Hammered Lodge #00 advertising skillet

[Mark D]

I purchased this small skillet and was looking for help to get info on it. Was it a toy or advertising piece? It is hammered on the sides and handle. It is brass plated on the outside(which I have never seen before on cast iron). The stamps on the bottom are two zeros with a square above them. There are some dots on the bottom as well though they are hard to count.

Lodge is spelled out in Large raised lettering in the cooking area. This leads me to think its advertising. Any ideas on age, rarity, and value would be appreciated.

Also, I have used electrolysis on my pans in the past. Could a brass plated pan be safely cleaned that way?

Here are links to pictures(hope this works...):

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah71/winj1/Cast iron/image.jpg5_zps5im92ao7.jpg

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah71/winj1/Cast iron/image.jpg1_zpsldnksdbt.jpg

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah71/winj1/Cast iron/image.jpg4_zpswyubjgho.jpg

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Mark D]

I guess no one has any info about this?

 

[Doug D.]

Although the little #00 hammered toy skillets are attributed to Lodge, they don't seem to have merited inclusion in the catalogs. The raised marking on the inside is unusual, and makes one think it was likely sold as an ashtray. If it is brass plating, I doubt it to be original. There doesn't seem to be enough rust to merit electrolysis. I would give it a 50/50 vinegar soak and steel wool it; neither should harm the brass(?).