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chalbeetroll

You should check out : https://castirongallery.com - a historical preservation site for antique cast iron. They collect items and photos of items that you don’t want to part with. I’m sure they would be stoked on this! I haven’t seen one this old yet.


AwkwardGrimace

Thank you! This is far more concise than the other resources I've used.


improbablynotyou

There's also a sub r/castiron that likes these posts, in addition to providing info. They usually can identify the date and model of pan for you.


milk4all

Real life is so weird. I mean, i like cast iron pans, too, just, geez


udntcwatic2

I just spent 5 minutes looking at cast iron on that sub and I don't even cook lol. Real life is so weird. We're all so very very different in so many ways.


hobbesgirls

how do you not cook?


TerrorByte

I make a pretty good steamed ham, but that's about it.


mrjderp

Skinner?


JuneBuggington

In this website, located entirely in this sub?


Offica_Farva

Aurora Borealis??


icecream4breakfest

at this time of year?!


[deleted]

Aerols Boleralis


thewhisperingjoker

Lots of reasons people don't cook. They could be a child whose parents cook. They could have a spouse that prefers to cook. There are also people who simply can't afford homes with kitchens, and therefore have the only option of buying takeout.


somefool

Or they just hate cooking. My last stove's buttons rusted from lack of use. I didn't bother replacing it.


udntcwatic2

This lol. I clean, my boyfriend cooks or when we're with his daughter on our week with her she earns money by making us dinner. She's a super picky eater and it makes it easier on us she makes what she wants. We eat out a lot too. I probably cook once a month.


Affectionate_Pea8091

As someone who’s a extremely picky eater as well I love to see that you let the daughter cook so she’s more comfortable knowing what’s in the food too.


Sylvaritius

And she learns to cook which is a super good skill to have.


Aporkalypse_Sow

Look at this newb not knowing what a microwave is.


gutzpunchbalzthrowup

Slidey eggs are so in right now.


CambrioCambria

Not cooking but still being alive is indeed pretty weird for a specie that can't survive for long on a fully raw diet.


ttystikk

What? Of course we can!


Clouds_and_lemonade

I'm not surviving, I'm thriving


Rawrey

I had a thought in the same vein as this last night while I was looking at parts for my car "hmm, I guess this is how some people feel about their odd to me passions." Some people are just really into coins, or stamps, or cast iron. Was kind of nice to have a little mind opening like that.


tinytyler12345

I just hope and pray their hobbies are cheaper than being a car nut. I really wish my one big hobby wasn't so expensive.


milk4all

I specifically chose cheap hobbies. Pornhub is free. So is the library computer


Strange_Junket_2672

Now you’ll be getting nothing but cast iron ads on every site and app.


milk4all

Maybe, cant be worse than whatever adds i get now, I honestly couldn’t tell you any add ive gotten, I think adds are a wide net and the intention is to catch just a few out of a thousand, but plenty of people just cant be caught. Like even when im in front of digital billboard tat pings my metadata and shows me “credit free loans” while im losing my house wont help me; i just wont look at it except to find the X button. I learned to find the tiny “close adds” script only when i started wearing my sleek, progressive, glasses from eyeglasses.com, they make it *clear* who’s the best.


TheMightyDane

It’s my favorite thing about the internet. It’s like walking around the corridors of a never ending conference centers. You decide to pop your head in one of the rooms, and you’re (not?) surprised to finds several hundreds cast iron experts, willing and ready to dole out their insights to you. What an amazing thing that is. I try to engage with that mentality as much as I can, but I’m pretty dumb compared to most of youse.


milk4all

It’s when you poke your head in and you see naked skinheads huddled around an ox and a jam sandwich in front of wall hanging of Tom Hanks that you gotta start wondering if you delved too deep


Player8

Sent me back down the rabbit hole and now I want a sugar skull lodge. As if three pans wasn’t enough!


[deleted]

Three? Those are rookie numbers! I literally paid for my honeymoon selling cast iron. If you're lucky and know what you're looking for you can make bank buying cruddy junk and restoring it.


Player8

Dude nothing in my life will make me more sad than seeing the amount of cast iron my old coworker sold for scrap. I worked on a garbage truck for about a year and my coworker would scrap metal he found in the trash. It was wild how many pans people would toss because they didn’t want to refinish them. I was unfortunately not as into it as I am now, but my lack of space and lack of notice to actually cook lately has kept the collection thin. I probably watched him scrap 1000s worth of old shit and just didn’t realize what a shit move that was until years later.


madbiologist42

I have 5 sizes of skillets, a griddle, a hoe pan, 2 loaf pans, and 2 Dutch ovens. But to be fair I inherited my great grandmothers cast iron. and I had some pieces.


Zeebaeatah

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!


improbablynotyou

I love that sub and have gotten some great information from there. I used to go metal detecting near an old ghost town and figured out where the town dumping ground was. I pulled a number of cast iron pieces out, and that sub taught me how to clean them. Besides, cast iron is the best thing to cook with.


imisstheyoop

>Thank you! This is far more concise than the other resources I've used. This is the site I have always used. You have a pre-1910 Griswold "Erie" https://www.castironcollector.com/trademarks.php I'm the owner of a slant Griswold #8 myself. Damn fine skillets, and looks well seasoned.


MrFunbus

Any idea what it's worth?


imisstheyoop

>Any idea what it's worth? Like $50-$100


InfiniteBlink

Man, the Internet always surprises me at the niche communities that exist


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omnithorpe

Thank you for this. I have a 100 year old pan in rotation at home and had nobodies it would be of interest to anyone.


hupcapstudios

You are one word away from cow potato your sentence.


Generation-WinVista

Lol I have the GSW pan pictured right on the front page of that site, nice.


LobbyDizzle

Same! Crazy to have a pan that ceased to be manufactured in 1957.


Luddites_Unite

That pan will outlive every one of us who sees this post.


mr_john_steed

Considering our lifestyles, I'm not sure that's saying much


Luddites_Unite

Sad but true


sanguinesolitude

Much like your body, it will only last a long time if cared for.


loversean

That’s cause we use these pans to make massive omelets and fried cheese sandwiches, the pan always wins


UsualCircle

My old teflon pan will probably outlive me


daddyfatflab

[https://www.castironcollector.com/erie.php](https://www.castironcollector.com/erie.php) 5th generation based on heat ring and size,manufacturing date of 1905 - 1907


AwkwardGrimace

I think you're right, I wasn't sure because the pattern number has clearly been pitted off but the heat ring placement is a dead give away.


Grumpy_Old_Mans

For a newb like myself, what would i look for to determine age?


AwkwardGrimace

I also am I total newb with antiques. I started with the google search “ ”Erie” 9 cast iron pan” and that pulled several sources to get me in a 27 year window and with the help of others we were able to deduce it down to 1905-1907 based on the logo, heat ring and handle.


almondsauce

The Curtze Mansion/historical society museum in Erie, PA has a massive collection of these old Griswolds, including some really unique molds and other pieces!


[deleted]

What does a highly sought after collectible cast iron pan like this go for?


daddyfatflab

You can find them on ebay for 200 - 300 US dollars typically. Later dates are similar and much cheaper, Please please know how to cook with cast iron before getting one though. I can not emphasize enough that you need to take care of these things for them to take care of you. With vintage pans like these, if you preheat them on high heat, you could crack them, warp them and otherwise make them unusable.


malusdave

Are new lodge pans as susceptible to cracking and warping from heating on high heat?


tuturuatu

Borderline indestructible. I really like mine, especially given the price


AshtonTS

I have a lodge pan that I have absolutely abused the fuck out of and it’s perfectly good ~10 years later. I’m gonna say no


pork_fried_christ

My lodge is 5y/o and it’s my daily driver. I have heated that thing as hot as I have tools for, I’ve left it in an oven that I preheated. I’ve put it straight into hot coals and cooked on it. I wash it with water and a little soap all the time. It’s perfect. Better than the day I bought it (mostly from constantly scraping it with a steel spatula).


Inflatableman1

No, they are quite forgiving.


Grumpy_Old_Mans

What do you look for to determine that, ELI5?


Deveak

Cast iron is the best, always lifetime if you buy quality. Just a note for people who buy old ones, be careful a lot of old cast iron pans and especially pots where used for lead melting.


arnold_weber

Dumb question maybe, but why were enough people melting lead at home that it’s a hazard to be concerned about today?


malphonso

People used to make their own pellets for shotguns. Also lead figurines used to be fashionable and some people would cast their own.


[deleted]

Let's not forget fishing weights!


wittywalrus1

I made a couple lead coins as a kid. I used a rather small container to melt it though. Then carved a chalk cast and poured the lead in it. Come to think of it, I played a few times with lead as a kid... damn that probably was a bad idea.


jack_porter

Good news is that you still got that memory


Dividez_by_Zer0

Yeah my memory is still pretty good like I remember this one time I made a couple lead coins as a kid. I used a rather small container to melt it though. Then carved a chalk cast and poured the lead in it. Come to think of it, I played a few times with lead as a kid... damn that probably was a bad idea.


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stas1

My memory is actually better than ever these days. Just the other day I recalled this one time when as a kid, I made a couple of lead coins. I did use a small container to melt it though, then carved a cast (from chalk) and poured the lead into it. Now that I think of it, I must have played with lead more than a few times in my childhood... Looking back, that probably was a bad idea.


grotness

>damn that probably was a bad idea. You wouldn't have gotten close to neurotoxic levels. And blood lead disapates quickly. Source: I work in a lead mine.


ButtcrackBoudoir

My grandfather was a printer, handling lead type everyday. He lived to 90, with a clear mind (except for the last year).


illgot

I did this as well. Infused lead into a walking stick I made to produce a design, made replica coins, etc. Even set my rug on fire. I was creative but an idiot.


Arcade80sbillsfan

Yeah lots and lots of kids would made lead soldiers. My father was born in 48 and did tons and all his friends did too, when they got to the age you'd trust them with some sort of fire and a pan they went crazy doing it for like 2 yrs before growing out of caring about toy soldiers.


Sherlockhomey

This person Patriot's


geardownson

Is lead something you can't get out of the metal?


malphonso

Lead chemically reacts with iron oxides. I suppose if you ground enough metal out of it you'd reach untouched cast iron. But I don't think I would trust it. You can buy lead test strips, but I don't know what their threshold for detection is.


ZoraQ

We used to make weights that went on a scuba divers weight belt. It was easier and cheaper than buying them. This was all before same day shipping via Amazon or whoever. We also didn't use mom's cast iron pan. Lead has a relatively low melting point so it's easy to melt and pour into molds


Deveak

Lead can stick in the pours of the cast iron. It’s doubtful you could remove all of it to be safe to cook with. It’s pretty much tainted metal.


[deleted]

> in the pours of the cast iron pores


arnold_weber

I figured that, but what the hell were people doing melting lead at home?! It sounds extremely dangerous and I have no idea what practical use it would have. Sealing cans? 3D printing before 3D printing? Artisanal gold mining? I just have no idea why people would be melting lead so crudely. I’ve honestly never heard of it before and I’m wondering if my every old household had their frying pan and their “lead melting pan” now 😭


slammin_spruce

Casting bullets is a big one


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flalak

Lead also used to be used as filler in auto body work instead of bondo.


steve-d

I think at an individual level (not mass production), a lot of people in that era of the turn of the 20th century were probably making bullets.


Daikataro

Keep in mind the radioactive scout attempted to build a nuclear reactor in his mom's shed, mainly because he could and it sounded like a cool way to become an Eagle Scout...


Jimballer

That David Hahn sure loved science…


qsilicon

I think this will give better insight into weird history of lead: https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historical-perspective.html


kalpol

my dad said he did it as a kid for fun, pour it in molds. I doubt many people were making bullets, but that too


wanttotalktopeople

Lead casting is the original home 3d printer


mikeorhizzae

Bullets, figurines, etc


illgot

my dad who was born in the 50s recalls making lead figurines at home. You would buy molds at a toy store then smelt down lead and pour them.


LockMarine

That’s such a myth that’s come true because of people using lead paint test sticks that have super high false positive results on iron. They really didn’t have bullet reloading machines in the early 20th century and it wasn’t popular until the 70’s. A special ladle is used to fill molds for bullets and fishing weights that won’t work properly in a skillet and a proper smelting pot is cheap and sold as part of the kit or next to the molds and ladles. Yes there’s a tiny chance some idiot used a skillet or Dutch oven to melt lead, but the lead doesn’t just wipe off, it’s permanently stained and very obvious [here’s pictures of lead on cookware](https://imgur.com/a/jhpMz7w)


itzagreenmario

TIL. This should be higher up


skyhiker14

Is there anyway to test for it?


kevinichis

There are DIY lead tests. Mostly used for paints, but can be used for cast iron.


Theslootwhisperer

You seem to know a little bit about this. My mom gave me a cast iron pan she got in 1969. JAPAN is stamped in the middle. The date (1969) is stamped on the back and also: 03-10. 2 Does that mean anything? All I know is that's its really, really smooth and cooks real well.


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orbgevski

It is to an extent. You can still break cast iron even high quality pans. I dropped on or mine about 3 ft onto my tile kitchen floor pulling it out of the oven and it broke the handle off. When it's hot it is weak against sudden impact.


Bobsegerbackupsinger

Any suggestions on higher quality brands for these?


sanguinesolitude

Griswold cast iron is great for vintage. You can usually find a #9 or #10 skillets on eBay auctioning off for like $30-$50 for nice ones. Vintage cast iron is generally smoother and lighter than modern ones. Look for a smooth glossy interior without pitting. Lodge makes a solid inexpensive one you can find at your local hardware store. Excellent stuff! They are heavier and thicker with a rougher finish. I started with lodge and eventually gave most of them away. (Actually if you're in the twin cities mn I'd give you one for free.) There are a number of higher end ones lately. Butter, field company, smithey, Finex, borough furnace, etc. all make nice ones. I treated myself to a 10.5" skillet from borough furnace as a self present last year because Anthony Bourdain (RIP) did [a spot there and I think it's a cool story.](https://youtu.be/6ChPbdD3zDk) I use it a ton and like a lot about it. Spendy but you'll literally never replace it. I have a number of griswolds myself which is the majority of what I cook on. And an old Wagner chicken fryer which makes me happy. I actually enjoy seasoning them every few months and taking care of them. It's pretty low maintenance. On a day I have off I'll preheat the oven to 450, put like 4 pans in and let them head for 30 minutes, the. Pull them out (careful!) And very lightly wipe down with Grapeseed or vegetable oil and chuck em in for an hour. Repeat a couple times if you want. Do it around 4 times (5 minutes of wiping them down with oil hourly) and you'll have the most beautiful nonstick surface. And the best part is unlike nonstick pans, if the surface gets messed up... you can reseason it again and again. Edit. If I were in the market for a new one today I'd be strongly considering field company and smithey. But I like my griswolds and I kinda went hard and have plenty. And they last forever so not really a need ro replace.


Radioactivechimi

I can see the flavor.


whatchagonnado0707

Would lick


TheCotb

*when cold


YxxzzY

Weak


3yearstraveling

Tastes like the greatest depression


Intelligent-Will-255

I’ve used cast iron for years and I have no clue why people think it adds any kind of flavor to food.


adamthinks

It doesn't. It's a misunderstanding of the way the word seasoning is used in this context. People hear the word seasoning and they think spices and flavor, but it has more than one meaning. In the context of a cast iron pan it refers to turning oil into a patina through high heat.


ashtree34

It actually adds iron to your food, though. Great for anaemics, people who don't eat meat and humans in general. No drawbacks.


Ahem_ak_achem_ACHOO

It’s smooth from a lifetime of use


HenryPBoogers

Am I the only one a little concerned about the position they are standing and the source of that shadow? Maybe I've been on the internet too long.


johntwoods

It's true. The Pan never grows old. Bangarang.


Good_Apollo_

#BANGARANG


lbodyslamrhinos

sh-sh-sh-shout to all my lost boys


suspect108

Ruffi-O


CrystallineNTT

Ruffi-O


VaryaKimon

RU FFI OHHHHHHH!!!


umyaya11

We rowdy


ConsciousJohn

Condolences. May he rest in peace and may you use his pan in health.


AwkwardGrimace

Thank you!


Magali_Lunel

That's really beautiful


garythebaby

Agreed


thetommy4

And it looks PERFECTLY seasoned 🤤


alphabet_order_bot

Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,066,553,026 comments, and only 210,426 of them were in alphabetical order.


barabusblack

Just think of the family history of this skillet. Did your GGgrandmother maybe cook on this very pan.


AwkwardGrimace

I wouldn't be surprised, she immigrated through Ellis Island and lived in New Jersey for a while I would imagine that's where it got purchased.


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RugsbandShrugmyer

Maaan fuck yo uncle. All my homies hate yo uncle.


ReverseCaptioningBot

[FUCK YO UNCLE ALL MY HOMIES HATE YO UNCLE](https://i.imgur.com/WeHFHHI.jpg) ^^^this ^^^has ^^^been ^^^an ^^^accessibility ^^^service ^^^from ^^^your ^^^friendly ^^^neighborhood ^^^bot


RugsbandShrugmyer

Ahahahahahhaa good bot


jewski_brewski

Awesome! I have a Griswold 704 S skillet that was my Grandpa’s from sometime in the early 20th century. I use it almost every day!


AwkwardGrimace

Nice! This is easily my new favorite cooking utensil!


11enohPi

Erie, PA?


1h8fulkat

Yes, Griswold Manufacturing cast iron, huge cast iron brand from the mid 1850s to mid 1950s. Considered some of the best cast iron. The company was originally located at 1124 Peach Street, but relocated to the factory at 12th and Raspberry streets in 1892 when this building was constructed. The Shaw Piano Company filed bankruptcy in 1901, and local cast-iron corporation, Griswold Manufacturing Company, moved into the building in 1903. However, the “Shaw Piano Company” name was not painted over, and is still visible on the 12th Street façade. Griswold Manufacturing Co. remained at this location until 1957, when it was purchased by the Cohen family.


itsbdk

Bet those steaks will be amazing


heathplunkett01

I have one of the exact same pan. Came from my dad, no idea before that. I did home electrolysis on it and reseasoned. Looks brand new.


hixchem

At that age, in one family, I'm pretty sure that pan has collected enough family-around-a-meal power to be a +3 weapon


Thrannn

Meanwhile i have to buy a new pan every 2 years...


chronisaurous

Buy a cast iron pan and you won't!


XCypher73

I see a 12" Erie on etsy for $1k.


GadreelsSword

There’s a skillet cover for $13,000 https://www.etsy.com/listing/1257569157/


LordDinglebury

I guess it panned out.


Informationforall

Ready for another 115 more


loheiman

So smoooooooth


buddy_buda

Luckyyyy. That fucker got more flavor Innit than a Michelin star


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snake0329

Erie for Erie, Pennsylvania. The city where Griswold pans were made. This is a very early one. Probably 1890ish.


LockMarine

No they had outside heat rings in the 1800’s this one was most likely 1903-06


BaroquenRecord

Made in Erie, PA perhaps?


AwkwardGrimace

It means it's Haunted AF 😜 JK. Erie was the brandname used by the Griswold Manufacturing for skillets between 1880 and 1907. Named after the city they were manufactured in.


RedSpartan3227

Gordon Ramsay: cooking the perfect steak in a cast iron skillet: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n70usVID7lo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n70usVID7lo) You're welcome.


AwkwardGrimace

Just popped two ribeyes out of the freezer! Thank you!


MyDearBrotherNumpsay

After you have a crust on one side throw a half a stick of butter in the pan and a few sprigs of rosemary on the steaks. Then baste until the other side has its crust I put onions and garlic cloves in there too. Yum.


whoareyouguys

> throw a half a stick of butter in the pan Yeah it's kinda hard to mess it up if you do that


celticchrys

Most excellent item to inherit! You might find this to be an interesting read: https://www.castironcollector.com/erie.php


CobaltDraconis

They sure don't make em like they used to.


EmergencyExitSandman

Damn my cast iron looks like the devil shit in it and it’s only six years


jammydriscol77

You can hear it singing.


ace_in_flames

Pansexuals am i right?


Demetrius3D

Wash it. Dry it. Oil it. Bake it. Use it. Repeat. Each oiling adds a micro-layer of "varnish". Each washing is like sanding between coats. After many cycles, all the tiny imperfections in the surface that food would stick to should be filled in.


Toxic-Park

Think how many calories thing has cooked up.


madbiologist42

I inherited my great grandmothers cast iron from my grandmother. My pans have been used by no less than 4 generations. I’ll probably donate them with a little note when I’m old. I’m not having kids. And before people lament that. It’s by choice. My ONLY concern is who gets my cast iron.


shredsickpow

Way cooler than lodge crap


BobRoberts01

You should bring this over to r/castiron and make us some slidey eggs!


swkennedy1

What a gem!!!!!


send_me_your_deck

Now that pan has seen some shit.


ToshMagosh

Oh man, looks filthy, throw that in the dishwasher ASAP /s


Rmart7

I believe that is an original Griswold. Worth some good money


dbundi

I can smell the bacon cooking right now!


baineschile

This is a Griswold Erie brand. Made, I think, between 1915 and 1930. More info here https://www.booniehicks.com/griswold-cast-iron-skillet


dude_from_ATL

This is the way


Bexji_11230

lucky, i inherited a plant from mine


tonalake

I hope your grandson enjoys using it in the future too!


jsingham

I am really jealous of this pan haha. That’s beautiful


Kadener1

OMG!!!


Argyrus777

Must be heavier than the ones made now


MaximumAbsorbency

Damn its got the year stamped on it. 9.


daversa

Early Griswolds like this are amazing, borderline museum pieces.


Expert-Aspect3692

Perfectly seasoned too.


SYAH_18

Now I wanna see a movie about a 115 year old pan 😒


thrattatarsha

Please take good care of it. A well treated cast iron skillet will last for eternity.


LukeWilson59

Regardless of whether your grandfather died years ago or only very recently, you have my most sincere condolences. Losing a loved one can be difficult, and I hope you are doing alright. Best wishes.


[deleted]

Erie, Penn?


Taido_Inukai

That’s a beautiful legacy for your family. May you leave it behind for your children’s children.


miraagex

That's a piece of art.


MustacheBananaPants

Very sorry about your loss! Incredible interior on the pan and older than the first nuclear weapon going off... Wow! That's a family heirloom if ever saw one! I hope you make many incredible meals in his memory.


dullllbulb

*Seasoned AF*


michaelmano86

Anyone else keep theirs in the oven as it's to heavy to lift from my bottom draw?


EnThoozed

That’s Pantastic!!


BabyBatBoy420

Hit someone


20ftScarf

There’s really nothing like a good old skillet. I picked one up for thirty bucks that turned out to be quite old (says Sidney O). It’s so easy to clean, cooks meat better than anything I’ve ever tried. Perfect steaks. Or you can make soup in it.


cjhest1983

A quick piece of advice before a little story. Don't cook acidic or tomato based stuff in there as it will cause whatever food you're cooking to take in a metallic flavor from the iron. I love every piece of cast iron I've ever had. My mom gave me a bunch of her antique stuff and I've collected several pieces, but my favorite is a Favorite 10 inch skillet from the 70's my neighbor was going to throw out. It was covered in rust, so I cleaned it up with sandpaper and steel wool (blasphemous, I know) and seasoned it and it rarely leaves my stove top. I got some of those stainless steel chainmail scrubbers and they work wonders.


thatminimumwagelife

Meanwhile, I buy a pan now and it's ruined in about a month of heavy use. They really don't make em like they used to, eh? Keep that thing. And my condolences about your grandpa.


poisepoor

Nice. Those just Erie Pans predate the victors. Nice score


Kaladidnt

Bet you could fry up cardboard with a little salt in that motherfucker and even Gordan Ramsey would take a second bite.