NATIONAL No.7 Skillet Thrift store find

[Valerie Johnson]

I picked up this National No 7 Skillet at a local thrift store, It will need to get a little warmer before I can get it out and into the lye bath.

I believe this is a High Arc large letter National made by Wagner circa 1920-1930

[Lee Bowen]

Excellent score! My "NATIONAL" 7 does not have the "high arch" at the handle, but the thin walls and bottom make it one of my favorite skillets.   

[Valerie Johnson]

Is there any information on why these were marked National?
Was it for a company or simply another way of marketing Wagner iron
Were these considered a less expensive Wagner?

[Will Person]

I think it was just a marketing ploy.  Think it was made to go against the Griswold Victor line of skillets.  I am pretty sure the National skillets are shallower skillets, like the Griswold Victor skillets. It was probably a cheaper line of skillets. I think the National skillets are available in sizes 7,8 and 9 only.

[Lee Bowen]

I checked previous posts and found a little info posted by Steve Stephens on Feb 5, 2003 and again on Aug 9, 2004 in the General Information section stating that Wagner produced the National line to compete with Griswold (Victor), Wapak (Oneta) and Favorite (Miami). The lower cost skillets were produced as a budget or economy line. All the above mentioned were smaller than the top of the line models, which helped reduce shipping costs. The quality of the National line was purported to be on a par with Wagner's best product.

[Valerie Johnson]

They do appear to be shorter in sidewall height than the Wagner marked pans

[Duke Gilleland]

Have a couple of both the Victor and the National line. I liked them "probably" because they were unique compared to other run of the mill skillets we collect.