WKM 2 qt sauce pan w/ lid

[Andrew Molina]

Hello all,

So this is my first thrift shop find back in ‘09, and the second piece of my now hefty collection. It’s served us well since I brought it home. It’s the perfect rice, gravy, and sauce pot, and now I’m interested in the history.

I noticed that Birmingham has casted with the same mold, and was wondering if there is any connection between the two foundries, or if WKM bought the dies and rebranded them, or vice versa? It obviously made in Taiwan, but big darn deal, function over fashion, at least when it come to cooking.

Also, if anyone has an idea of an estimated date these were produced, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Doug D.]

Doubtful that a US manufacturer would in any way facilitate the offshore competition that helped lead to its demise. Lodge acquired some of BSR's tooling (patterns) and certain patent rights after BSR went out of business. Related: https://www.castironcollector.com/birmingham.php Creating patterns from the actual castings of other makers is seen throughout history, as quicker and cheaper than creating patterns from scratch (carved wooden master to brass intermediate to aluminum match plate working patterns), and is likely what the Taiwanese foundry did in this case. Time frame probably 70s or 80s.

 

[Andrew Molina]

That’s what I assumed, an old American pattern turned over to make cheaper products for us. Not that the pot is bad in any way, but the history is not as embellished. Dude, you are an encyclopedia of cast iron knowledge.