Yes, Wagner made excellent cast iron cookware that has stood the test of time. And much of the Wagner ironware is now over 100 years old. You have to be selective if you're buying a piece of Wagner cookware, as some ironware is collectible, but the post-1960s ironware is not.
Wagner Made A Wide Range Of Cast Iron Cookware.
You can't go wrong with an old Wagner cast iron skillet. It will serve you well for years, and they're great fun. However, you may want to consider a Wagner Dutch oven. They are super smooth, and just like the skillets, they are reasonably priced.
One of the most dependable and well-known brands of cast iron products is Lodge. Their cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens are known for their constant cooking and excellent heat retention. But another outstanding brand is Le Creuset.
of Sidney, Ohio, as the Wagner Manufacturing Company. The Wagner family produced cookware at their cast iron foundry until 1952, when they sold their business to the Randall Company. Subsequent owners continued to operate the Sidney plant until it closed in 1999. The foundry was demolished in 2023.
Randall Corporation, the owner of Wagner since 1952, sold both companies to Textron in 1959. Textron sold them to the General Housewares corporation in 1969. General Housewares made products under the Griswold and Wagner brands; though the Griswold name was phased out by the early 1970s.
Why Griswold is Superior. Griswold pans, like many other vintage cast iron brands, were made with quality craftsmanship. After casting, they went through an additional step called polish-grinding, resulting in a silky-smooth surface. This not only allows for easier seasoning but also ensures an even cooking experience.
The Wagner Manufacturing Company was a family-owned manufacturer of cast iron and aluminum products based in Sidney, Ohio, US. It made products for domestic use such as frying pans, casseroles, kettles and baking trays, and also made metal products other than cookware.
The value of antique cast iron skillets can start at similar to new prices, but a super rare Wagner or Griswold can fetch up to $1,500 apiece. A mint condition, super rare "spider skillet" made in the 1890s by Griswold is worth up to $8,000.
Where every piece of our seasoned cast iron cookware begins. Lodge Cast Iron is the oldest and longest-running cast iron manufacturer in the United States.
Quality cast iron should have an even surface without any pits, bumps, or irregularities. This uniformity ensures even cooking and heat distribution. High-end cast iron is often cast in sand molds, which contributes to the cookware's even surface and heat distribution capabilities.
Grey cast iron is characterised by its graphitic microstructure, which causes fractures of the material to have a grey appearance. It is the most commonly used cast iron and the most widely used cast material based on weight.
The more you use cast iron, the smoother it becomes. Each time you cook with oil, the seasoning on your cast iron improves, making you cast iron darker and smoother. After a few years of regular use, the finish on your cast iron will be very smooth, similar to cast iron you might find at the flea market.
V-2 (class 40) Gray Iron, ASTM B48:
V-2 is ideally suited for straight wear applications and possesses the highest strength, hardness, resistance to wear and heat treat response for an unalloyed gray iron.
White Cast Iron
The absence of graphite in its structure contributes to its characteristic hardness, making it one of the toughest members in the cast iron family. The crystalline structure of white cast iron renders it exceptionally hard and brittle, with a high level of resistance to wear and abrasion.
Yes, a cast-iron pan can get rusty, but you can head that off at the pass by drying it thoroughly with a paper towel or a lint-free cloth once you have washed it, then rubbing in a light layer of cooking oil. To get rid of existing rust buildup, if it doesn't come off with a quick rinse, steel wool should do the trick.
GRIZZLY Cookware is the toughest cast iron cookware made in America and it's ready to handle the toughest environments. From the unforgiving pace of an industrial kitchen to the unforgiving crowd in your home kitchen or set atop an open flame in the great outdoors, get GRIZZLY to handle it all.
Production ceased at the end of the 20th century and its cookware has been prized by collectors ever since. Today, we strive to honor this legacy with a new chapter for the Wagner brand. We're pleased to introduce Wagner to the next generation with a series of reissued products made here in the United States.
The most sought after Wapak cast iron are the pans with the “Indian head" medallion on them, which was produced from 1903-1926. The rarest and most collectible is the #4 skillet--until recently.
Field sizing is based on vintage cast iron conventions, so our No. 8 size means a 10 ¼" width, edge-to-edge. Dimensions: 10 ¼" diameter.
It is making a huge comeback in kitchens nationwide, and chefs are creating new recipes and cookbooks in line with the trend. The reasons for the resurgence of this old-fashioned cooking tool vary from unexpected benefits to delicious inspirations. Looking for ideas of what to make in your cast iron cookware?
Griswold Cast iron Is Highly Collectible.
And this makes the ironware fun to collect for collectors and enthusiasts. So when a rare piece or size comes up for sale, it will attract the attention of many buyers and ultimately drive up the price.
Just look at the antique pans that are over 100 years old and still usable today. It's safe to say Wagner is a quality vintage cast iron cookware brand. So it's probably no surprise that Wanger is considered one of the best vintage brands to make cast iron cookware.
Made in the USA.
We're proud to produce high quality, American-made cast iron that supports American manufacturing and jobs. Everything we make is backed by our team of experts.
Typically appended by a letter, the catalog number then identified both the item or model and the unique working pattern. To someone knowledgeable about the manufacturer, it's easy to tell that a Wagner pan marked "1053C" is a regular skillet (105x), size #3 (xxx3), made from the pattern for it lettered "C".