old. They're so incredibly covered in crud! The only thing I can read on the bottom is a number & the letter P (another pan has the letter L) the pour spouts & handle definitely looks like yours. All of my pans have the heat rings on the bottom too
I love it! Thanks for stopping by!
The little Lodge "griddle". I've got one very similar but it's always been known as a "comal". It's what the tortillas get cooked on. It has no made in USA stamp or any markings for that matter that I can see. Like my other cast iron cook ware it's pretty much covered in crud though. I never really thought about how much crud was on them until I started watching a few of these awesome videos, they've always just been that way, funny. So time to clean 'em and see if I can identify them, cool stuff.
Well thanks for stopping by Truitt! I’ve done my job if I’ve motivated you to clean your pans!
I have several old Lodge, Wagner and Griswold's, and recently bought a Field. It is AWESOME. the quality is off the charts and the walls a bit thiner like a 100 year old Griswold. Unlike the new finish on the Lodge skillets which is like asphalt, the Field was nice and smooth out of the box. Great skillet.
I really love the Field skillets! I have 2 (#6 & #10) and totally agree with you!
I enjoyed the video and learned some good information, earned my sub.
Looking forward to seeing your other posts
Awesome, thank you!
Love your collection LLS. It's very difficult getting antique cast iron here in Australia and due to the weight, shipping makes it prohibitive.
Thank you Macca! I certainly feel for you and international shipping and the taxes/fees would make it most unaffordable. Cast iron might be an American thing because most of all the cast iron I have seen has been made here in the USA. You might have to buy modern, then totally strip, sand it, then re-season it to get it closer to vintage. Do you have any Walmarts in the outback?
We do have new Lodge for sale here but getting Griswold and Wagner here is very difficult. As for Walmarts, we don't have any here in Australia unfortunately. I live in Sydney and our 'outback' virtually has nothing.
I just bought, trying to identify… a #8 looks EXACTLY like your southern mystery!!! It’s unmarked. Has the unique handle, heat ring, a gate mark, and 8 on the top of the handle like yours.
Keeping it for me.. would love to put a date on it!
Very cool! I love mine. It is a wonderful user. I don't believe mine has a gate mark. If yours does, it dates back to the late 1890s or so. Great pickup!
My fiancées grandfather gifted myself a #8 SMS skillet IDENTICAL to the one you show towards the end of this video. I’ve spent many hours trying to identify this pan with little to no luck. But what peaks my interest about both of our pans is what the underneath of the handle looks like. At first I thought that mine had been repaired by a previous owner at some point because it looked as though it had been patched, but your pan has the same exact “flaw” as mine. In my opinion both of our pans had to have been cast using the same mold at around the same time. At the moment, my far fetched theory is that possibly the mold was purchased by another foundry and the that the mold was altered in order to not be identified as the original owner’s cast iron. Either that, or there was a problem with the original mold itself and was never sold to another foundry.
Unfortunately for now I believe for our skillets to still be a mystery, but I firmly believe that it’s one that can be solved. Anyways, thank you very much making this video and sharing your knowledge and wisdom! You have sparked a new and stronger desire for me to identify our pans and have their story told. Thanks again!
I love this skillet! I re-examined my skillet based on your remarks and it does look like someone patched the underside of the handle. Your "far fetched" theory could have some merit as the manufacturer didn't want to be caught using someone else's mold. Who really knows?! I just know that I like it and it looks different than the typical vintage skillet out there. It has been a great user for me and I will not part with it because it is so unusual. I am happy to know that ours are identical, so the patching theory probably doesn't apply as both of them are the same. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry it took me so long to reply! It's been a busy summer! lol
"What piques my interest..."
@@catherinehiller2619 Looking into how that may help me with the identification. Thank you Cathryn!
Great informative video. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Just went to season one of my skillets, and I have one of those with the heat ring, and 3 notches. now I know who made it. Thanks
You are quite welcome! Thanks for stopping by to watch.
I just purchased an early 60s Lodge #5 with the 3 notch fire ring.
Paid $28.00 at a Peddlers mall. I did sand the cooking surface and seasoned it 4 times got it really slick. It cooks very well.
I restored the BSR round cornbread skillet I have had for 50 years at least.
I would never recommend sanding cast iron as it can destroy the value. That said, if you intend to keep it as a user, then improving the cooking surface only helps in that situation. I have wire wheeled a few pans myself that I have kept.
Good video with lots of info. I just picked up a wagner #10 today at an antique shop took it home and cleaned it up and seasoned it and it works awesome..was curious to find out how old it was...I’m not sure if I’m correct but all it has on the bottom is a Wagner ware stylized logo no sidney-o and on the bottom made in USA and 11-3/4” skillet..I think if I’m reading the website correctly it would put it somewhere between 1960-69..they had a bunch of other smaller sized Wagner’s there and I saw a griswold as well I avoided them because this one looked to be best condition of all and I’d never restored one before but I might have to go back and grab some of the others now...I’ve been wanting to grab some old iron for my kitchen set for a while...my grandma had some old school iron skillets that were her fathers that I wanted to inherit but unfortunately she passed and a family member in control of the house scrapped them all :(
Glad you enjoyed the video with all of the information I got from my own experience! I should be uploading another one soon with my collection as it is now. Please stay tuned and thanks for watching!
A lot of great info on Cast Iron. I was at an antique mall a month ago and saw some Cast Iron. If I was a collector, I'd be all over it. lol
I haven't been to an antique mall in quite a while. I suppose I am over due, but it was very lean last time I was there! Now that you know something, when you go back, you might just recognize one of these pieces if they are in stock! lol Thanks for stopping by. :-)
Why not, a very nice cheap hobby? I bet I have 2 to 3 hundred pounds. Seeking information on some.
@@ronphillips6336 lol 😂 cheap you say 🤣 haha you obviously collect Chinese made.
Great video. I’ve been trying to identify a Dutch oven I recently got and looks identical to your Birmingham. Is the oven stamped on the boots? Mine is 8G1
That sound like Birmingham or BS & R for short.
My family passed along some old cast iron that I would like to know more about. What is a good resource? One of the large pots has three legs for cooking on an open fire simply marked 1 N 1... any feedback would be appreciated
My go to site is www.castironcollector.com which is loaded with all sorts of information from collecting to unbranded cast iron, to restoration and cleaning. Best of luck to you!
I recently inherited my grandparents cast iron. Now I am curious as to what I have as there are no markings except for numbers. I thought the numbers were the size of the skillets. Thank you so much for video!
Thanks for watching! Yes, the numbers on the skillets correspond to the sizes that would have traditionally fit the old range rings of the cooking stoves of the early 1900s. A number 3 skillet would fit the number 3 ring on the stove and so forth. A #3 actually is about 6.5 inches in width. If you are looking at several skillets with the same size #, they are also not exactly the same size either. Hope this helps.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 yes it does. Thank you so much!😊
Some of the unmarked Wagner skillets were marketed with paper labels which said they were Griswold on the labels in the 1960's and 1970's. Wagner Ware did buy out The Griswold Manufacturing Company in the 1950's. I remember looking at cast iron skillets with my father in the 1970's at the variety store that had the paper labels that said Griswold but looked exactly like Wagners.
Yes, I remember reading about Wagner buying out Griswold. Too bad really. I really think Griswolds were much much better in quality than Wagner. I find many more Wagners that are warped or cracked which might be in part to how they were taken care of. On the other hand, perhaps Griswold was more expensive in general and their owners tended to take care of them better? Just thinking out loud! lol
I wonder if you could tell me what mine is. It has the 3 notched heat ring, (which you say is a lodge), with a recessed 8 and a rised smaller 3.
Great video
I picked up a skillet that has the heat ring and has a number 5 recessed in the handle and on the bottom it also has the number 5 underlined. Can’t find any for sure info. Any idea. Thx
Thank you! Your skillet sounds like an unmarked Vollrath. I have a couple in my recent videos. I bought a #8 in July and more recently a #5 over Labor Day weekend. I will find the link for you. In the meanwhile check out this site: www.castironcollector.com
Here is the link to my video where I show a Vollrath #5 with a heat ring that could be like your skillet. Start at 19:34 in the video. ua-cam.com/video/uw07hTZalOM/v-deo.html
LadyLibertyStacker thanks I found the information I was looking for from the web site you said in the beginning of your video. Your right it’s a Vollrath I think late teens to early twenties I think. Thanks for a quick response
Randy Ivie Awesome! From my recent experience with them, they are very nice and well made skillets. They have a very smooth cooking surface as well.
I've been trying unsuccessfully to ID a large cast iron chicken fryer. Very smooth bottom inside and out. A small D under the handle. The lid has drip nipples and a hourglass shape symbol on the inside center of the lid made from two triangles. Any ideas? Belonged to my grandmother who died in the 60's.
Check out www.castironcollector.com and that web site has a section on how to identify unmarked cast iron. That should help. If you want, you can send me some pics to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and I can take a look. Thanks!
Very informative. . Thank you. My dutch oven lids have bumps, not dimples. What is the purpose?
Not sure, but I think it has something to do with steam to cook/bake your food.
I have an unmarked pan that matches a few details of a few makers. And a few years. The only distinctive barking is a knot at the base of the handle right before it meets the pan. I would love to find out how old this is
I can't say that I can help without seeing the skillet and this isn't always a guarantee! lol Hope this helps.
Good information. Thank you.
Thank you Frazier - glad you found it helpful!
lots of pans and dutch overns very nice where would i find pots off the same standard thank you
Thanks for watching! I find these usually at estate sales which unfortunately now with COVID-19 are non-existent. I will be hitting them hard once they resume again, but it's hard telling when that will happen.
I tend to prefer griswold because I’ve noticed they are usually lighter and easier to handle.
Yes, me too. They also seem to be in better condition than many other brands seem to be, whether they were better taken care of or simply better made is up for debate! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the good information
You're quite welcome!
I found two skillets that are not marked with a brand. The only markings on the bottom are E 8 on the larger one, and E 1 on the smaller one. I just wondered if these were collectible or had any value. Thank you.
Without seeing them, I can't say for sure. I did a Google images search for "unmarked cast iron skillet Wagner 8 E" and images will come up. You can probably tell that way what you have. Without seeing it, it probably has a heat ring and could be a Favorite Piqua. Griswold didn't make that many unmarked pieces in comparison to other manufacturers which is why I say that. Best of luck!
I have a cast iron skillet passed down from my Grandmother with "No. 6" on the back, that's it and I'm 60 years on.. this skillet was manufactured way before 1960, any clues to how old this skillet really is?
I would actually have to have more information to be able to tell you this. here is a great web site that has all kinds of information on dating your cast iron based on features of the skillet. www.castironcollector.com Good luck!
Could you help with identifying my pan. All it has is 8 at the top with SK under that. At the bottom is D2. Also on the heat ring is one notch, above the number 8. The actual pan size in 10 1/2”
Patty Mercer I’m thinking with the SK letters on it it’s most likely a old lodge
Just now saw this post! Forgive me or UA-cam for hiding it! lol It sounds to me like a 1 notch Lodge which was among their earlier offerings. Without seeing it, I can't be sure, but the tell tale signs are the 1 notch along with the SK markings which Lodge is known for. See www.castironcollector.com for help with identifying unmarked iron.
I have a couple of them. That is an older “single notch” Lodge 100%. Great skillet. Enjoy it. You got a piece of American history and heritage. 👍
Nice! I have one of those mystery southern skillets, its a no 7 & it has 56 marked on bottom with the heat ring. It has a very smooth cooking surface. A nonstick cooker like my Griswold
& Wagner but the spout ears aren't as big. I don't know who made it but its a favorite of mine.
Yes, as long as they do the job and look good, who really cares? I love mine as it's perfect for searing meat. :-) Anyway, thanks for watching!
Southern Mystery Skillet maybe a Prison made skillet.
I found one today with no markings except 9 raised on handle. It does have raised heat ring. Any idea?
Not a clue without more information or a picture. Please see this site as a reference. www.castironcollector.com It is one of my go to sites to look up information I don't know.
any idea what "H" stands for? i found an old camp stove / dutch oven and the only markings are 5 qt H. any help is greatly appreciated. :)
Not sure. Many times a letter like that is part of the model number or P/N. You can use www.castironcollector.com as a starting point to look up info on cast iron.
That Lodge griddle is 9 OG. Lodge's website says the OG stands for Old style Griddle.
Thanks for the useful tip. I hadn’t looked that one up but it makes sense. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the tutorial
You bet! 😊
My dutch oven has a small heart logo with a D under it what brand is it?
I honestly don't know because there are so many makes of vintage cast iron floating around out there. Here is a good reference source that should help. www.castironcollector.com
There is a section on how to identify unmarked cast iron and other sections on the various manufacturers. Good luck!
I just got a unmarked piece with no numbers but it has a solid heat ring, any idea on what it might be
I couldn't tell without seeing a photo of it on both sides.
very helpful thank you
Thank you Gerry- glad you liked it!
Can u help me identify the age of a cast iron cauldron I have found? Its driving me nuts to find out something about it!!
Here is a web site for your review www.castironcollector.com. It has a lot of information about how to identify old vintage cast iron. Try Googling a description of your cauldron. Hope this helps.
How about the wagner's 1891 original cast iron made in usa #10 1/2 inch skillet? Im from the Philippines watching your videos.
If you just want a good cooker, it isn't a bad skillet. It is certainly not collectible in that it was made in 1991 commemorating Wagner's anniversary I think. Hope this helps!
Your old, brown, #10, italic GRISWOLD is a beauty. I would keep that one, too! That is what a great cast iron skillet is about.
Yes, I no longer collect, but I can't part with this one. I was super excited to find it and I remember that moment every time I look at it! Thanks for watching! 😊
Thank You , nice video
Thank you and you're welcome!
What does the letter C stand for on bottom of 10 inch probably 4 inch deep cast iron pan it's the only marking it's got.thanks
Where in the video do you see it? It's been awhile since I put this up and I will need to know to answer your question. Thanks.
Hi, I have a OLD cast iron number 8 with a heat rig on it, and a straight protruding line in the middle of the skillet. Can you send me information on what I have ? It was for the old stoves that used wood
Is that line on the bottom of the skillet or the cooking surface? If it is on the bottom, this is an antique made in the late 1800s before the more "modern" casting techniques were developed in foundries. If it is in good shape, just keep it in good condition. These are useful relics from the past.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 thank you for your time and what would it be worth if I wanted to sell it?
@@linfordklahn3351 It's really hard to say without knowing it's condition. Restored with correct industry guidelines is worth more. You can go onto eBay and search for skillets like yours (same age and condition) then click on the sold listings too see what they actually go for. Hope this helps.
Your unmarked mystery piece looks like a Canadian McClary I've seen. It didn't have the heat ring or the raised number on the handle, but that might just be because yours is older and unmarked. The handle, pour spouts and general shape and size are the same. I can email pictures of it if you'd like.
Thank you Mykeal, that would be great! You can reach me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com. I've always been told it is a southern mystery skillet, so your pics would certainly be appreciated!
Great video! I found a cast iron skillet at a thrift store for $10 a few years ago. I finally decided to clean and season it. What I thought said 'PIE' underneath turned out to be ERIE. On the bottom is 710 and under that a C. It's got the heat ring and a no. 9 at the top. Also, the handle and outside of the pan were chromed, and well, most of it has flaked off.
Anyway, I'm guessing this pan to be the "heat ring, slant epu, 1909 - 1929. I wonder what its worth!
Thank you Counting Sheeple! If you don't mind, you can send me a pic or pics to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and I can take a look. As to worth, all you would do is to do a search on eBay for active listings, then click on sold to see what has sold in the size you have. It all depends on the condition (restored or not, damage/flaws), size, chrome plated or not, etc. eBay just gives you an idea of what you could expect to get in the condition that it is when listed. Hope this helps!
My unmarked skillet has an 8 on the handle and a Y on the bottom. Slightly raised center. Thoughts?
It's hard to tell without a few photos. Please see www.castironcollector.com There is a section called how to identifying your unmarked iron. It might help.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you. From the description on the castironcollector.com site it may be from the Blacklock 1900-1910 group. I'll keep digging there.
If it has an external heat ring, you might be onto something! How cool to own an original Blacklock skillet. You might want to contact Lodge Manufacturing to see if anyone there might know if what you have is an original one. The info seems hard to come by. They are based in Cleveland Tennessee I think.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thanks. I'll try contacting them. You've been very helpful!
You're welcome. Good luck!
Hi I have a skillet un marked with a big no 5 on top and on the bottom it has 11 then underneath a no 2 any idea who made it
Sounds like an unmarked Lodge. Why don't you Google those specs and select images? I get you can fine a pan that looks like it. You can try "unmarked Lodge cast iron pans" and see what pops up.
Please I could use your help🙏 I have a cast iron that was my great grandmothers, I found that has ZERO markings. Absolutely no markings on it. The bottom is flat with no raised lip and the handle doesn’t have that tear drop hole. It’s just a circular hole with a SLIGHT indent tapering towards the skillet. It’s 11inches wide with two pour spouts and about 3 inches deep. The handle also looks a little suspicious, can’t tell if it’s crud or welding.
It does have a lid similar to your Dutch oven lid. Without the dimples though and has two pour spout covers. It has 3 circular rows of raised teeth with the only marking being a (v) and a line under the v in the center underside of the lid. Could have come from a different set.
Oh but when I tell you I’ve SEARCHED and searched 😭 I have. I tried the cast iron collector but I haven’t found anything. I’ve also looked up vintage cast iron markings…….. and nothing. I’ve done google search image and very similar bubble top lids with raised teeth markings but no v. I’m sorry I know this is a lot lol but please just tell me if it’s worth cleaning. I’m at my wit’s end with this thing.
Great video and very helpful with my other cast irons thank you !!!
It could be an unmarked Wagner, but if you did all that research and still couldn't tell, then who really knows? If you send me some photos to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com, then I might recognize it, but I make no guarantees! I have an unmarked Wagner with a circular hole in the handle that I use occasionally because it has a nice lid and with it being about 3 inches deep, it makes a great chicken fryer. That said, if you think you would enjoy seeing more possible markings you should strip it anyway (I would throw it in my lye tank) just to see if the bones are good then if they are, go ahead and clean & season it. You might find a crack or some underlying damage like serious pitting (it has happened to me plenty of times - that is part of collecting and restoring old cast iron). If you do, then I wouldn't bother restoring. That is a call you will have to make! Good luck!
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you I would greatly appreciate it. No guarantees that’s it completely ok. I would love to use it or display it. Just not sure if it’s going to cause me problems or if I heat it up and it snap for whatever reason(🤷🏻♀️ not very knowledgeable with these if being fakes). I did some light scrubbing with hot water… but still no marks. Looks to be in good shape too. No pitting yet. Just needs a better cleaning and proper season. I will definitely send some pictures. Just looking to have a better understanding of what it is. So any help/insight is greatly appreciated.
I have an old large skillet with large pour sprouts and a heat ring on the very outside (your heat rings are slightly inset) I have yet to clean the campfire carbon off and have no guess who made it. Steep sides and deep but not as deep as a chicken fryer, about 1/3 inch deeper than most skillets. No numbers on the handle, nor a pronounced ridge, does have about a 1cm flat triangle at the connect point to the handle.... ANYONE HAVE ANY GUESS?
I would strip it, then you might have a much better idea. Please see this article: www.castironcollector.com/unmarked.php
Looks like I am restoring Birmingham skillet an DO! Thank you
You are welcome! Birmingham skillets are very nice once restored!
I just picked up a skillet with a solid ring and a '4' at the 6 o'clock on back. Nothing else. Can you tell me what I have?? Thank you!
Without more information, I cannot. Here is a link that might help you. www.castironcollector.com. Click on the tab that says collecting cast iron and there is a drop down window. Scroll down to identifying your no name iron and this should get you start. Good luck!
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you! I know it's a BSR now. Just have not been able to find one #4 on it.
You're welcome!
@@ladylibertystacker2014 I found out it is a BSR Red Mountain Series #4, a rare one as they didn't make many of them. And I got it at an antique store for $15!
Found a Dutch oven in my garage. Hand me down. The lid is a Griswold. Stamped Erie Pa, 1098 C. I’m not convinced the bottom is a match. It only has a number 8 marking on the bottom. Been trying to hunt down what that could be.
You might want to check out www.castironcollector.com for the section on unmarked iron. There is also a Facebook group about cast iron identification which is extremely helpful. Here is the link: facebook.com/groups/630846790367804/?multi_permalinks=3270276086424848
I have a cast iron skillet that has made in USA at the top and NO.7 10 1/4 in on the other end. Lodge?
Plus looks like it has heat ring
Not too sure. Wagner has Made in USA stamped on bottom, while many Lodge pans have it stamped in the middle with a number on top. Is the heat ring continuous or does it have notches. There is a Lodge with 3 notches and also one with a single notch. My tip is to Google the cast iron pan with its features to see what images you come up with. It could also be a Wager because they often used the sizing (10 1/4 inch) on the bottom.
I’ve identified it. It’s a vintage Birmingham
Found an old cast iron pan with two pour spouts and a line with the letters MT on the bottom any idea?
It is really hard to say without see photos of the piece.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 could I show you a pic somehow?
@@kathleenarcher1233 Email is ladylibertystacker@gmail.com
I have a Martin with 3 notches in the heat ring. Also and unmarked Lodge, post 1960 with the 3 notches in the heat ring.
I've never run into a Martin before in the wild and just ran into a 3 notch #3 marked Lodge just recently. Yep, it had an "L" on the bottom, so it was a Lodge. It was not marked USA so it was from the 1950s. Your piece probably had Made in USA on the bottom.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Is there a way to upload a picture here? Dont use youtube often. My Lodge #8 has Made in USA so post 1960. The Martin #8 has just Florence, ALA. along with the 8 and Martin Stove & Range Co. Both have the 3 notches in the heat ring. Yours is the second sight that has said only Lodge had the 3 notches so I thought it was at least interesting to have a Martin with it as well.
That's interesting. I will need to do a bit more research on the Martin Stove & Range manufacturer as I am not as familiar with them as I am other makers. I don't know of a way to upload a photo other than make a post on your own channel showing the skillets side by side. If you just wanted to show me, then you can send to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com.
Can you please provide info re: Japanese vintage cast iron skillets? Thank you.
I'm sorry, I don't have experience with Japanese or Asian skillets.
Well thank you for taking the trouble to respond. You are the only one of the Cast Iron Community who bothered.@@ladylibertystacker2014
speaking about “notches”...Lodge is not the only one to make 3 notch skillets. I have a #8 (10 1/4”-1/2”) from Mexico that has 3 notches and I have a smaller Korean skillet that has 3 notches. But for American made ones, yes, Lodge was the only one that had notches in their heat ring.
Interesting comment. Now that you mention it, I saw a three notch Asian skillet in a thrift store that the vendor incorrectly stated Lodge! That said, I didn't realize that they were made in Mexico too!
Martin also made a few with notches.
Well, I eat crow at the end Of my comment because there actually were some other American manufacturers that had those notches in their rings I have noticed as of lately
Do you have anymore cast iron skillets for sale?
I am selling out of most of my cast iron pieces. I am not actively doing it anymore due to lack of time and wear & tear on my oven. I do have a few pieces left. Here is a listing to one of them. www.ebay.com/itm/125307685959
I have a completely unmarked smaller skillet that has dimpled sides. I have been unable to ID it. I don't even know where I got it.
It could be a less common Lodge piece or Chicago Hardware Foundry (CHF). If you do a Google image search using these names, you might be able to ID your piece. Good luck and thanks for your question.
I have inherited 4 cast iron pans at my mom passed and 2 are lodge and say usa but it has bsk. Just USABSK OR 8SK. and 1 with nothing but a 6 or 9 under it and 1 nothing on it. Can i email u to send photos to see if u might help me identify
I'm sorry it says usa 8SQ
I am really just curious about the circlular flat griddle my mother always used for flour tortillas and it has the 6 or 9 on the bottom and nothing else and the bottom is odd.... It a very deep indention all the way around it. And the very small one has nothing on either side
You can send an email to ladylibertystacker@gmail.com and list the questions with the pertinent photos of the skillets in question and I will attempt to help you. I hope this helps.
I have one that says 8 L only marks on it doesn’t say made in USA or anything else??
I picked up a very old skillet at The Goodwill. It had years of crusty seasoning all over it, and the seasoning layers were almost 1/8 inch thick. The skillet needed to be cleaned, and reasoned. Due to the layers of seasoning, the skillet had no visible mark. I paid $3.99 for the skillet, and took it home. I cleaned the skillet, and reasoned it. After cleaning the years of seasoning off the skillet, I noticed there was an Indian head on it, and it was marked Wapak. The skillet was highly collectible, and worth several hundred dollars.
🤑😝🤪😱 Wow!! You hit the jackpot! What a score! You just never know. Good for you! 😁
@@ladylibertystacker2014 On another trip to the same Goodwill, I came across a #2 Griswold cast iron skillet with the large logo for $2.99. It also was in remarkable condition, and needed no cleaning. It was another jackpot.
@@ericknoblauch9195 Where did you say this Goodwill was located again? lol. 🤣
What is the value of an 8" favorite pics ware covered cast iron pot
I really would have no idea without doing some research. Values tend to fluctuate over time going up and going down. The best way to find out is to do a search on eBay as to what the sales prices are. Once you do the search and get a list of items for sale that match your pot, scroll down on the left side to get what they actually sold for. You will want to click on SOLD and see. What you will find many times is that the sales prices are less than asking (typical for a lot of things) and sellers often ask for more than what they will actually take if there is a best offer option button. Good luck!
Why is the handle on a cast iron pot and are lid bigger on one side and skinny on other side
Where in the video? Without seeing it, my guess would be the way it was made at the foundry.
It wasn't in video. I was just askin if maybe you k ow off hand. Like the lids for pots. Some of them are skinny on one side and fat on the other. Someone told me tht you use tht to point the steam in any direction. Was wondering if it had truth behind it
So today I found a what I think is a unmarked Wagner number 8 skillet. For 12 bucks is it worth anything. Thank you in advance
Not sure. It all depends on the current condition of the skillet, not to mention the structural integrity of the skillet. If you can restore it, it could be a great user for you.
I have a cast iron pan and all it says is Classic on the back does anybody know what kind it is
Unfortunately no. Please see this web site. It is a great starting point. www.castironcollector.com They have a lot of great information on unmarked cast iron and go into detail on logos, brands, fonts, numbers, and other markings.
how about a pan with no stamp or manufacturing markings?
That is difficult, but you can sometimes tell from the way the pour spouts were made along with the handle. Sometimes you can't tell for sure. Here is a site for reference: www.castironcollector.com. This should help.
How much did you sell the Griswold for?
Can you tell which one and where in the video you are referring? I will need this in order to attempt to answer your question. Thank you.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 At 8:40
A Bek It sold for $41 plus $9 shipping.
I know it was a nice profit although I can’t remember how much I paid for the piece initially.
Turns out I have a lodge #8. Is has KS at 12 o'clock, the inset hear ring with a bitch and 9 12 and 3 o'clock. Made in USA in the center and a D1 at 6 o'clock. I know it was made post mid 60s because according to the website that was when lodge started stamping made in USA on their pans. I wonder what the be D1 means and how much this skillet might be worth?
The D1 is either the mold used in production and/or shift of the worker casting the pan. As to current value, do a search on eBay for that type of a skillet, then click on the sold listings. That will tell you what they are currently going for. Hope this helps.
Why is this so addictive collecting these?....lol
I am not sure. I started collecting 5 years ago, but have slowed down over the past year, partly because I used to sell a bunch of them (not so much anymore) but kept the best ones for my own collection. Recently I stumbled across a somewhat rare #7 Griswold skillet at an antique mall and got a decent deal on it, so I bought it. I think I am just going to keep it for now, although, I could make a decent profit if I restore it. I plan to put up a video on that one soon. But to address your collection, I think it is the thrill of the hunt and what you might find at least it is for me! lol
@@ladylibertystacker2014 I found mine in lakeland Florida Antique mall
what is this pan called used for/ k cant add pic but griwald round Muffin pan // i just got it n cleaned it n cooked egs in it egg pit perfect in the hole
That is great! Not sure what you mean by your question. You need to be more specific.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 n back in the fire to finnish cleaning
@@ladylibertystacker2014
Aebleskiver Pan?
I just picked up for $4.00 - Bottom states, 6 1/2-inch. skillet then there is an H mark under it. Under the handle there is an H mark. No fire ring, top of handle the number 3 Thanks.... Just like the one you showed. Thanks PS" what is it worth, please?
You can do a search on eBay for that skillet to find listing prices and actual sold listings to determine actual value. They do change over time as the market demand changes for that skillet or cast iron in general.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you for the reply.
I have one that has stumped the experts I know. Any way I could send you some pictures?
You can send them to me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com. Even so, that is no guarantee I will be able to help! lol
At 13.16 Minuit's you was thinking that pan was a lodge ,,,, well i think it is a VollRath I have one also ,, very nice pan .
Thank you! There are hallmarks of both Lodge and Wagner but no one seems to know exactly what it is. It has been referred to as a Southern Mystery Skillet by cast iron collectors.
I want the Griswald 3 in the video I love it
I’m sorry, it’s not for sale.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 I definitely understand i wouldn't wanna part with it either. I hope you can help me identify this pan I picked up at at yard sale in NC last week while traveling
What cast iron skillet has a circle with a crown with an R. Logo on the bottom Heat ring with 3 notches .
Not too sure. Would need to actually see it to have any idea.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Finland. Rosenlew and co.
@Troy Hefferman That is a company I am not familiar with. Thanks for sharing.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 your welcome. It wasn't easy. I had to do some serious research for a friend of mine who owns this skillet. He told me it's the best one he's ever owned but had no clue where it was made. Electrolux owned that company from what ive read. I'm assuming that's how it made itself into the u.s. to sell its skillets. Sorry I bothered you when I asked. At the time I didn't know. Just lucked out finding about it shortly afterwards. Have a great day.
@Troy Hefferman Oh, no worries - you didn't bother me. If I know the answer great, if I don't, oh well! You don't know until you ask! lol
I have 2 #5 Lodge 3 notch heat ring. And No made in USA on them. Made before 1960. And a 10 inch skillet with absolutely no markings at all.
You can email me at ladylibertystacker@gmail.com with photos if you haven't yet figured it out! Thanks for watching.
I just found a 12in cast iron pan at goodwill. NO makers marks. Very faint very smooth gate mark. $40. Recessed bottom ring, secondary handle. The handles look like lodge. To me it's looks like very good condition. Anyone have a good idea on age? It rings and I hadn't had one that big yet. I'm Happy.
If it has a smooth gate mark, then that skillet would have been made in the late 1880s-1890s when they gate marked skillets. That was before more modern foundries modified the manufacturing techniques. Some of them have pitting patterns on the bottoms due to the sulfur found in cooking methods in the 19th century. Some don't have this, but many do. Hope this helps!
Is buying skillets a recognised addiction?
If you mean collecting where you dont have space to store them then it could be. If not then no. No worries here I sell as many as I buy
it has a & symbol kn the bottom an a 7 on the handle
See my other post. Check online resources such as castironcollector.com as a starting point. Some of their information is good in this category.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 i have an cant find it anywere
@Whoop!
👍
Birmingham 5B?
Yes, I believe so. That piece has since been sold.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Sorry, I have a 5B. It was a question. Is the 5B correct for Birmingham? Many thanks for your reply. I think yours was a 5N.
Without seeing your skillet I can't know for sure. If your skillet has the same design features mine did (inset heat ring), handle, smaller pour spouts and the like, it probably is, but 5B might have been an earlier run than 5N. 5 usually stands for the size skillet, the letter after is what series or run it was if that makes sense. Griswold and Wagner did the same thing.
@@ladylibertystacker2014 Thank you.
You're quite welcome!
That number 10 fry pan is a load!
You mean the Erie Griswold? That one is my favorite and I have never even used it! lol
Good video and yea... Modern Lodge stuff absolutely sux.
Thank you Jay. Modern Lodge does lack character and is extremely heavy. That said it is quite useful on dishes requiring much heat retention or baking where the assist handle is quite helpful. Actually there are pros and cons to all cast iron pieces for one reason or another! Thanks for watching!
Plus you can take it camping and outdoors without worrying about warping or losing your collectable stuff!
There is no law on the books that states that cast iron has to be stamped with Made in USA. they started stamping USA as a sales gimmick because Asian country were making inferior products and the US companies wanted to indicate US products from others.
Makes sense. Most things stamped Made in USA were manufactured at later dates (post 1960) from my experience. I use it as an aging tool for dating cast iron.
Most people who post videos of cast iron makers plainly state the FTC had this law made to protect the American industry from outside countries flooding the market.
We all know if the name is on the back
Yep!
i have a skiller i cannot identify
You might want to check online resources to help you identify. Without photos it is nearly impossible to identify.
Modern cast iron WAS required to make where it was made...they dont do that anymore but it will have a new company logo...so it can't be vintage.
It appears that is no longer required by law, but some of the better companies will still mark their pieces as to where it was made.
Post 1960s it was only required for items being imported or exported
It wasn't until 1960 it was required to put MADE IN USA on cast.
@@CHAY-1 So your suggesting my "Martha Stewart Everyday" cast iron skillet was made before 1960? Nope!
Also the Mason (jar) company put out a set of 3 cast iron skillets for christmas 2019..not marked where made.
They have stopped doing this.
@@truneilson As a collector and dealer of cast iron for OVER 50 years (FAVORITE BRAND (PIQUA WARE) , GRISWOLD,WAGNER & more) I know what year they were REQUIRED BY LAW to mark cast iron USA. I did not say they still do mark the new cast they make. You can look at a new skillet and tell it is not old by the way they are made.Right now I am looking at all my skillets, griddles & cast iron pots. Shall you ever decide to look it up you will find 1960 and when it was required to mark skillets country of origin.Before 1960 MANY cast iron pieces were not marked.Some early GRISWOLD which was ERIE was marked only ERIE.PIQUA WARE was marked FAVORITE PIQUA WARE with no USA. Early pieces of cast iron,prior to 1880, had no markings at all. They had a gate mark going across the bottom of the skillet.
A lot of talk. Not much deep info on unmarked. Not wasting 16 minutes on website info.
It's your choice to take advantage of a resource or not. I only point the way. Have a good one.
Buy new...you dont know who cooked what in a mystery pan...lead is common metal melted in cast iron pans
And that's exactly why I strip them down to bare bones base or gun metal gray bare iron. They are soaked in a lye bath and a vinegar bath interchangeably and scrubbed down in between. When the skillet has been stripped there should be only iron all ready to be seasoned. I apply 3-4 layers of seasoning and to date, no one has exhibited any lead poisoning symptoms to date. Most of the lead has been melted in pots to make bullets and the like, and I stay away from them for myself or to resell. What you should be concerned with is modern cast iron with accents that could have lead in them (think Finex) or many brands of enameled cast iron with the exception of Le Creuset made in France which has to meet California proposition 65 to be lead free under a certain low amount. Also any cast iron made in China could have lead as their quality controls are not what they are in the states. If one is concerned, they can always have their piece tested. As for me, I don't have concerns because I buy high quality pieces and all of them are stripped down to the base metal then seasoned.
false info about lead checking everything. I've used plenty of pieces and they were just wash, dried and put away. The lead scare is just that...a scare.