Thoughts on a Wagner cover?

[MikeZ]

I have what I assume is a DO cover; it has the stylized Wagner logo, but no "Sidney O" or c/n on it. I haven't found anything like it in either book or through this site. I think it's quite heavy, but don't have any experience with Wagner covers. It fits nicely on a Wagner deep skillet, 1088J, that I just got.

Any thoughts as to just what it is and possible age?

 

[Doug D.]

I happened to see one exactly like it today. It was on a Wagner Ware (no Sidney -O-) 5 qt. (no c/n and no Made in USA) dutch oven. I assumed they were a match, since the cover also had no c/n. The handle and shape of the cover say Wagner-modified Griswold pattern to me. So I would guess very late 1950s-early 1960s.

 

[W. Hilditch]

In the pics the CI looks pretty rough, not as fine as the higher carbon material that Wagner normally produced which was machining grade. Sometimes one can tell the difference between manufacturers with a sound test. Just tap two fairly identical pieces with your finger nails or a spoon and listen for a similarity or a difference. Griswold and Lodge are at opposite ends of the tone scale. I can't hear yours, but I smell a possible fake.

hilditch

 

[Doug D.]

The pattern for this cover can be seen in photos taken during a tour of the defunct Wagner plant in 2003. It is on a multi-pattern match plate along with a Wagner 1891 Original skillet (which also means it could have still been being produced as recently as the late 1980s). I am confident the cover is genuine.

 

[MikeZ]

Thanks for the responses.

Hilditch, I don't have another Wagner cover for a sound comparison, but you're right that this cover is rougher, especially the handle, than others I've seen. I get more of a "clunk" on it than a ring on a Tite Top Griswold I have…

Doug, coincidence that you should just see one on a D/O? I think not. The cover fits on a friend's stylized logo 5 qt D/O, but it fits more closely on my NO 8 Tite Top D/O.

What would be a fair selling price for this? Although it's mis-matched, I'm liking it on the deep skillet.

 

[Doug D.]

I think any roughness by comparison to earlier pieces is more a result of automated processes, coarser mold sand, and less in the way of mold surface dressing. I also think any comparative tones produced are more related to the heavier castings of automation vs. the lighter ones from the hand pour era. This cover has an early style handle, but is not an early piece. As to it not fitting all that well on a Wagner 1268 DO and better on your Griswold, it may have much to do with the pattern starting out life as a Griswold lid.

If your 1088 deep skillet is one without pour spouts and this lid fits, I'd say you have a good marriage. Value is hard to say. I saw another of this same lid before at the same venue marked $12, and passed. More depends on who has only the matching pot, knows it, and how bad they need the lid.