Antique cookware made of cast iron is in high demand, and two of the most popular and collectible brands are Wagner and Griswold.
Wagner and Griswold both employed their design of cast iron, although Griswold was the one who used it first.
The Wagner and Griswold brands are comparable in that they were both made in the United States (Pennsylvania), constructed of foundry iron (malleable cast iron), initially produced prior to around 1950, and branded with an insignia. As a result, the difference between collecting Wagner and Griswold in terms of importance lies in the emblem.
Wagner and Griswold Cast Iron
What’s the difference?
Cookware constructed of cast iron was produced in the United States by a number of companies, including Wagner and Griswold. Even though their products are comparable to one another, there are a few key distinctions between them that come to light when compared side by side.
People would try to buy whatever brand was cheaper at the time, which is why it is difficult to obtain Wagner
pieces today. The price difference between the brands was rather small—about $1 compared to roughly $3—so people would try to buy whichever brand was cheaper.
Finding Griswold pieces is simpler than finding Wagner pieces due to the fact that Griswold pieces always have product codes printed on them, however, certain Wagner pieces do not have any marks at all. This makes Griswold parts more difficult to discover than Wagner’s pieces overall.
In their early years of manufacturing cast iron, when not all pieces were stamped with the firm name, some of the pieces were marked with the words “Forged Graniteware.” This may be found on some of the products.
The pieces of Griswold’s pottery are not always easy to recognize. The product code, which is printed on the back of the iron, and the color of the iron are the two most reliable ways to identify fakes. Throughout the course of its existence, Wagner has manufactured a variety of hues, whereas Griswold has produced standard cast iron that is almost invariably black in color due to the manganese component of the material.
If a piece does not have any markings on it, then it has to be sent out for analysis, which can be rather costly. Following the completion of this procedure, the manufacturer who made the item will be identified.
What is Wagner?
From the 1870s until the 1960s, a wide array of designs of cookware were manufactured and marketed under the brand name Wagner Ware.
Collectors have a habit of referring to Wagner Ware as “Griswold ware,” despite the fact that the two brands were really created independently of one another and sported logos that were distinctly separate from one another.
What is Griswold Cast Iron?
Griswold Cast Iron is a brand of cookware that was produced beginning in the 1870s and continuing until 1965 in a variety of different patterns. Both the Griswold and Wagner foundries were located in the city of Erie
in the state of Pennsylvania, but the Wagner foundry was near Sidney, Ohio.
Griswold’s pieces are more difficult to find than Wagner’s, despite the fact that Griswold’s pieces always have a product code stamped on them, whereas only some of Wagner’s do. Griswold produced standard cast iron, which, due to the high manganese component of the material, was almost usually black in color.
Which is better Griswold or Wagner cast iron?
In general, Griswold is more valuable to collect, but the distinctions are rather minor. Both of these brands are excellent additions to any collection. One of the most significant distinctions between the two companies is the location from which they obtained their iron.
In contrast to Griswold, Wagner created their own iron while Griswold did not make their own iron. Griswold
purchased the most economically viable grades of cast iron that were on the market at the time. Cast irons made by Wagner are often of superior quality but come at a premium price.
A product code is always stamped on Wagner’s pieces, whereas only a few of Griswold’s do not, and this is one of the most significant distinctions between the two brands.
In their early years of manufacturing cast iron, when not all pieces were stamped with the firm name, some of the pieces were marked with the words “Forged Graniteware.” This may be found on some of the products.
If you are just beginning your collection of Griswold cast iron, it is recommended that you buy items with a recognized provenance so that you may be certain of the authenticity of the pieces you acquire.
Because there have been a significant number of reproductions and fraudulent pieces produced in the past 20 years, collectors should exercise extreme caution when purchasing items that are either unknown or not marked.
Collectors and investors alike should keep in mind that Wagner and Griswold’s quality is really dependent on where you acquire it; what one foundry considers to be scrap might be another’s prized possession.
Is Wagner the same as Griswold?
No. The Griswold Foundry and the Wagner Foundry were both independent businesses that made cast iron kitchenware. However, the components are comparable, and the question of which company’s goods are of
superior quality than those of others is a topic of frequent discussion.
When compared to Wagner’s products, Griswold’s always has a product code imprinted on them, but not all of Wagner’s do. In their early years of manufacturing cast iron, when not all pieces were stamped with the firm name, some of the pieces were marked with the words “Forged Graniteware.” This may be found on some of the products.
It is important for collectors and investors alike to keep in mind that Griswold and Wagner’s quality is truly dependent on where you find it; one foundry’s trash might be another foundry’s treasure.
Wagner And Griswold Cast Iron Which one Should you buy?
In general, Griswold is more desirable to collect, but the distinctions are rather minor. Both of these brands are excellent additions to any collection. One of the most significant distinctions between the two companies is the location from which they obtained their iron.
In contrast to Griswold, Wagner created their own iron while Griswold did not make their own iron. Griswold purchased the most economically viable grades of cast iron that were on the market at the time. Cast irons made by Wagner are often of superior quality but come at a premium price.
A product code is always stamped on Wagner’s pieces, whereas only a few of Griswold’s do not, and this is one of the most significant distinctions between the two brands. In their early years of manufacturing cast iron, when not all pieces were stamped with the firm name, some of the pieces were marked with the words “Forged Graniteware.” This may be found on some of the products.
If you are just beginning your collection of Griswold cast iron, it is recommended that you buy items with a recognized provenance so that you may be certain of the authenticity of the pieces you acquire.
Because there have been a significant number of reproductions and fraudulent pieces produced in the past 20 years, collectors should exercise extreme caution when purchasing items that are either unknown or not marked.
Collectors and investors alike should keep in mind that Wagner and Griswold’s quality is really dependent on where you acquire it; what one foundry considers to be scrap might be another’s prized possession.
How can you tell if cast iron is vintage?
You can tell if an item is made of cast iron from a long time ago by looking at the markings on it. If there are no markers, you will need to search for additional indicators.
Appliances manufactured by Griswold, for instance, come to have a product code imprinted on them, whereas those manufactured by Wagner do not.
On certain items, you may also find the phrase “Forged Graniteware,” which indicates that they were manufactured during the early years of the company when it produced cast iron. However, the brand name does not appear on each and every product.
What are some tips for cleaning antique cast iron?
Even if there are a variety of viewpoints on the subject of how to clean ancient cookware made of cast iron, the vast majority of people agree that soap and water should not be used.
Some people believe that it is OK to make use of things like salt, lard, soda ash (a no-no), oven cleaner, bleach, and other similar substances. If you do decide to use something other than water to clean your vintage cast iron cookware, make sure that whatever you use is not abrasive. Water is the best option.
Scrubbing a pan with soap and water should never be done because the pores in the pan will become
clogged with soap residue if it is scrubbed, and the oil in the pan will not be able to escape. Collectors of cast iron often advise against doing this since it lowers the pans’ value and reduces their collectability.
The value of the food is decreased further by brushing or scraping off any crusted food particles. Some individuals believe that a light coating of wax helps prevent them from rusting, while others do not share this opinion since they believe that it will increase the collector’s value again by lowering the item’s authenticity.
How much effort you are willing to put into your pans is ultimately up to you. The decision is in your hands.
FAQs:
What are the differences between Griswold’s and Wagner’s cast irons?
It truly only depends on the source from whence they obtained the iron. Griswold purchased whatever low-cost grades of cast iron were readily available during that time period, whereas Wagner produced its own. Additionally, the quality varies depending on whose foundry was responsible for producing it.
For instance, some of the items that Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry produces are regarded as being of extremely high quality, while others are not nearly as nice.
When looking for products to invest in, it is preferable to concentrate on those with a prior history of ownership. This is because, over the past 20 years or so, there has been an increase in the number of reproductions and fake pieces produced.
If you want to have a full set and have a guarantee of authenticity, some people advocate collecting both of them to have a complete collection however this may be more expensive than some collectors are able to spend.
How do I start a collection of Griswold cast iron?
You should hunt for products with a known pedigree if you want to be certain that the items are not copies or fakes but rather the real deal. Product codes or “Forged Graniteware” will indicate that the product was manufactured during the early years of the company when it produced cast iron; however, not all goods have this information on them.
It is advisable to look for pieces that are medium in size because they are more expensive than smaller ones. Large items, on the other hand, are more difficult to store in your home if you do not have a lot of space available.
Always look for objects that are in good shape because rust, chips, cracks, and other imperfections bring down the value of an item even if they add authenticity due to the item’s age.
However, there are situations when you might make a significant amount of money from items that have been cleaned or restored.
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Conclusion:
Cast iron produced by Wagner and Griswold is a highly sought-after item. Examining the markings on an item or looking for other hints will help you determine whether or not it is worthwhile to add it to your collection.
Cast iron items can be protected from rust by applying a thin coating of wax, but doing so will lessen their authenticity because it will increase their collector value once more. It is entirely up to you to decide how much effort you want to put into the pieces you create.
Some people opt to not do anything further to their pans, while others choose to devote a significant amount of time to restoring older cast iron objects to their initial appearance.
If you are interested in starting your own collection of vintage cast iron cookware, it will be easier for you to do so if you are aware of what collectors look for in terms of provenance. However, you should make sure that every piece in your collection is original and authentic because other options are not nearly as valuable.
