Marianne Martinez
The Griswold Manufacturing Company produced a startling range of muffin pans from the late 19th century through the 1950s. The company was one of the most prolific producers of gem muffin pans, with various patterns offered, approaching 50 in number.
Griswold cast iron muffin pans are highly sought-after by collectors, with some pieces fetching hundreds of dollars. The value of these pans varies depending on their rarity, with some variations being more common than others. For example, the #10 Griswold muffin pan with the variation 4 is considered rarer and thus more valuable than the variation 1.
The pans were made in Erie, Pennsylvania, and feature the Erie marking along with a number indicating the variation. These numbers can be used to identify and date the pans, with some pieces believed to be from the 1880s to the 1950s.
The exact value of a Griswold cast iron muffin pan depends on various factors, including its age, condition, and rarity.
What You'll Learn
- Griswold Manufacturing Co. produced cast iron muffin pans from the late 19th century to the 1950s
- There are 15 variations of the #10 Griswold muffin pan
- The Griswold #10 Cast Iron Muffin Pan 949C is a vintage item
- Wagner Manufacturing Co. bought Griswold in 1957
- Wagner used the Griswold casting moulds and put their name on the products
Griswold Manufacturing Co. produced cast iron muffin pans from the late 19th century to the 1950s
The Griswold Manufacturing Company was founded in 1865 in Erie, Pennsylvania, by Matthew Griswold and his cousins, the Selden brothers. Initially, the company manufactured various light hardware products, including butt hinges, stove furniture, stovepipe dampers, and thimbles. In the 1870s, Griswold expanded its product line to include skillets, pots, grinding mills, and waffle irons.
Over the years, Griswold continued to diversify its offerings, introducing new items such as Dutch ovens, roasters, kettles, and a grid iron. The company gained a reputation for producing high-quality cast-iron kitchenware, with its cast-iron stovetop waffle irons being one of its earliest and most successful products, manufactured into the 1930s.
Griswold was particularly prolific in its production of gem muffin pans, offering nearly 50 different patterns. These pans were made from cast iron, and some were also offered in chromed and nickel-plated versions. Additionally, Griswold cast some of its gem/muffin pans in aluminum. The company's muffin pans featured a variety of designs, including:
- Shallow, flat-bottomed cylindrical cups arranged in different configurations.
- Hemispherical cups arranged in various patterns.
- Oval, elliptical, rectangular, and round cups, sometimes with decorative features like wheat kernels or "turk's head" shapes.
The production of Griswold muffin pans spanned from the late 19th century through the 1950s, and their vintage pieces are now highly sought-after by collectors. The value of these pans can vary depending on their condition, rarity, and production dates.
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There are 15 variations of the #10 Griswold muffin pan
The #10 Griswold muffin pan is a highly collectible item, with 15 variations known to exist. The pan was produced by the Griswold Manufacturing Company from the late 19th century through to the 1950s. The #10 pan features 11 tapered-sided, flat-bottomed round cups arranged in a 4-3-4 pattern, with the option of cut-outs and a frame.
The #10 pan has the model numbers 948 and 949, with the former believed to have been produced between 1890 and 1910, and the latter in the 1950s. The 948 variation features a dot after the 10 and the word "Erie" perpendicular to the model number. The 949 variation is shallower than the 948 and features 11 cups.
The value of these pans varies depending on their rarity, with some variations being more common than others. The exact value of each variation is not publicly available, but dedicated collectors' books exist that detail the value and rarity of each variation.
The #10 Griswold muffin pan is a sought-after item for cast-iron collectors, with its long production history and plethora of variations making it an intriguing and challenging piece to collect.
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The Griswold #10 Cast Iron Muffin Pan 949C is a vintage item
Griswold manufactured a variety of gem pan designs, with some echoing the designs of Nathaniel Waterman, who is credited with patenting the quintessential gem muffin pan design in 1859. The Griswold #10 Cast Iron Muffin Pan 949C is one of the variations of the #10 Muffin Pan, with at least 15 different versions known to exist. The #10 Muffin Pan 949C is a popover pan with 11 cups, and it is fully marked.
The Griswold Manufacturing Company was acquired by the Randall Corporation in 1957, which also owned Wagner Ware, a rival company, so some pans from this period may feature both the Griswold and Wagner logos.
The #10 Cast Iron Muffin Pan 949C is a sought-after vintage item, with some collectors paying "stupid money" for such pieces.
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Wagner Manufacturing Co. bought Griswold in 1957
The value of a Griswold cast iron muffin pan depends on its rarity and condition. The Griswold Manufacturing Company produced a wide range of muffin pan designs from the late 19th century through the 1950s. The company was based in Erie, Pennsylvania, and their muffin pans are now sought-after collectibles.
In 1957, the Wagner Manufacturing Co. bought Griswold. Wagner, based in Sidney, Ohio, had been bought by the Randall Corporation in 1952. Following the acquisition, Wagner used Griswold casting moulds and put their name on the products. Some pieces from this time feature both the Wagner and Griswold names and logos.
Griswold filed for bankruptcy in 1957, and the company was acquired by Randall Corporation, who had also acquired its rival Wagner Ware in 1952. The Randall Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, a car parts manufacturer, had been divesting the holdings of the Wagner brothers since 1946.
Griswold produced dozens of gem pan designs, some original and some inspired by Nathaniel Waterman's 1859 patent. Waterman, of Boston, Massachusetts, is credited with patenting the quintessential gem muffin pan design, which he called an "egg pan". The Griswold #10 Muffin Pan, for example, was made from the 1880s to the 1950s and is considered fairly common, with a rarity rating of 1-3 out of 5. However, certain variations of this pan are rarer and more valuable.
Griswold muffin pans are highly collectible, and enthusiasts have published guides to help identify and value the many variations.
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Wagner used the Griswold casting moulds and put their name on the products
Wagner Manufacturing Co. in Sidney, Ohio, produced several original designs and Waterman-inspired gem pans. Wagner chose letter-based designations instead of numbers. They also produced aluminium versions of many of their gem muffin pans.
In 1957, Griswold filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by the Randall Corporation, which had also acquired Wagner Ware in 1952. Wagner then used the Griswold casting moulds and put their name on the products. Wagner also sanded down the Griswold logo, but it often remained visible as a faint ghost image.
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Frequently asked questions
The value of a Griswold cast iron muffin pan varies depending on its rarity, condition, and the specific model. Some models are worth as little as $5, while others can be worth hundreds of dollars.
Griswold cast iron muffin pans can be identified by their markings, which typically include the Griswold name, the pattern number, and the place of manufacture (Erie, PA, USA). Some pans may also have a letter designation, which indicates the model or variation.
Griswold manufactured numerous models of cast iron muffin pans, including the #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #26, #27, #28, #30, #50, #100, #1270, #130, #140, #240, #262, #270, #272, #273, #280, #282, and #283.
Griswold cast iron muffin pans were manufactured from the late 19th century through the 1950s. The specific years of production for each model may vary.
Griswold cast iron muffin pans can be found at antique stores, flea markets, online marketplaces such as eBay, and dedicated cast iron collector websites.
