Griswold waffle iron labeling questions...

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IOBryant

New member
I got a Griswold No. 8 waffle iron that I am stripping and reseasoning. I am not terribly familiar with how griswold waffle irons were labeled and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this one: On one of the paddles ('A' paddle) the words "PAT'D DEC. 1. 1908" are recessed into the pan instead of raised lettering, like the 'B' paddle. Also, most of the photos I find on the net of similar irons all have raised lettering on both paddles. Do the paddles match and go together?

Disregard the difference in color...one has first coat of flaxseed and the other is only stripped.

Thanks,
Ian
 

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The pattern for the paddle with the incised patent information was likely modified, having formerly said "Patent Pending". Grinding off the old raised lettering and incising the patent date would have been the quickest way to do it. Later, as time allowed, paddle patterns were updated more consistently with the rest of the markings. A "mismatch" such as this probably wasn't a big deal back then, either to the maker or the consumer. It would be nice if they were both the same, but it doesn't mean they weren't originally sold as a set.
 
Thanks For the insight Doug. I can see how that would have been easier and more cost effective than re-casting the whole thing. Also, does anybody know the range of dates during which this would have been produced?
 
Precise dating is often difficult, but from some observations, we can narrow things a bit. The patent being granted in 1908 and inscribed on these paddles places them after that. Catalogs typically used illustrations rather than photographs, so we can't always be sure marketing kept up with what was currently actually being manufactured. Having said that, a 1922 (allegedly) ad shows a Griswold WI with the leveling pins at 9 and 3, like your 885/886 #8. We know that pre-dates the irons with pins at 4 and 8 (like the 314/315 #8), shown in a Griswold ad dated (again allegedly) 1923. A (allegedly) 1924 hardware catalog shows an individual Griswold WI with the 3-9 pins, but the illustration of a WI display has an open WI with 4-8 pins obvious. The W-12 Griswold bulletin dated 1926 also shows only irons with pins at 4 and 8, but its helpful parts ordering table references both 314/315 #8 and 885/886 #8 irons, among other sizes and designs.
 
Gotcha. So it's safe to assume this WI is most likely from the 1908-1922 castings, with possible exceptions for the years leading up to 1926? Update: I've got both paddles seasoned now...base is in electrolysis bath. I can't wait to make a waffle on this iron! Hope I can get good results on an electric stove.
 
The 1908 patent date is actually for the air-cooled handle sockets. It was held by John C. Hollands, who invented and assigned many of his patented designs to Griswold Mfg. Co. It does not appear that he did so on that particular one, however. Later Griswold irons would be inscribed with a patent date of July 11, 1922, which coincides with a Griswold patent for the coil handles themselves. That would then tend to put a waffle iron with those handles later in that date range.
 
IOBryant said:
Gotcha. So it's safe to assume this WI is most likely from the 1908-1922 castings, with possible exceptions for the years leading up to 1926? Update: I've got both paddles seasoned now...base is in electrolysis bath. I can't wait to make a waffle on this iron! Hope I can get good results on an electric stove.
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