I need brains..

[John Gentry]

specifically your brains and collective experience.
What brought me to WAGS is this pan, a Good Will find for $5.00. I looked laughed and put it down. A few minutes later I was back looking at it again.. okay $5.00.
The romantic in me see's a pan that was made by a foundry worker for his Sweety (yes I assume it's a male foundry worker) Why is it unfinished? Slag, not ground, and the name 'DOTTIE' on the handle. It was found in Portland Oregon so it must have been indoors or boxed and safe from the weather. What to do with this gem? If I knew a DOTTIE I'd grind, polish and season it as a gift to her.
If more pics are wanted let me know.. Any ideas?

[Sandy Glenn]

Hello John and welcome to the Forum.

Your $5 purchase is a reproduction of a Wagner Ware skillet.  I would say it's either a backyard project or a metals class project where someone used an authentic skillet as the pattern. 

An authentic Wagner skillet wouldn't have a gatemark (horizontal scar) on the outside bottom.  It isn't the first repro we've seen here and it won't be the last.

I'm guessing Dottie wasn't too thrilled with it or it never would have made it to Goodwill.

Hope this info helps.

[FD_Hoover]

Welcome john.  And this is how it starts.  Wont be long you will be reading, hunting, cleaning, learning and then it happens you look around one day and you have cast iron everywhere and say dang how did I not discover this hobby sooner. You couldn't have found a better forum of knowledgeable caring collectors available on the internet.  A membership to WAGS is as priceless as the next HTF skillet you find if you get interested in cast and want more knowlege

[C. B. Williams]

I would say the odds of Sandy's post being accurate is about 99%.

[Keith Rumgay]

 John I agree with  Sandy is right and if you keep buying CI you well have MOOR than you know like the rest of us its all over the place House, Garage, Shop, sheds and more   :-/ ::) >:( ;D