how old is a national cast iron skillet

Cast iron cookware can be some of the most inexpensive tools you can buy for your kitchen, especially when you consider their long lifetime of 150 years and beyond. You can find new cast iron skillets for as little as $40 per piece which makes them an excellent investment for the future.

Before we go into details, we have to warn you that vintage cast iron is so valuable that there are a lot of fake ones in the market. Take this quiz to find out if your cast iron pan is real or not:

I noticed that this site lists manufacturing dates for National as 1914-1930s but the blue book dates them either 1895-1914 or 1925-1945 depending on the pattern.

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Cast iron cookware can be some of the most inexpensive tools you can buy for your kitchen, especially when you consider their long lifetime of 150 years and beyond. You can find new cast iron skillets for as little as $40 per piece which makes them an excellent investment for the future.

Before we go into details, we have to warn you that vintage cast iron is so valuable that there are a lot of fake ones in the market. Take this quiz to find out if your cast iron pan is real or not:

How can you tell if a pan is cast iron or a fake?

Do you want to learn to identify real cast iron by yourself? Here are the steps you should follow:

• Feel the weight. Pick up the pan and feel the weight. Cast iron cookware should feel quite heavy. The weight usually ranges from 4-12 lbs. The standard size for a cast iron skillet is 12 inches and the average weight at that size is 8 lbs. The weight scales up or down depending on the size of the skillet.
• Check the bottom of the pan. There should be a manufacturer logo marked on the pan, often with the stock number or city it was manufactured in.
• Check for rust. Real cast iron easily rusts, so if you see orange or red rusting on the pan it is likely true cast iron.
• Check the handle. Real cast iron pans are made in a mold. A real cast iron skillet should be all one piece – no seams and no screwed on handles.
• Check the pans surface. It should look the same as the rest of the pan with no other materials. A raw cast iron pan will have a dull black/dark grey color and be slightly rough to the touch. If the pan still has some seasoning intact it will be a darker black and smooth to the touch. Check out ourcast iron smooth vs rough article to learn more.

Wagner Cast Iron Skillet Logos

FAQ

Who made national cast iron skillet?

What is the oldest brand of cast iron skillet?

Who made the National cast iron skillet?

Wanger marketed the Nation brand as entry-level cookware for budget-conscious consumers. Wagner made the National line circa 1914 to 1940. This National cast-iron skillet was made by the Wagner Manufacturing Company. This skillet has large lettering in an arc. It was likely made between 1914-1930 Economy brand of Wagner Manufacturing Company.

How to tell how old a cast iron skillet is?

Luckily, this is not the only way that you can figure out how to tell how old a cast iron skillet is. Another effective way to tell the age is to look for markings on the pan. Some cast-iron skillet pans have markings that can easily be searched for online. In fact, that is how people usually learn about the origins of their pan.

How much does a cast iron skillet weigh?

A comparison of two popular types highlights this factor – users found that a Number 8 Lodge cast iron skillet from the 1960s – 1983 weighed 4.65 lbs., whereas the Griswold number 8 “ERIE” spider cast iron skillet from 1906 weighed 3.85 lbs. Texture and Weight are two of the simplest ways that you can determine the age of the pan.

When was a cast iron skillet discontinued?

This casting method was discontinued in 1890, making cast iron skillets with gate marks rather rare. While you will know that your pan is very old, it will be harder to determine who manufactured it. In the 1800s, cast iron foundries avoided putting logos or more on their wares.