The Pan Handler: The Life of a Cast-Iron Collector

Mary tends to collect mainly Griswold, though she does have pieces from other manufacturers like Wagner, Wapak, and Favorite. She likes the markings of the Griswold products, and finds that other collectors focus on markings as well. “Some of the oldest pans turn out to have a lower resale value because they aren’t marked,” she says. Griswold was an American manufacturer of cast iron in the 1800s to 1900s. The company was located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and operated from 1865 to 1957. Collectors clamor for pieces born of Griswold molds due to the high quality of the cookware, much of which, with proper care, will last lifetimes. Part of the quality, Mary contends, comes from the human hands that were involved in the casting of the antique pieces. The techniques employed by workers in earlier manufacturing tended to create a smoother, lighter pan than the clunky methods used in the now-automated process.