Pan ID

[DaveSchutter]

These 2 pans were given to me by a friend along with a nicely seasoned #3. I’m not sure what these are as they are unmarked. The first one was caked in a thick blackish brown residue with rust coming through. After scraping and blasting, a neat hammered finish emerged. It has some shallow pitting on the cooking surface but hopefully that will fill in over time.

The second, which I assume is an unmarked Wagner looked like it had been buried for several years and was heavily rusted. It has fewer but deeper pits in the inside. Not sure if it will work for cooking.

Any insight or information on them would be greatly appreciated. Also any insight into the usability of these pans with the pitting of the cooking surfaces.

The first one.

 

[DaveSchutter]

The second one

 

[Doug D.]

Scraping and blasting are two words collectors of vintage cast iron cookware never want to hear when talking about restoration. Both activities potentially ruin collectible value.

Anyway, the hammered skillet was made by Chicago Hardware foundry, and is a desirable collectible piece. The other, made by Wagner, could have been sold labeled either Wagner or Griswold, as, by the time it was made, the company that made it owned the rights to both. Not really a collectible, but desirable as a user.

Pitting, if not extensive and deep, will fill in with usage.

Related: https://www.castironcollector.com/restore.php and https://www.castironcollector.com/unmarked.php and https://www.castironcollector.com/hammered.php

 

[SeanD]

I would say the first one is a CHF, Hammered. The second one I think is a newer unmarked Wagner.

 

[DaveSchutter]

I’m a user, not really a collector. The residue and rust was so thick you couldn’t even tell it had a hammered finish. How would a collector deal with those issues?

Will they be usable with the pitting on the cooking surface?

 

[Doug D.]

Collector-approved methods for removing rust and build-up are outlined and explained at the "restore" link provided above. I don't see a degree of pitting on them that would prevent successful use.

 

[DaveSchutter]

Thanks Doug

I will try the approved restoration methods on any future finds. I didn’t notice the links until after I posted. I’m new to vintage CI and have been just looking from a strictly user viewpoint. From now on I will be more careful in case I pick up a desirable collector piece.

I have a blast cabinet with very fine media for refinishing firearms, so that’s what I used. I also used it on a swap meet Griswold #8 which is my every day favorite. I also picked up a #12 and #3 Wagner Ware at the same swap meet and thankfully they had no rust and good usable black seasoning.