Tillie Doyle
Griswold cast-iron pots and pans, skillets, and other kitchen items were manufactured from 1865 to 1957 and are well-known to antique collectors and sellers. The company's products had a reputation for high quality and are considered collectors' items today. The age of a Griswold pan can be determined by examining the bottom of the pan for logos and markings. The Griswold logo has changed repeatedly over the years, and the company's manufacturing location also changed, which can help determine the age of a Griswold pan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Logo size | Older logos are 4 inches wide, newer ones are 2 inches wide |
| Logo design | Various designs including a diamond, a cross, a spider, a slanted logo, a block logo, a small block logo, a large block logo |
| Spelling | Griswold vs Griswold's |
| Location of manufacture | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Date of manufacture | 1865-1957 |
| Additional markings | "CAST IRON SKILLET" |
| Weight | Older cast iron is lighter than modern cast iron |
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What You'll Learn
Look for the Griswold mark on the bottom of the pan
To determine the age of a Griswold pan, one of the first things to do is to look for the Griswold mark on the bottom of the pan. Griswold placed its mark on the bottom of its cast-iron skillets, and the logo has changed over the years, making it easier to determine the age of the pan.
The first thing to look for is the city of manufacture listed on the bottom of the pan. Some of the oldest and most sought-after Griswold skillets simply have the city name "Erie" listed on the bottom, without an accompanying manufacturer name. If you have a Griswold skillet stamped "Erie", that means it was manufactured between 1865 and 1909.
Look out for the "Erie" mark inside a diamond shape. Griswold used this design for its logo from 1884 through 1909. If you find "Griswold's" with an apostrophe, then the skillet was manufactured between 1884 and 1912.
Another logo to look out for is the "Griswold cross". This logo was first used by the manufacturer during the 1910s and continued through the 1960s with some modifications. For several years until the early 1920s, these pans had a slanted, slightly italicized "Griswold" name at the centre of the cross. The age and quality of these pans make them among the most desirable for collectors.
The "Griswold" trademark was used across virtually all production from around 1920, and this is known as the "'slant logo'. This logo was updated with block-style lettering, which became bolder and heavier.
If your pan has the smaller Griswold logo, it was likely manufactured from around 1939 onwards. The logo size was reduced in 1939, and the overall weight of the lettering, cross, and circles was also reduced.
Collectors should be wary of reproductions, which generally have a grainy finish and uneven and blurred lettering.
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Examine the centre of the pan's bottom for a diamond shape with the word Erie inside
The presence of a diamond shape with the word "Erie" inside on the bottom of a Griswold pan indicates that it was manufactured between 1884 and 1909. This logo, known as the "Griswold's Erie Diamond" or the “Griswold Diamond logo”, is an early and scarce logo used by the Griswold Manufacturing Company. The company transitioned from using “Erie” logos to “Griswold” logos, with the "Griswold's Erie Diamond" logo serving as the first logo to include the Griswold name.
The "Griswold's Erie Diamond" logo is found on griddles rather than skillets and is often accompanied by a “spider” structure on the pan. The spider structure refers to short legs on the bottom of the pan that allow it to sit on both the cooktop and in coals. The presence of these spider legs is considered a valuable feature by collectors.
The value of Griswold cast iron pans is determined by their age and condition. Authentic antique Griswold pans are lighter and smoother than modern cast iron. The weight of a Griswold pan can be a good indicator of its authenticity, as modern cast iron tends to be heavier than antique mould-cast iron.
The evolution of the Griswold trademark over the years, as seen in the changes from the "Erie" logo to the "Griswold's Erie Diamond" logo and subsequent logo designs, makes it relatively easy to determine the age of a Griswold pan. Collectors and enthusiasts can refer to price guide booklets and online resources to estimate the value of their Griswold pans based on their age and rarity.
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Check for the presence of an apostrophe in the Griswold logo
The presence of an apostrophe in the Griswold logo can help determine the age of the pan.
Griswold pans with the apostrophe in the logo, i.e., Griswold's, were manufactured between 1884 and 1912. The logo during this period was known as the "Griswold's Erie Diamond". This logo featured the word "Erie" inside a diamond shape in the centre of the pan. The apostrophe version of the logo is considered a transitional piece between the "Erie" and "Griswold" trademarks.
The logo changed over the years, and the inclusion or exclusion of an apostrophe is an important indicator of the age of the pan. The logo without the apostrophe, i.e., "Griswold", was used from 1897 through 1957. This logo featured the Griswold name inside a cross.
The size of the logo can also be indicative of the age of the pan. The older logo is larger, measuring about 4 inches wide, while the newer logo is smaller, measuring about 2 inches wide.
Other indicators of the age of a Griswold pan include the handle design, the presence of a spider logo, and the pattern number at the base of the pan. The handle design of Griswold pans falls into three categories: early, late, and grooved. The spider logo is considered rare and indicates a pan manufactured between 1874 and 1905. The pattern number at the base of the pan can also help determine its age.
Griswold manufactured pans with different trademarks and logos over the years, and the company was known for its attention to detail and quality craftsmanship. The pans were made by hand, and the long lifespan of cast iron, along with the demand for second-hand pieces, makes vintage Griswold pans a common find in the antique market.
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Inspect the bottom of the pan for the Griswold logo inside a cross
If you want to determine the age of a Griswold skillet, one of the best ways is to inspect the bottom of the pan for the Griswold logo inside a cross. This is a key indicator of the skillet's age, as Griswold used this logo design from 1897 through 1957.
The Griswold logo inside a cross is just one of the logo variations used by the company over the years. The logo's design, along with the presence or absence of certain inscriptions, can provide valuable information about the skillet's age. For example, skillets with the Griswold logo inside a cross may also feature the word Erie or Erie, PA, U.S.A. stamped on the bottom. The "Erie" marking indicates that the skillet was manufactured between 1865 and 1909, while the addition of "PA, U.S.A." suggests a later production period.
In addition to the logo and inscriptions, the style of the skillet's handle can also provide dating clues. Skillets produced in the 1930s and 1940s often feature a distinctive handle with a teardrop design. This type of handle, along with the presence of a heat ring, can help narrow down the age of the skillet.
Another factor to consider is the smoothness of the skillet's surface. While Griswold skillets are known for their durable, heavy-duty construction, older models tend to have smoother surfaces compared to the very rough-textured contemporary pans. This variation in surface texture is due to changes in the casting process over the years.
Finally, the weight and thickness of the skillet can also provide insights into its age. Vintage Griswold skillets are generally heavier and thicker than modern versions, which again relates to the casting techniques used during different periods. These variations in weight and thickness also contribute to the excellent heat retention and durability that Griswold skillets are renowned for.
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Examine the size and shape of the logo
The Griswold Manufacturing Company was an American manufacturer of cast-iron kitchen products founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, and in business from 1865 through 1957. The company had a worldwide reputation for high-quality cast-iron cookware. Today, Griswold pieces are collectors' items.
The Griswold identification stamp changed repeatedly over the years, but these changes make it easy to determine the age of the pan. Dating Griswold cast iron is quite simple, thanks to the detail found in many Griswold cast iron price guide booklets.
The first "Griswold" trademark to be used across virtually all production, and perhaps the most iconic, is known as the "slant logo". The slant logo was seen on both heat-ringed and, in rare cases, smooth-bottom skillets, as well as on pans marked "ERIE" and "ERIE, PA, U.S.A.", being referred to by collectors as "Slant Erie" and "Slant EPU", respectively. On the older, "ERIE" marked pieces, the slant trademark was typically not as heavily incised as on the later "ERIE, PA, U.S.A." pans. The slant logo's use would continue for some time into the large block logo era, with old patterns seen modified to add the other inscriptions characteristic of the large block pieces. It would be some 10 years before the slant logo disappeared from production altogether.
Later, around 1920, the slant logo was updated, with the lettering being changed to a block style. The overall weight of the logo would become bolder as well. The Griswold cross logo was first used by the manufacturer during the 1910s. For several years until the early 1920s, these pans had a slanted, slightly italicized "Griswold" name at the centre of the cross. The age and quality of these pans make them among the most desirable for collectors, and as such, they are often sold for high prices at antique malls and fairs. The logo was changed to block lettering during the 1920s through the 1930s.
The Griswold Large Block logo was seen on both heat ring and smooth-bottom skillets, but only with the "ERIE, PA, U.S.A." designation. In 1939, the logo was reduced in size, likely because all but the largest skillet patterns were replaced outright, rather than just being modified, as was previously seen. Along with the logo shrinkage, the overall weight of the lettering, cross, and circles was reduced, and inscriptions like "CAST IRON SKILLET" were eliminated.
Around 1939, Griswold also made a lower-grade range of cast iron cookware that was more budget-friendly. The logo on these pans has also changed over the years. Griswold manufactured these pans between the 1890s and 1930s.
In the early-to-mid 1960s, a number of pans were produced with dual logos, displaying the images of both Griswold and Wagner.
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Frequently asked questions
Griswold pans made before 1957 are considered vintage. You can determine the age of your pan by looking for the Griswold logo on the bottom of the pan. The logo has changed several times over the years, and these changes can be used to date the pans.
The Griswold logo has changed repeatedly over the years, and the company's name was first added to the trademark in 1884. Here are some of the different logos and the years they were used:
- Erie: 1865-1909
- Griswold's Erie Diamond: 1884-1906
- Slant logo: 1910s-1930s
- Large block logo: 1939-1957
- Small block logo: 1939-1957
In addition to the logo, you can look for the city of manufacture listed on the bottom of the pan. You can also consider the weight of the pan—modern cast iron is typically heavier than antique cast iron.
The value of Griswold pans depends on their age, condition, and rarity. Pans with the Griswold logo are considered more valuable, especially those with the older logos. The most valuable Griswold pans are often those made in the 1890s, which can be worth up to $8,000.
