New pan from grandmother passed on by mother

R

RECarter

New member
My mother passed away last year, and we traveled back home last week to help my dad get the house ready to sell. One of the items I wanted was my grandmother's #12 cast iron skillet. My grandmother passed it on to my mother when she wasn't able to use it any more. I don't think my mother ever used it because of it's weight.

Could someone help ID the pan and also speak to whether it could be a fake. The blemish on the bottom seems like it could be a fake.

Inside after washing



"New" CI on left, a previously given pan on the right.


Handle and markings close up (12A) is the only mark I can find on the piece)


Blemish on the bottom (horizontal imperfection of the mold?)


Thanks for any help you can give me.
 
The handle makes me think early "Wagner" 1891 - 1910, but it should be marked as such.

I cannot say for sure if it a Wagner or some copy, as I am not sure if Wagner made pieces without a logo.
 
The skillet isn't fake or a repro, but I don't know who made it. Looks to be "Wagnerish" to me, but I don't agree with Jeffery on the time frame. The 1890s-1900s Wagner handles were much like an Erie skillet with the reinforcing pad and a rib. If it is Wagner, and I still think it might be, I'd say the time frame is later---more like 20s or 30s.
 
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I've searched high and low for anything that looks like a mark. There doesn't seem to be any.

The only thing that might be distinctive is the bolstering where the handle meets the pan.



---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 AM ----------

The black seasoned #10 photographed above is a similar pan but without a ring on the bottom. It doesn't have any markings either. I do have a another 10 that has the Wagner Sidney -0- marking. They look close but the handle designs are slightly different.
 
I wouldn't think as late as 20s or 30s, but it could have been, as it appears to be someone's copy using an Erie as a basis and altering some characteristics. I would say the original from which it was copied would be 1890s to early 1900s.
 
It's a beautiful and meaningful pan. That's one that can be passed down. Very nice size also. I bet she cooked some real good food in that skillet. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.
 
The blemish I noticed on the bottom side maybe the indication of the copy. It sits where the Wagner mark would sit. Could a copy been made and the Wagner logo scratched out of the sand before casting?

The inside is highly polished, so it is a copy, someone seemed to want to put a lot of work into it.

---------- Post added at 11:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------
Nancy F said:
It's a beautiful and meaningful pan. That's one that can be passed down. Very nice size also. I bet she cooked some real good food in that skillet. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.
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I've already cooked some bacon and eggs. I see a lot of use for it as I have 4 boys who often have friends over.
 
KevinE said:
The skillet isn't fake or a repro, but I don't know who made it. Looks to be "Wagnerish" to me, but I don't agree with Jeffery on the time frame. The 1890s-1900s Wagner handles were much like an Erie skillet with the reinforcing pad and a rib. If it is Wagner, and I still think it might be, I'd say the time frame is later---more like 20s or 30s.
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Kevin, Do you have a copy of the RB? If so page 10 top left corner, also page 14 top left corner. I still am thinking 1891 - 1910 style. Thinking it was copied a little later, 1900 - 1920 + /-
 
Jeffrey R. said:
Kevin, Do you have a copy of the RB? If so page 10 top left corner, also page 14 top left corner. I still am thinking 1891 - 1910 style. Thinking it was copied a little later, 1900 - 1920 + /-
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I do have the RB. By Joe, I think you're correct! I totally missed that and was looking at some of my personal old 1890s-1915s Wagners, but I don't have any with just the arc logo like that.
 
KevinE said:
I do have the RB. By Joe, I think you're correct! I totally missed that and was looking at some of my personal old 1890s-1915s Wagners, but I don't have any with just the arc logo like that.
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No worry.
Never to many pieces to have, time to go on a hunt.:icon_thumbsup:

The reason I remember the handle, is I sold one years ago to a fellow collector.
 
Thanks for all the help. It sounds like this is an early copy but that is still exciting.

I'll need to do some digging to see how long it's been in the family.
 
RECarter said:
Thanks for all the help. It sounds like this is an early copy but that is still exciting.

I'll need to do some digging to see how long it's been in the family.
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You still have a very nice skillet and the family part makes it all the better. Happy Cooking.
 
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