Castelain Made in USA Skillet

[Mark Zizzi]

Mark, I don't disagree that if the words "Made In USA" are on a piece of cast iron cookware, it is likely that it was made post-1960.  That's not the same as saying it was required that they had to be marked that way by regulation.

Yes, I realize that now Tom. Most everything I have learned about cast iron, I learned right here in this forum and I could have sworn I read that here too somewhere..something about the Federal Trade Commission requiring this in 1960. But I couldn't find it again so it's either lost now or I'm not using the right search terms or (and probably most likely) I'm not remembering what I read right or where I read it. I did find a guy on youtube that states this, but certainly not a reliable source of information. So, anyway, what I will say from now on with a piece marked Made in the USA, is it was likely made after 1960, as you said...which btw  is also not quite the same as saying "I can't date it by the markings."  You can likely date this one by the markings. ;)

[Joseph Sayler]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. I actually have a Castelain saucepan I acquired several years ago in Buffalo NY. My wife's grandmother had bought it at a swap meet not realizing it had been painted black.

Knowing that I had just begun hunting for cast iron, she gave it to me to see if I could get the paint off. I had it media blasted, not knowing any better, but it seemed to come out none the worse for wear.

It is one of a very few CI saucepans I have ever run across and I've never been able to find much of anything about it.

[Joseph Sayler]

additional pic

[Valerie Johnson]

Nice sauce pan, Including my skillet that makes a total of 3 Castelain Made in USA pieces I have seen, Mine here in NJ, an eBay auction from Brookly NY and yours from Buffalo NY, I am wondering if the geographical location  of the foundry may have been in this area (NY/NJ) Besides Castelain made in the USA is there any other markings on your pan, My skillet has K2 incised on the bottom, All of the other markings are raised and the K2 is cut into the bottom of the skillet and I believe the eBay piece also had the letter K incised into the bottom.

As for mediablasting to remove paint I think it depends on what type of media you use as far as if it would damage the surface, sand would be a definite no but walnut shells, corn cob or acrylic or some other type of material that is softer than the cast iron should not be a problem that I can see, If it does not actually cut or etch the cast iron and only cleans it then it should not damage the cast iron surface, hard sands and oxides actually cut the cast iron and leave a dull grey surface which is not desirable.

[Joseph Sayler]

Mine has no other markings.

[Valerie Johnson]

Since I acquired the Castelain skillet I have cleaned and seasoned it and used it quite a few times, It makes wonderful fried eggs, Perogies,braised mushrooms,home fries and I used it to sear a nice steak on the range top and then put the pan and steak into the oven on broil and finished it off, I have to say I am very pleased with how well it cooks and cleans up afterwards.

[Scott Messenger]

Just last week I discovered a forgotten pile of CI in my parents basement. Nothing Earth shattering down there except for this Castelain K1. This is smaller than the pans noted above. I remember frying eggs in it when I was young, so it's been in the family for 25+ years. My mother has no recollection of where it may have come from.

[Valerie Johnson]

I have been using the K2 since I cleaned it up, I love the design and how well it cooks with both in and out of the oven, It has been miserable and rainy here the last few days so last night we decided on soup and biscuits and I made the biscuits in the K2 in the oven. Just out of curiosity does your K1 have the same style handle and assist tab opposite the handle?

[Scott Messenger]

Handle: Yes. The handles seem to be a consistent design. Assist handle: No. This is a very small pan. It measure 6.5 inches across.