Griswold New American Flue Dampers

[Valerie Johnson]

Is there any information on when Griswold made the New American Flue dampers, Do they have any collector value or are they just good for use as a damper or wall hanger, I picked one up at a yard sale, It is marked Griswold New American 8 IN. ERIE PA . U.S.A on one side and on the other it has Reversible Steel Spring 8 IN. Several p Patents #'s and what appears to be a part number 1428

[Rick Gilley]

Valarie they are very common, especially in the average and large sizes. I sometimes see boxes full of them. I pass on them even as low as a $1.00.

[Valerie Johnson]

When you think about it most families only had one wood stove that required a damper if at all while most families had more than 1 skillet yet as you pointed out these seem to way more common than skillets, Sure glad I paid very little for it, I will clean it up and season it or paint it and make it a wall hanger

[Adam Hoagland]

[size=12]Circular Dampers saying "New American" and "Reversible Steel Spindle," having p/ns of 14xx or 15xx, and having up to four patent numbers cast into them, are pictured in a Griswold catalog reprint circa 1940 or 1942, I think.  Before that, they were just called "American," had only one patent number, and had three digit p/ns of the 5xx form.  Before that they weren't reversible - the spindle only went in from one side.

There are also similar-looking dampers that have poorer casting and just say "Patents" without listing patent numbers.  They also don't say "Erie" anywhere, and I'm guessing that they were cast after the name was sold.

I sort of collect them, right along with the other Griswold stuff that I collect, but I've become a lot less interested in spending much on them after seeing them go for a buck or two at sales.  Some of the older ones that have other kinds of spindle handles than just the standard Alaska coil might bring a little more, and the oval ones or the huge industrial-sized ones (sizes 14, 15, 16, or 18) can fetch nice prices, but plain Jane dampers don't seem to draw a lot of interest.

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[Valerie Johnson]

Here it is cleaned and to keep it from rusting I seasoned it with a coat of Canola oil, I t is in good shape with the exception of the nickel plating flaked off the spring handle and spring and 2 tension cups.
Just for kicks I priced new 8" dampers and they sell for between $8.00 for the cheap Chinese junk up to around $24.00 for a quality US made or European import.