The Surprising Size Of A Griswold Cast Iron Pan

Griswold cast iron skillets are highly valuable, collectible, and rare. The No. 6 Griswold cast iron pan is a popular size for cooking various dishes. It has a diameter of 9 inches and is suitable for cooking on wood stoves, electric burners, or grills. The No. 6 Griswold pan is a sought-after item for collectors and cooks due to its smooth cooking surface and lightweight design.

Griswold cast iron skillets are highly valuable and collectible

History and Rarity

Griswold cast iron skillets are highly valued by collectors due to their rich history and rarity. The Griswold Manufacturing Company, founded in 1868, grew to become one of America's largest and most respected cast-iron manufacturers in the 20th century. The company's history of producing high-quality, durable cookware goes back to the 19th century, when many kitchen items were handmade. Today, these skillets are rare and sought-after collectibles, with some pieces dating back to the company's early days.

Smooth Cooking Surfaces and Lighter Weight

Griswold cast iron skillets are known for their smooth cooking surfaces, which make them ideal for cooking crispy, mouth-watering food. They are also lighter in weight compared to modern cast-iron pans, making them more practical and easier to handle during cooking. This combination of a smooth surface and lightweight design is a unique feature that many chefs, cooks, and collectors appreciate.

Variety of Sizes and Styles

Griswold cast iron skillets come in various sizes, with some larger skillets being rarer and more valuable. The company produced skillets with different logos and markings over time, and these variations attract collectors who aim to complete their sets. Additionally, Griswold manufactured other cast-iron items besides skillets, such as pots, waffle irons, and grinding mills, adding to the diversity of their product line.

High Resale Value

The value and practicality of owning an original Griswold cast iron skillet are significant. These skillets are not just valuable collectibles but also excellent cooking tools that can be used for generations if properly maintained. Their ability to withstand high temperatures and their compatibility with various heat sources, including open fires, electric burners, and old-fashioned wood stoves, make them versatile and practical for different cooking needs.

Factors Affecting Value

When determining the value of a Griswold cast iron skillet, several factors come into play. The skillet's size, logo, and markings are essential. Smaller skillets, such as the Griswold number 2 and 4, are rarer and more valuable. Larger skillets, especially those in good condition, are also highly sought-after. The presence of a heat ring, the smoothness of the cooking surface, and the skillet's overall condition all contribute to its value. Additionally, the scarcity of certain logos and markings can increase a skillet's desirability among collectors.

The Griswold Manufacturing Company was one of the most respected cast-iron manufacturers of the 20th century

Griswold cast-iron cookware was known for its high quality and smooth cooking surfaces. The company's early skillets, such as the Erie and Erie Spider series, are particularly sought-after by collectors. The lighter weight of Griswold skillets and their renowned cooking performance have contributed to their desirability.

The company's cast-iron products were sold worldwide, and they gained a reputation for their distinctive brand markings. The "Griswold cross" logo, first introduced in the 1910s, underwent several modifications over the years, providing collectors with a means to estimate the age of these antique items more accurately.

In addition to cookware, Griswold also manufactured a diverse range of products, including tobacco cutters, wheeled spittoons, kettles, Dutch ovens, roasters, and gridirons. They were also known for their cast-iron stovetop waffle irons, which were produced into the 1930s.

By the 1940s, however, the company faced financial challenges due to increasing competition, labour disputes, and declining quality. Despite these difficulties, Griswold cast-iron remains a coveted item for collectors, who appreciate the unique characteristics and history associated with the brand.

The size number on a Griswold cast iron pan does not indicate its diameter

The Griswold Manufacturing Company was founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and began producing cookware in 1870. The company marked the bottom of its products with words and symbols, which indicate basic information such as the number of moulds, where they were made, or what they were made for. The size number is one such marking.

The size number on a Griswold cast iron pan does not correlate to the top or bottom rim measurements of the pan. This is because cast iron pans were originally produced to conform to the size of the openings, or "stove eyes", on wood-burning stoves. The pans were designed to fit over these stove eyes, which were like the burners on a modern stove.

Even after the advent of gas-fired ranges and electric stoves, cast iron cookware continued to be manufactured in the same sizes and with the same designations as those established for wood-burning stoves. This is why the size number on a Griswold cast iron pan does not directly indicate its diameter.

The size number on a Griswold cast iron pan may also refer to a pattern number. In addition to model or item numbers, Griswold devised "pattern numbers" that were unique to each model, size, and type of pan produced. For example, a size #6 Griswold skillet is pattern number "699", while a size #7 is pattern "701".

Therefore, while the size number on a Griswold cast iron pan may provide some information about the pan's dimensions, it does not directly indicate its diameter. The size number is more related to the pan's catalogue size and pattern number than its actual measurements.

The Griswold Slant Logo was used from 1906 to 1916

The Griswold Slant Logo, also known as the "slant trademark" or the "slant TM", was used from 1906 to 1916. It was the first of the famous Griswold skillet logos, and was used by the Griswold Manufacturing Company. The logo consisted of a cross inside a double circle, with the name "Griswold" in italicised, stylised lettering spanning the horizontal arms of the cross. The logo was generally the same diameter across most pieces, except for lids, where a reduced-size version was used.

The slant logo was used on both heat-ringed skillets and, in rare cases, smooth-bottomed skillets. It was also used on pans marked "Erie" and "Erie, PA, U.S.A", and these are referred to by collectors as "Slant Erie" and "Slant EPU" respectively. The slant logo was typically not as heavily incised on the older "Erie"-marked pieces as it was on the later "Erie, PA, U.S.A." pans.

The size number on the base of the skillet moved from the 6 o'clock position to the 12 o'clock position with the introduction of the slant logo. The word "Erie" was placed below the logo, and the pattern number was moved from the centre of the skillet to the 6 o'clock position to make room for the logo.

The slant logo was used on skillets ranging from size #1 to #14, with the #14 skillet being the largest skillet with the slant logo. A Griswold #13 slant logo skillet in excellent condition can be very expensive for serious collectors.

The slant logo was updated around 1920 to become the "large block logo", with the lettering changed to a block style.

The Griswold Large Block Logo skillets were manufactured between 1920 and 1939

The Griswold Large Block Logo skillets are highly sought-after by cast iron collectors. These skillets were manufactured between 1920 and 1939, and sometimes up to 1940 or 1944. They are known for their bold and complex inscriptions, which include "CAST IRON SKILLET" and ", PA, U.S.A." appended to "ERIE". The word "Griswold" in these skillets is written in block lettering, no longer in italics as in the previous Slant Logo. The Large Block Logo skillets come in a wide range of sizes, from 0 to 14, and even a number 20, which is called the Griswold Hotel Skillet.

The Large Block Logo skillets were produced with both heat rings and smooth bottoms. The heat ring versions were made for use on wood or coal ranges, while the smooth bottom skillets were introduced with the advent of electric cookers. The heat ring versions were made in sizes 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 20. The smooth bottom skillets, on the other hand, were more limited in size, ranging from 2 to 10.

The skillets with the Large Block Logo are known for their excellent casting, workmanship, and finish, maintaining the high standards that Griswold was known for. While collectors may prefer the earlier Slant Logo skillets, the quality difference is negligible. The Large Block Logo skillets are a great option for those seeking an excellent vintage skillet without the hefty price tag of the more collectible pieces.

The Large Block Logo skillets underwent some minor variations, most notably on the #4 and #5 smooth bottom skillets, where the lettering is not as tall proportionally compared to most. Additionally, the Large Block Logo appeared in different sizes depending on the piece, with the logo on a #0 toy skillet being smaller than that on a #8 skillet.

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