Outside Heat Ring, Raised 8 on Handle, Molders Mark, ID?

[Robert K.]

My mother gave my grandmother's cast iron pans to me when I moved away, and I took them out the other day to show a guy I know who has a cast iron collection. He didn't know what this one was.

My grandmother lived in northeast Tennessee and was born 1905.

After reading a bit, it looks like this is either a "Blacklock" pan or one from an unknown small foundry, manufactured 1900-1910. It looks remarkably similar to the one in this post:
http://www.castironcollector.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552

Two questions:
Is my assessment of its origin and age accurate?
Should I not use this pan? It's been a while since I used it, and if it's a precious antique maybe I shouldn't.

Pictures are below:


Molder's Mark, slightly offcenter on bottom, bottlecap for scale:

 

[Sharon Shuman]

My thoughts on this pan are it's your heirloom, and your Grandma would want it to be used. Clean it up a bit, and use it with care, and I bet it will become a favorite kitchen utensil! (Just my 2 cents worth.)

 

[Robert K.]

Right on, although my grandmother probably would have wanted my sister to use it, having been sort of traditional when it comes to gender roles.