Dating Griswold Cast Iron: A Guide To Uncovering The History Of Your Pan

Griswold Manufacturing was an American manufacturer of cast-iron kitchen products founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in business from 1865 through 1957. The company was founded by Matthew Griswold and his cousins, the Selden brothers, in 1865. They initially made door hinges and expanded their business to cookware in the 1870s. The earliest pots have Erie stamped on the bottom.

Griswold cast iron skillets are highly valuable, collectible, and rare. They are desirable for collectors and American history lovers. The skillets are also lighter than modern cast iron pans, making them more practical for cooking.

The Griswold identification stamp has changed repeatedly over the years, but these changes make it easy to determine the age of the pan. Dating Griswold cast iron is fairly simple, and there are many guides available.

The Griswold Manufacturing Company's history

The Griswold Manufacturing Company was founded in 1865 in Erie, Pennsylvania, by Matthew Griswold and his cousins, the Selden brothers—J.C. and Samuel Selden. Initially, the company manufactured 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. In 1873, the company was renamed the Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company. In 1884, Matthew Griswold bought out the Selden family's stake, and the following year, a fire destroyed the factory. Griswold rebuilt the factory, and in 1887, the company was reorganised and rechristened the Griswold Manufacturing Company.

The company continued to diversify its offerings, adding Dutch ovens, roasters, kettles, and a grid iron to its catalogue. Their cast-iron stovetop waffle irons, manufactured into the 1930s, were among their earliest and most successful products. Over the years, Griswold also introduced aluminium cookware, enameled items, and electrical appliances to their product line.

Griswold cast-iron products, particularly their cookware, gained a worldwide reputation for quality. The company's items are now collectors' pieces, prized for their distinctive brand markings.

How to identify a Griswold cast iron pan

To identify a Griswold cast iron pan, you can refer to the logos and markings on the skillets, pots, and other cookware. Here is a guide on how to identify a Griswold cast iron pan:

Erie Logo (1880-1907)

The ERIE logo was the first logo used by Griswold from 1880 to 1907. This logo has six known series, and collectors highly value items from this period.

Diamond Logo (1905-1906)

The Diamond logo, also known as the Griswold Erie Diamond logo, was used for only one year, from 1905 to 1906. Items from this period with this logo are highly valuable and collectible.

Slant Logo with Heat Ring and No EPU (1906-1916)

The Slant Logo was introduced in 1906 and featured a circle-cross design. This logo was used until 1916, and during this period, the ERIE sign appeared on a limited series of skillets and pots.

Slant Logo with EPU and Heat Ring (1906-1926)

The EPU stands for "Erie, Pennsylvania, USA." This logo overlapped with the previous Slant Logo and was used from 1906 to 1926.

Slant Logo without Erie (1909-1920)

During this period, the company printed logos on the bottom without the Erie sign. This was the third variation of logos used during the same period.

Large Block Logo with Heat Ring and No Italic Lettering (1920-1930)

The Large Block Logo was introduced around 1920, and the lettering was changed to a block style. This logo was used until 1930, and the "Griswold" marking was not in italic lettering.

Large Block Logo without Heat Ring and Italic Lettering (1930-1939)

The Large Block Logo without a heat ring was introduced around 1930 and used until 1939. This variation featured italic lettering.

Large Slant Logo without Heat Ring (1939-1944)

The Large Slant Logo was introduced around 1939 and used until 1944. This logo had italic lettering and did not have a heat ring.

Small Block Logo (1939-1957)

The Small Block Logo was introduced around 1939 and used until 1957. The logo was smaller than the previous logos, and the marking under it was "Erie, PA."

The value of Griswold cast iron pans

Griswold cast iron pans are highly valuable, collectible, and rare, making them desirable for collectors and American history lovers. The value of Griswold cast iron pans lies in their history, quality, durability, and cooking performance.

History

The Griswold Manufacturing Company has a long history that dates back to 1865 when the Selden and Griswold families from Pennsylvania started a small factory, initially making door hinges. In the 1870s, they expanded their business to cookware, and soon their cast iron products gained a worldwide reputation for their quality. The company underwent several name changes and ownership transitions over the years, with the Griswold name appearing on skillets around 1906. The manufacturing of Griswold cast iron pans ceased in 1957 when the brand and housewares division were sold to the Wagner Manufacturing Company, and the Erie, Pennsylvania plant was closed.

Quality and Durability

Griswold cast iron pans are known for their high quality, which has contributed to their longevity. Even today, many chefs and cooks prefer using Griswold cast iron pans over contemporary cookware due to their superior performance and durability. Griswold pans have smooth cooking surfaces and are lighter in weight compared to modern cast iron pans, making them more practical and easier to handle during cooking.

Cooking Performance

Griswold cast iron pans can withstand high temperatures and retain heat effectively, making them ideal for cooking at high temperatures to achieve crispy and crunchy food. The design of Griswold pans, with their lighter weight and deeper shape, made them versatile for use on various heat sources, including open fires, electric burners, and old-fashioned wood stoves.

Collectibility and Rarity

In conclusion, Griswold cast iron pans are valuable because of their rich history, superior quality, durability, and exceptional cooking performance. Their rarity and distinct markings further increase their value, making them prized possessions for collectors and cooks alike.

The purpose of Griswold cast iron pans

Griswold cast iron pans are highly valuable, collectible, and rare, making them desirable for collectors and American history lovers. They are also sought after by chefs, cooks, and housewives due to their high quality, good reputation, and durability. The pans can withstand high temperatures for extended periods, which is ideal for cooking crispy and crunchy food. Additionally, their lightweight design and compatibility with various heat sources, such as open fires, electric burners, and old-fashioned wood stoves, make them practical and versatile.

The history of Griswold cookware dates back to 1865 when the Selden and Griswold families from Pennsylvania transformed a small family-run factory into a new business. Initially, they manufactured door hinges, but in the 1870s, they expanded their product line to include skillets, pots, grinding mills, and waffle irons. The company underwent several name changes and ownership restructures over the years, but it gained a reputation for producing high-quality cast-iron products, particularly cookware.

The distinctive brand markings, such as the "cross" logo with variations over the years, make Griswold pieces easily recognisable and sought-after by collectors. The pans' smooth cooking surfaces and lighter weight further contribute to their desirability.

The different types of Griswold cast iron pans

Griswold Manufacturing was an American manufacturer of cast-iron kitchen products, founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1865. The company was in business from 1865 through 1957. Today, Griswold pieces are collectors' items.

The company was founded by Matthew Griswold and his cousins, the brothers J.C. and Samuel Selden. In the 1870s, Griswold began to manufacture skillets, pots, grinding mills, and waffle irons. The company was renamed Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company in 1873.

Griswold cast iron skillets are highly regarded by collectors and are sought after because of their smooth cooking surfaces and lighter weight. The first series of Erie and Erie Spider skillets are the most sought after by collectors.

• Griswold Erie logo (1880-1907)
• Griswold diamond logo (1905-1906)
• Griswold Slant Logo with heat ring and no EPU (1906-1916)
• Griswold Slant logo with EPU and heat ring (1906-1926)
• Griswold Slant logo without Erie (1909-1920)
• Griswold Large block logo with heat ring and no italic lettering (1920-1930)
• Griswold Large block logo without heat ring and italic lettering (1930-1939)
• Griswold Large slant logo without heat ring (1939-1944)
• Griswold Small block logo (1939-1957)

Frequently asked questions