how do i tell what year my griswold cast iron skillet is

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In a previous article dating and identifying Griswold cast iron, we looked at different logos to determine the age of your Griswold iron cookware. And I gave a timeline of the small logo between 1939-1957. Still, Griswold introduced three design changes to the handle during this time. In this article, you will learn to identify these three handles to estimate the age of a small block skillet. I’ll also answer some common questions about the Griswold small logo block skillets.

To my knowledge, the following dates are close to the manufacturing dates. To get an idea of when Griswold used the small logo, Enthusiasts like myself look at catalogs, patent dates, resources, and expertise from other enthusiasts to piece together an estimate of the date of manufacture. So please use the following dates as an approximation.

Date Griswold Skillet with LogosGriswold Cast Iron Erie logo (1880-1907) … Griswold diamond logo (1905-1906) … Griswold Slant Logo with heat ring and no EPU (1906-1916) … Griswold Slant logo with EPU and heat ring (1906-1926) … Griswold Slant logo without Erie (1909-1920)

  1. Griswold Cast Iron Erie logo (1880-1907) …
  2. Griswold diamond logo (1905-1906) …
  3. Griswold Slant Logo with heat ring and no EPU (1906-1916) …
  4. Griswold Slant logo with EPU and heat ring (1906-1926) …
  5. Griswold Slant logo without Erie (1909-1920)

how do i tell what year my griswold cast iron skillet is

Griswold Skillet with a small logo and an early handle. Circa 1939-1944

The handle design is also on skillets with large logos. It has a teardrop handle hole. The back has a slight ridge that tapers off into a triangular shape. The triangular reinforcement is an iconic Griswold design, and many collectors recognize a Griswold pan from this style handle.

how do i tell what year my griswold cast iron skillet is

Did Griswold Make Multiple Different Designs At The Same Time?

I’m unsure if Griswold had a crossover time between each design of the small block logo. These dates are far from point-point accurate, but I hope it will still help owners and sellers identify and narrow the possible date of manufacture spanning nearly 20 years into three eras of Griswold handles.

Some factors that affect the manufacturing dates and purchasing of Griswold skillets with the SBL include:

  • Griswold Manufacturing had molds on the premises to fulfill backorders requiring older designs.
  • The unnecessary expense to melt and recast old stock in their supply stores for a slight change in the handle.
  • The availability of older stock in stores.
  • Tight financial pressure and iron shortages

Griswold Logos and Dates

FAQ

How can you tell how old a Griswold cast iron pan is?

Some of the oldest and most sought after Griswold skillets simply have the city name Erie listed on the bottom, without an accompanying manufacturer name. If you have a Griswold skillet stamped Erie, that means that Griswold manufactured it between 1865 and 1909.

What do the numbers on Griswold cast iron mean?

In the case of Griswold, in addition to model or item numbers, “pattern numbers” were devised, ostensibly unique to each model, size, and type of pan produced. Griswold pieces like skillets and dutch ovens are inscribed with their size number and a pattern number.

How can I tell how old my cast iron skillet is?

Robert says a quick way to determine if the pan is early or pre-20th century is to look for a gate mark on the bottom side. “A gate mark looks like a slash and was a by-product of older iron casting methods,” he explains.

Are Griswold cast iron skillets worth anything?

The value of a Griswold 14-inch cast iron skillet can vary widely depending on several factors, including its age, condition, rarity, and the specific markings on the skillet. Griswold cast iron cookware is highly collectible, and some vintage pieces can be quite valuable.

How do you identify a Griswold Iron Mountain Skillet?

But there are a few characteristics that the Iron Mountain skillet series has that can identify them. Look for a rectangular hole in the handle. Griswold made Iron Mountain cast iron between the 1930s and 1940s.

What is a Griswold Skillet?

Griswold skillets are among the most sought-after pieces of vintage cast iron cookware, and their distinctive markings make them a favorite for identification and collection. The earliest Griswold skillet bears the mark “ERIE,” named after the city of their manufacture, Erie, Pennsylvania.

How do you know if a Griswold Skillet is worth anything?

As with other types of antiques, both the age and the condition of a Griswold skillet play a big role in its value. Turn the skillet over and look for the Griswold mark on the bottom. Griswold placed their mark on the bottom of their cast-iron skillets. Locate the city of manufacture listed on the bottom of the Griswold skillet.

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