Griddle Pan Gate Marks

[Wulfdog]

I saw several griddle pans at antique stores over the week end and most of them had gate marks on them.  Two questions: 1. would there be more gate marked griddles becasue of the design didn't allow for them to be cast any other way, or 2. are the griddles not as popular to collect as skilltes so there were more of them available.   One more question, are they of value as a collector's item?  The prices ranged from 5 to 15 dollars and they had numbers on them, but no makers names.

John

[C. B. Williams]

Or, one other possibility is, they might not have been used as much therefore there might be more that lasted. In either case, there doesn't seem to be much interest in them and I only know of one that is rare, the initialed one alledged to be the last piece, which I have.

[Wulfdog]

What kind of initials does it have on it?

John

[Troy_Hockensmith]

THe griddles are really not high demand items especially if their unidentifyable (is that a word) and have the gates. Some are really nice but just not much collector interest. Steve will pipe up soon as he really likes the older, well cast pieces.

[C. B. Williams]

John: This piece is pictured on page 55 of the blue book. It has the initial of the (supposed) last employees of Griswold in Erie. This has not been authenticated enough to be an absolute fact. I am working to get more information on the history of this piece. I have a copy of a letter from a Mr. Jon Youngston, dated May 24, 1977 stating that his father ( Jon Youngston) was one of those employees. One of the initials is JY. It was supposed to be cast on Nov. 14, 1957. I'm not sure if the "absolute" truth will ever be known. Anyway I own the griddle, it may be the "holy gralle" of Griswold. It may not be. It may never be known for sure. No other has ever been found. The mystery may be the best thing about it all. I think it would be wonderful for all Griswold collectors to have something like this to honor. I'm through rattling.

[Steve_Stephens]

Steve will pipe up soon as he really likes the older, well cast pieces.

Piping up here;  griddles are not one of my favorite items even in the early, gate marked ones.  For some reason the pleasing style of early skillets seems to pretty much have eluded the griddles.  I am repeatedly disappointed in them when I get them.  That really large one I had at the convention that is light as a steel pan is in the lye now.  Maybe it will be my holy grail of griddles; maybe not.

Griddles must have had less use than skillets and there are many less around because there probably were not as many when new.  The prices you mention, John, of $5-15 is about what most old gated griddles would be worth and, like Troy said, not much interest in them.  If you like them however, grab a few at that price.

Steve

[Wulfdog]

Thanks Steve.  Man that is ultra cool CB.  I would rate that griddle the Holy Graille too.

John

By the way.  I absolutly believe the story about it.  The story sounds just exactly like what any group of employees would do on the final day of production.