How to Identify Cast Iron Cookware Makers

Old cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens are a staple of estate sales, and some are sought after by cooks and collectors alike. This guide helps you identify who made a piece, read the markings on the bottom, and recognize reproductions and damage before you buy or price it.

Look at the bottom first

Turn the pan over in good light. Most identifying features are on the underside. Note:

• Any logo or company name.
• A size number, often large and centered or near the handle. These numbers originally related to wood-stove burner openings, not inches.
• Smaller pattern or catalog numbers, sometimes followed by a letter.
• The city or state where it was made.
• A raised ring around the outer edge, called a heat ring, or the absence of one.

Well-known American makers

These are some of the names you will see most often. Each used several logo styles over the years, and collectors use those variations to narrow down when a piece was made.

• Griswold of Erie, Pennsylvania, is known for logos that often feature the word "Griswold" inside a cross within a circle, along with "Erie, PA." Some earlier pieces are marked simply "Erie."
• Wagner of Sidney, Ohio, marked many pieces "Wagner Ware" with "Sidney -O-," in several logo styles.
• Lodge of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, is still in business. Many of its older pieces are unmarked or carry only a size number, and some have distinctive notches in the heat ring.
• Other makers include Favorite Piqua Ware, Wapak, Vollrath and Birmingham Stove and Range, along with many regional foundries.

Cast iron reference books and collector guides show logo variations side by side, which is the most reliable way to match what you see.

Unmarked pieces

A great deal of quality vintage cast iron carries no maker's name. Some companies produced unmarked lines for department stores and hardware chains. Identifying unmarked pieces depends on details such as handle shape, the style and position of the size number, heat ring design and pour spouts. Comparing your pan to photographed examples in a reference is the best approach. Unmarked does not mean poor quality.

Judge the casting

• Many older pans have a smooth, machined cooking surface, ground flat after casting. Many modern pans have a pebbly, textured surface instead.
• Older pans are often thinner and lighter for their size than many modern ones.
• A long raised scar across the bottom, called a gate mark, comes from an older casting method and is generally found on earlier pieces.
• Crisp, sharp lettering suggests an original casting. Soft, blurry or uneven letters may mean the piece was cast from a copy of another pan.

Watch for reproductions

Popular names, especially Griswold, have been copied. Reproductions are often recast from originals, so the logos look slightly smaller, fuzzy or poorly defined. The iron may have a rough, grainy surface and a heavier feel. Be especially careful with novelty items like small skillets, banks and decorative pieces with famous logos, and with prices that seem too good for a rare item.

Check for damage

Condition makes a big difference to both use and value.

• Cracks: look carefully around the rim and bottom with a flashlight. A pan with a crack is generally not safe to cook in.
• Warping: set the pan on a flat surface and press on the rim. If it rocks or spins, it is warped.
• Pitting: small craters from rust, which may be cosmetic or severe.
• Heavy rust or crusty buildup: often removable, but it can hide cracks, so inspect cleaned pans again.

Cleaning and selling

Cleaning old buildup is common among collectors, but some methods involve lye solutions or electrolysis, which require proper safety equipment and know-how. Avoid putting cast iron in a fire or using heavy sandblasting, which can warp or damage the surface. If you are selling, describe the pan honestly, including any markings, cracks or warping, and include clear photos of the bottom.

Quick checklist

• Photograph the bottom, logo and numbers.
• Compare logos with a cast iron reference.
• Note heat rings, gate marks and surface finish.
• Check for cracks with a flashlight.
• Test for warping on a flat surface.
• Be skeptical of fuzzy logos and rough castings.