Griswold P/N 2455 ???

[Jeff Seago]

I have been cleaning some pieces for a friend of mine and this is one of them.  The Anderson paddles are correct and he says that the base was purchased with the iron because it was a wedding present for his mom.  It sure kinda looks like a Griswold base except for the handle??

[Rick Gilley]

I can't help you Jeff...but that sure is a "purdy" waffle iron.

[Will Person]

Different.

[Tom Neitzel]

I don't know.  It sure looks like a marriage to me.  The socket looks way too big for the ball.  Then look where the handles sit in the square of the base.  It's way too wide.  Who knows what the retailer might have put together for the sale.  Griswold was supplying their standard bases to Andresen and WICO from somewhere around 1903 until possibly the late 20's, maybe later.  Some had Griswold markings - some had the Griswold pattern number with WICO letters.

Now in possible defense of it being a Griswold product, it did seem that they used 4 digit pattern numbers for some of their outside job work (like 2992 for the skiver pan, and 2980 for the plett pan).  I don't think this is meant for the paddles though.

Just a bit of history, Andresen left Western Importing sometime between 1913 and 1916 (I think nearer 1913).  Don't know exactly why, but it doesn't seem to have been friendly.  His name was removed from their cast iron products.  I would not consider it an Andresen iron - it's an Andresen design, but made after he left.  It's kind of interesting to me - all of the Andresen marked iron I would consider to be Western Importing products also since he owned Western Importing.  Those marked just Western Importing I would not consider to be Andresen since he no longer was part of the company.  That's just me though.

Tom

[Sandy Glenn]

I do believe it is a marriage based on a page on the Foundry List.  If you click on "Brilliant" on that page it will show the same #2455 base with the corresponding paddles #2456 and #2457.

Sorry, I can't link it since it's on the members' side.

[Tom Neitzel]

Man, you are way too fast for me Sandy.  I was going to look, but probably tomorrow.  What do we know about Brilliant other than the pictures.  There's an off chance that they contracted with Griswold to make their iron design.  There seem to be enough differences in the design to not infringe on Andresen, Griswold or Wagner patents.

Tom

[Jeff Seago]

Sandy thats brilliant  ;D ;D ;D ;D  Sorry I couldn't help myself  :D  Did that some up in a search??

[Sandy Glenn]

Man, you are way too fast for me Sandy.  I was going to look, but probably tomorrow.  What do we know about Brilliant other than the pictures.  There's an off chance that they contracted with Griswold to make their iron design.  There seem to be enough differences in the design to not infringe on Andresen, Griswold or Wagner patents.

Tom

I wish we had more info than just the Brilliant pictures, but we don't.  That off chance is probably a pretty good chance just judging the look and casting quality.  Also the fact that they are numbered makes it look more Griswold-ish.  But we'll never know for certain unless some documentation shows up.  BTW, the handle on this #2455 base is somewhat similar to the one Griswold used on their wafer iron bases.

Jeff:  It was just dumb luck.  It wasn't that long ago that I sent Chris those pictures to post.

[Jeff Seago]

Thanks Sandy

Well I can say that aside from the handle the base is a dead ringer for the four footed Griswold bases.

[Mark Ritter]

I have one of these that Jeff pictured above except mine has the Griswold base. I am pretty sure that this is the base that goes with the paddles. Not only does the base have the number 975 but it also has WI co. (Western Importing) under the number.

What I find strange is other than the handle the bases look the same right down to the number under the socket and also where the handles set on the base is also wide.

What Sandy said is correct as this being a Brilliant base. Good job, right down to the base number! But I wonder what the connection is between these companies?

[Mark Ritter]

#2

[Mark Ritter]

#3

[Mark Ritter]

#4

[Tom Neitzel]

Thanks for the pictures Mark.  Yours is certainly a correct base.  Between Sandy and you I feel absolutely lazy for not rummaging through the pile in the garage to look at the bases.

Speculation is always cheap so I like to do it a lot.  I'm really going to change my opinion about Jeff's example being a marriage.  My impression is that there isn't any connection between Brillinant and WICO, but the common thread is Griswold.  It seems quite plausible to me that Griswold was making both of the irons at around the same time, or at least had stock for both at about the same time, and just mixed up the base with the paddles when shipped.  If I remember right, I think we know they did that with DO tops and bottoms.  Could be that the 2455 is indeed a new Griswold pattern number.

I suspect any more specific information will need to be found through some research on the Brilliant name.  Were they a foundry or (hopefull) just a jobber like Andresen/WICO.  Hopefully somebody jumps in and beats me to that research too.

Tom