What is the oldest cast iron company in the US?

Author: Kyle Hartmann  |  Last update: Friday, February 27, 2026

Lodge Cast Iron is the oldest and longest-running cast iron manufacturer in the United States. Originally called Blacklock, founder Joseph Lodge fired up a long-dormant railroad foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee in 1896.

What is the oldest cast iron brand?

Lodge Cast Iron has been making cast-iron cookware at its Tennessee foundry since 1896, making it the country's oldest surviving cast-iron manufacturer.

Which cast iron is made in the USA?

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.

What happened to Griswold cast iron?

After being acquired by Randall in 1957, the Griswold foundry and manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania was closed. Further cookware was produced at the Wagner foundry in Sidney, Ohio. Pans were produced with the Griswold logo from 1957 through the mid-1960s, though these pans did not include the "ERIE PA." mark.

Is Lodge still made in the USA?

Made in the USA.

Our foundries operate in beautiful South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and our trusted tooling shops are USA based—two are within two hours of Lodge. 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.

How Cast Iron Went From Weapon to Skillet — How We Eat

Is any Lodge cast iron made in China?

Are Lodge products made in the USA? All of our foundry Seasoned Cast Iron and our Seasoned Carbon Steel products are manufactured in the USA and always will be. All Enameled Cast Iron products are made in China to our strict quality standards and overseen by an American owned 3rd party inspection company.

Which cast iron brand is best?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Lodge Blacklock Cast Iron Skillet at Amazon $60. ...
  • Best Budget: SALE. ...
  • Best Enameled: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet at Amazon $220. ...
  • Best Splurge: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet at Amazon $135. ...
  • Best Set: Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5-Piece Set at Amazon $100. ...
  • Most Versatile: ...
  • Best Grill Pan:

Why is Griswold cast iron so expensive?

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.

Who makes Yeti cast iron?

In 2013, Butter Pat Industries began an uncompromising mission to create exceptional cast iron for today's chef. Today, we're forging a new future with YETI as one company based on the same principles: attention to detail, exceptional design, and durability you can pass down for generations.

Is cast iron making a comeback?

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?

What is the famous cast iron pan brand?

Cast-iron pans: reliable quality pans for life

The pans from quality brands such as Le Creuset, Fissler and Combekk enable you to hand them over to your children when they are older.

Is Wagner Cast Iron still in business?

In 2000, both the Griswold and Wagner brands were acquired by the American Culinary Corporation of Willoughby, Ohio. In 2022, the brand was reintroduced to the market by the newly established Wagner Cast Iron. The company manufactures reissues of historic Wagner cookware products.

Who owns Lodge cast iron?

Lodge Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of cast-iron cookware based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge, Lodge Manufacturing is one of America's oldest cookware companies in continuous operation. It is still owned and managed by the descendants of the Lodge family.

Which is the oldest iron company?

Complete answer: Tata Iron and Steel Company or TISCO is the first iron and steel manufacturing plant in India which was founded and established by Jamsetji Tata and Dorabji Tata respectively on 26th August 1907 at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

What is the most collectable cast iron skillet?

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.

When did Lodge start putting made in the USA on their skillets?

Lodge purchased the second U.S. Disamatic in 1964 and became the first American Company to use the Disamatic on U.S. soil in 1965. This led to safer and more efficient manufacturing that, at the time, was very rare.

What brand is equivalent to YETI?

The best Yeti cooler alternatives for the Roadie and Tundra include dupes like Rtic coolers, Igloo, IceMule, Coleman, and Pelican.

Is Smithey cast iron made in USA?

OUR PROCESS & COMMITMENT. We are proud of what we make. We design and craft our cookware in the USA, and our talented team of craftsmen and women individually inspects every Smithey multiple times throughout our manufacturing process.

Is YETI made in China?

Where are YETI Coolers Made? Corporate YETI Tundra Coolers are manufactured in the USA at facilities located in Iowa and Wisconsin as well as at an international facility located in the Philippines. The well-known custom YETI Hopper Coolers and logo branded YETI Ramblers are manufactured abroad in China.

Did Wagner and Griswold merge?

In 1957 Randall's Wagner division acquired Griswold Manufacturing from McGraw-Edison. In 1959 Randall was itself acquired by Textron. Textron sold the Wagner and Griswold lines to General Housewares Corporation (GHC) in 1969.

Is Griswold cast iron better than Lodge?

The difference between a well-seasoned Griswold and a modern Lodge pan is like night and day—Griswold pans release food effortlessly, are lighter to handle, and can hold their seasoning for years.

What is the best cast iron skillet to purchase?

Our Favorite Cast Iron Skillet

The Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet has proven time and time again to be the best overall cast iron due to its unrivaled consistent heating at a stellar price.

Does cast iron get better with age?

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.

Can you use a cast iron skillet on a glass top stove?

Cast iron cookware can be used on a ceramic glass-top stove without causing damage to the surface or pan itself. Take the stress out of dinner with the ability to cook a variety of different meals in a cast iron pan without damaging your cooktop.

What oil to season cast iron?

What oils can I use to season cast iron? All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

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