Cast Iron Cookware

This old Griswold cast iron skillet stands 2" high with diameters of 10-1/2" at the top and 9" at the bottom. It measures 11-1/4" across at its double pouring spouts and 15-1/4" across at its handle that’s marked with an 8 and features an elongated hole for hanging. Bottom is marked GRISWOLD in a cross surrounded by a double circle, and also says “No. 8,” “Erie PA,” and carries the number 704 with an A underneath. The small cross logo with block lettering dates this skillet to 1937-1957. (See the Griswold story below.) It’s in decent vintage condition with light surface rusting consistent with its age and usage. Collectors love to display these old Griswolds in their kitchens, but should you wish to actually use this one, there are several web sites that give complete instructions for removing rust, cleaning, and seasoning cast iron cookware. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $40.00 + s/h

** SOLD **

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Griswold No. 3 skillet

This smaller Griswold cast iron skillet stands 1-3/8" high with diameters of 6-1/2" at the top and 4-5/8" at its raised bottom heat ring. It measures 7" across at its double pouring spouts and 10-1/4" across at its handle that’s marked with a 3 and features an elongated hole for hanging. Bottom is marked GRISWOLD in a cross surrounded by a double circle with “Cast Iron Skillet 3” above and “Erie, PA., U.S.A. 709 B” underneath. The large cross logo with block lettering and “Erie, PA, U.S.A” underneath dates this little skillet to 1919-1940, and its heat ring makes it one of the more uncommon pieces. (See the Griswold story below.) It’s in excellent vintage condition with no rust. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $60.00 + s/h

only 1 available

Griswold cooking pot

Ol’ Swaphos is quite convinced that this old Griswold cooking pot with hanging handle was Cookie’s favorite for rustlin’ up grub over an open campfire next to his chuckwagon on treks along the Santa Fe Trail! I don’t know about that, but considering that this pot’s bottom markings – italicized GRISWOLD in large cross and double circle, with 936 above and ERIE underneath in block capital letters – dates it to 1897-1920, I suppose it’s possible, and it sure makes a great story! (See the Griswold story below.) What I know for sure is that this pot holds 1 gallon and stands 5" tall with diameters of 9" at the top and 6-3/4" at its raised bottom heat ring. It measures 10-1/4" across at the two handles where the flip-up wire bale is attached, and 9-1/2" across at its single lug handle, underneath which is a large wire loop for hanging on a wall or pot rack. Remarkably good condition for its age. Exterior is still shiny black although the interior shows heat blistering and light surface rust where some of the blisters have popped. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $70.00 + s/h

only 1 available

Unmarked No. 3 skillet #1

This little cast iron skillet stands 1-1/4" tall with diameters of 6-5/8" at the top and 5-1/2" at the heat ring bottom. It measures 7" across at its double pour spouts and 10-1/2" across at its handle that features an elongated hole for hanging. Bottom is marked only with a 3 in a diamond, to the right of which is a tipped over 4. Excellent vintage condition with no rust. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $25.00 + s/h

** SOLD **

Unmarked No. 3 skillet #2

This is another small unmarked cast iron skillet. This one stands 1-3/8" tall with diameters of 6-3/8" at the top and 5-1/4" at the heat ring bottom. It measures 6-3/4" across at its double pour spouts and 10" across at its handle that is marked with a 3 and features an elongated hole for hanging. Bottom is completely unmarked. Decent vintage condition with light surface rusting consistent with its age and usage. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $25.00 + s/h

only 1 available

The Griswold Story

In 1865, two Erie families associated by marriage joined in a modest venture to manufacture door hinges. Selden and Griswold became The Griswold Manufacturing Company of Erie, PA in 1883 and was soon recognized world wide as producers of fine cast iron products, especially cookware. During the 1893 World’s Fair the company won five awards for its cast iron cookware. Griswold used a variety of logos and/or markings over the years, and often these overlapped in terms of the years during which they were used. As near as I can figure out from a variety of sources with conflicting information, the following is a general guide to markings:

1865 - 1883 Selden and Griswold
1874 - 1905 raised spider in a web in the center bottom with incised arched 'Erie' along the curve of the skillet
1865 - 1909 ERIE
1884-1909 Diamond (with ERIE inside the diamond)
1884 - 1912 GRISWOLD'S 'ERIE'
1897 - 1920 italicized GRISWOLD in large cross and double circle, ERIE underneath in block capital letters
?? - 1920 italicized GRISWOLD in cross and double circle, ‘Erie, Penna.’ underneath
?? - 1920 italicized GRISWOLD in cross and double circle, ‘Erie, Penna, U.S.A.’ underneath
1919 - 1940 block letter GRISWOLD in large cross in the double circle, with or without ‘Erie PA USA’ or EPU (Erie, Penna., U.S.A.) below
1937-1957 block letter GRISWOLD in small cross in the double circle

Griswold also produced products under a variety of other trademarks including Tite Top Dutch Oven, Tite Top Baster, Kwik Bake, Aristocraft, Colonial, Victor, Du.Chro, and Classic.

During the 1940s, Griswold faced increasing financial difficulties due to competition from other companies such as Wagner, and by 1946 no members of the Griswold family were left in the firm. Ultimately Griswold sold its molds, tooling, patterns, patents, proprietary rights, and trademark rights to Wagner in 1957. Griswold pieces produced after 1957 by Wagner and others are not considered to be reproductions, but if a piece isn’t marked ‘Erie,’ it wasn’t made in Erie, PA and is not a true Griswold.

Enormously popular among collectors today, Griswold pieces can have slight variations that affect their value. For instance, a skillet with the large block-lettered logo and a raised heat ring on the bottom is worth several times more than the same sized skillet with the italicized-lettered logo and no heat ring. Apparently the heat ring pieces are less common. Isn’t research fun?


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