Skillet Identification

W

WillB

New member
Hello,

I’m new to the cast iron world, but my wife’s grandma has 5 skillets and a comal available. I’d like some help identifying the manufacturer and date range for them. Based on the handles, all the skillets appear to be BSR.

#6: This one appears to be century series BSR (Late 60s-70s). This seems to be the easiest to identify.

#7 (1): Appears to be BSR based on handle, but the font of number 7 looks odd and there is a small Q above the 7.

#7 (2): Appears to be BSR based on handle and numbering. Cracked. Would like to know date range.

#5 (1): Appears to be BSR based on handle although the ridge line on the bottom of the handle is not sharp. Looks like an A and N below the 5.

#5 (2): Appears to be pre ‘68 century series BSR based on handle, numbering, and no made in USA. Also had an x within a circle. Handle ridge is also not sharp. Does this sound right?

Comal: no pictures right now and no discernible numbering. Will post a picture if I get one.

Thanks, Will

---------- Post added at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

Having trouble with pictures. Will add soon.

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:59 PM ----------

https://imgur.com/KcSJjf9
https://imgur.com/qICIYnb
 
Links which do not end in the name of an image file, e.g. "/nnnn.jpg" should not be placed between img tags.

Comal = round handle griddle.
 
As of this writing, you've only linked pics of two skillets.

You're right on the #6.

The first #7 does look BSR prior to the mid-'60s but hard to say more than that. There's posting guidelines around here somewhere that suggest, for pan ID, to post pics of the entire bottom and the entire top. With BSR in particular, the size of the pour spouts / "ears" can help narrow down certain eras, which is easier to evaluate from a top pic.

Also, pans that are very crudded up may have hidden markings under the crud that could be meaningful for ID and dating. Do you plan to strip and re-season these?
 
Sorry, I took the pictures before I had read the posting guidelines. I did get a pic of the top of the 7 (1) with the Q? on it though.

https://imgur.com/29bo2yT

Then the number 7 (1) next to the 6. The 6 actually feels heavier than the 7.

https://imgur.com/qfRb1PY

I only took the 6 and 7 (1) for now to clean up. I tried looking for Made in USA or any other markings through the rust but didn’t see it on any of the other ones.
 
Both of your #7s and your first #5, the one with the A N, appear to be from prior to the switch to DISA automation, which happened in '66 - '68. I can't tell from the ears if they're pre-'50s but I don't think so.

I already said you got the #6 right but your second #5 is newer than you guessed. The markings where they preceded it with a "No." and also included an "IN" (inches) size were not done until after the switch to DISA, so it's the same general era as your #6. That screwhead-looking marking was also something used after the switch to DISA. It may lack "Made in USA" markings, but they didn't always put that on every piece; I have a number of '70s era BSR that lack the "Made in USA" markings next to pieces from the same time that have them. Their markings in general were very random, seems like for every rule, there's a piece out there that's an exception to it.

That cracked one is basically junk but the others, would be nice to see them after you clean them up. Have a good one.
 
Thanks Eric!

Thanks for the link, Doug. I had been using that link as well as another one from Cast Iron Chaos to differentiate the pans, but hadn’t paid attention to the part about the pour spout sizing.
 
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