Tiffany Haney
Cast iron pans often feature a number, sometimes accompanied by a letter, that indicates the size of the pan. These numbers refer to the diameter of the pan's bottom, and they are usually found on the top of the handle or the bottom of the pan. While these numbers may not directly correlate to the exact dimensions of the pan, they indicate compatibility with the openings in wood-burning stoves, also known as stove eyes. The numbers allow pans to fit well on the burners of old stoves for cooking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of numbers | Indicate compatibility with wood stoves |
| When did this start? | 1800s |
| What do the numbers refer to? | Not exact measurements, but stove eye size |
| Are the numbers standard across brands? | No, each brand has its own system |
| What do letters indicate? | Pattern letters, indicating the mould used |
| What are pattern letters? | Differentiate between identical moulds |
| Are there other alphanumeric markings? | Yes, some have dimensional descriptions, e.g. "10 5/8 IN." |
| Are there other uses for letters? | Yes, Lodge Manufacturing Co. uses them as model designations |
What You'll Learn
Numbers indicate the size of the pan
The number on a cast iron pan indicates the size of the pan. However, it does not refer to the diameter in inches. Instead, the number indicates the compatibility of the pan with the stove it was meant to be used on.
With the advent of wood-burning stoves, pans were produced to conform to the sizes of the openings in their tops, known as "stove eyes". The pans were made to sit upon these openings, and the number on the pan indicated its compatibility with the type of stove it could be used with.
For example, a 1924 Wagner Manufacturing Co. catalog lists the following as the bottom diameters of their regular cast iron skillets:
- #2 - 4-7/8"
- #3 - 5-1/2"
- #4 - 5-7/8"
- #5 - 6-3/4"
- #6 - 7-1/2"
- #7 - 8-1/4"
- #8 - 8-7/8"
- #9 - 9-3/4"
- #10 - 10-1/4"
- #11 - 10-7/8"
- #12 - 11-3/4"
- #13 - 12"
- #14 - 13"
It is important to note that these dimensions were not standard across all manufacturers. For instance, a 1918 Griswold Mfg. Co. catalog lists similar dimensions for its regular skillets, but with slight variations in the size of the #3, #4, #13, and #14 skillets.
Additionally, some manufacturers intentionally made their pans slightly larger than their competitors to advertise them as being bigger. As a result, it is always a good idea to measure the pan's dimensions rather than relying solely on the number indicated.
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The size number is not the diameter of the pan
It is a common misconception that the size number on a cast iron pan indicates its diameter in inches. However, this is not the case. The size number does not correlate to the diameter of either the top or bottom rim of the pan.
The size number on cast iron pans originally indicated compatibility with the openings in wood-burning stoves, known as "stove eyes", that the pans sat upon. Each stove brand had differently sized "stove eyes", so pans were produced in varying sizes to conform to these openings. This is why, even after the switch to gas-fired ranges and electric stoves, cast iron pans continued to be manufactured in the sizes established for wood-burning stoves.
For example, a 1924 Wagner Manufacturing Co. catalog lists the following as the bottom diameters of their regular cast iron skillets:
- #2 - 4-7/8"
- #3 - 5-1/2"
- #4 - 5-7/8"
- #5 - 6-3/4"
- #6 - 7-1/2"
- #7 - 8-1/4"
- #8 - 8-7/8"
- #9 - 9-3/4"
- #10 - 10-1/4"
- #11 - 10-7/8"
- #12 - 11-3/4"
- #13 - 12"
- #14 - 13"
These dimensions were not standard across all manufacturers, however. A 1918 Griswold Mfg. Co. catalog, for instance, lists smaller #3 and #4 skillets and larger #13 and #14 skillets compared to Wagner's.
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Numbers correspond to the size of the stove burner
The numbers on cast iron pans are size numbers. However, these numbers do not indicate the diameter of the pan in inches. Instead, they refer to the size of the "stove eye" or burner on a stove, which is the opening at the top of a wood-burning stove where the pan sits.
With the advent of wood-burning stoves, pans were produced to conform to the sizes of these "stove eyes". Depending on the brand of stove and the size of its eyes, appropriately-sized pans were needed. In some cases, the stove maker also produced pans customised to work with their units.
Even after gas-fired ranges and electric stoves became universal, cast iron cookware continued to be manufactured in the sizes originally established for wood-burning stoves. For example, a 1924 Wagner Manufacturing Co. catalog lists the following as the bottom diameters of their regular cast iron skillets:
- #2 - 4-7/8"
- #3 - 5-1/2"
- #4 - 5-7/8"
- #5 - 6-3/4"
- #6 - 7-1/2"
- #7 - 8-1/4"
- #8 - 8-7/8"
- #9 - 9-3/4"
- #10 - 10-1/4"
- #11 - 10-7/8"
- #12 - 11-3/4"
- #13 - 12"
- #14 - 13"
These dimensions, however, were not standard across all manufacturers. A 1918 Griswold Mfg. Co. catalog, for instance, lists slightly different dimensions for its regular skillets.
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The number system varies across brands
For example, a Wagner Manufacturing Co. #2 skillet has a bottom diameter of 4-7/8 inches, while a Griswold Mfg. Co. #2 skillet is slightly smaller. Additionally, some manufacturers made their pans slightly larger than their competitors so they could advertise them as being bigger.
The numbers can also indicate the mold pattern that was used to create the pan. Manufacturers would create multiple molds of the same size pan to meet demand, and they would use letters to differentiate between these identical mold patterns. For example, a "3B" pattern would be slightly different from a "3C" pattern because the wear on the molds would cause them to produce slightly different pans over time.
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Letters indicate the mould pattern
Cast iron pans often have a number and a letter stamped on them, such as "3B" or "8CX". These letters are known as "pattern letters". Each foundry would produce a pattern for each model of pan, which would be used to make a mould for the pan. For popular pans, multiple patterns would be created, and a unique letter would be stamped on each pattern. This allowed foundries to identify which patterns were creating sub-standard pans.
The letters do not indicate the order of creation or usage, nor do they indicate any kind of superiority. They simply identify which pattern was used to make a particular pan.
Some pieces may only have a few patterns, so you would only expect to see the first few letters of the alphabet on these. For popular pieces, like the size #3 and #8 skillets, you may see nearly every letter used.
Some manufacturers, such as Griswold, also used "pattern numbers", which were unique to each model, size, and type of pan produced. These pattern numbers were appended with a letter unique to each working pattern.
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Frequently asked questions
The numbers on cast iron pans refer to the size of the pan, specifically the diameter across the bottom of the pan. However, the stamped number does not indicate the exact diameter in inches.
Originally, cast iron pans were made to fit wood stoves, which had openings at the top that the cast iron pans sat upon. Therefore, the number indicated compatibility between the pan and the stove.
No, the numbers are not standard across all manufacturers. For example, a Lodge 10 would not be the same as a Wagner 10.
