Help! Is My Skillet Beyond Repair? Flaking!

[A_Soucheck]

Hi all - I have this no name skillet (would love to learn more about its make if anyone is so inclined!) my dad had given me in college and I had used for many years. It started to “flake” a while back and I put it into semi-retirement until I had the time to possibly restore it. Now that I have the time, a few questions for you all.

First, from the photos what appears to be flaking? Is it the seasoning, crud from years of cooking or part of the skillet? I’m not sure what else it would be, enamel?

If seasoning or crud, I assume it’s safe to follow the restoration process outlined on the website. If it's not seasoning that is flaking, any suggestions as to what it may be and the next steps to verify and restore or is the skillet beyond repair?

think it could be a birmingham?

 

[Doug D.]

BSR, yes. Enamel, no. Flaking seasoning, yes. Or just built-up cooking spatter. I would consider it time for a refurbishment.

See: http://www.castironcollector.com/restore.php

 

[SeanD]

I agree. Looks like just seasoning flaking. I would just strip it and start over. Goes to prove your pan was used a LOT....thats the best ones.

 

[A_Soucheck]

Thank you - I’ll refurbish and report back here!

 

[Jeffrey R.]

Stripping and re-seasoning is the only way to make you happy and your skillet ready for some good cooking.

 

[Dustin Schroeder]

It’s a Birmingham Stove And Range Century series. Made in the 1960s possibly late 1950s.

 

[Doug D.]

Those particular markings would be more like late 1960s through most of the 1970s.

 

[Dustin Schroeder]

Those particular markings would be more like late 1960s through most of the 1970s.

It would have Made in the USA of it was that late BSR. BSR started making the Century series in the 1950s

 

[Doug D.]

The photos don't conclusively show that the Made in USA is absent or present. But it doesn't matter, the 5 H-2 marking places it after the time Made in USA was added, well after the 1950s and early 1960s .

 

[Dustin Schroeder]

The photos don't conclusively show that the Made in USA is absent or present. But it doesn't matter, the 5 H-2 marking places it after the time Made in USA was added, well after the 1950s and early 1960s .

I apologize I didn’t notice the 5 H-2 marking. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about BSR. I have a Red Mountain Skillet I got from my grandmother that I have recently restored and my wife’s aunt gave me some cornstick pans that look to be BSR copies. Identical to BSR pans but don’t have any markings at all