Mystery Disk-What is it?

[Corinne Wetzel]

I'm usually an avid but quiet reader of this forum; I don't tend to post much.  But I just got a new laptop that makes resizing photos much easier so I may become a more frequent poster. 

This mysterious cast iron disk with a handle was in a stack of CI that I bought at an estate auction.  At first I thought it might be a griddle, but it seems to me to be too crude and flat for that. 

I wondered if it might be a cover for a stove eye, but did those have handles?  I haven't cleaned it yet, but in the meantime I'll post photos and see if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks for your help with ID!

[Cheryl Watson]

Corrine, could this possibly be what was just posted today by Tom??

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1387197163

- on the Members only side........ :)

I am wondering what is under all that rust and crud...??? :)

[Corinne Wetzel]

That's interesting!  The shape, depth and handle length certainly seem similar.  I'll have to get going on cleaning and see what's revealed.  Thanks, Cheryl.

[Tom Neitzel]

The one I posted is 5 3/4" in diameter, this one is around 11 inches.  This one is clearly cast, while the other is forged.  Otherwise they do have the same general look.

Tom

[Corinne Wetzel]

I know next to nothing about old stoves, but I wondered if it could be some sort of stove eye cover/griddle combo.  Did any companies ever make anything like that?

[C. B. Williams]

Corinne: I don't know what this is, but, there is a device called a "flame tamer" which is put under a pot or pan when the fire is too hot. C B

[Russell Ware]

The bottom does look like it fits a stove eye. The short handle would seem to rule out a griddle. My vote is for sad iron heater.

[Ken Davis]

I don't know if it was the intended purpose or not, but both my grandmother and great grandmother used one of those as a bed warmer. Heat it up and just before going to bed run it around between the sheets to make everything nice and toasty.

[Harry Riva]

Hmmm. When I click on the link in Reply 1 I get the following.

This field only accepts numbers from 0-9 Thread ID: '1387197163 '

Harry

[Cheryl Watson]

Hmmm. When I click on the link in Reply 1 I get the following.

This field only accepts numbers from 0-9 Thread ID: '1387197163 '

Harry

Try it now Harry, I just reimbedded the link.... Not sure why the original didn't want to work......... :)

[Tom Neitzel]

I'm out of my area of expertise, but I don't know why it wouldn't just be called a griddle.  Is there something odd I'm missing?  The small handle is different but in my mind that usually point to something a bit early.

[Corinne Wetzel]

It's hard to tell for sure because there's so much crud and rust, but it seems too thick and clunky to have been cast as a griddle.  Also the wide, flat edge didn't make sense to me as a griddle surface.  It just seemed more like a stove part.  But I guess some early griddles might just have had a short handle and a rough casting!  I think the next step is to get it cleaned up for a better look.  I appreciate all the input and ideas.  I'll post photos when I've gotten the gunk off.  In the meantime, if anyone comes across something similar, please do let me know.  Thanks everyone for the help.  Mystery pieces are more fun when you have someone to share the mystery with.   :)