Author Topic: Todays' Finds--Sure is quiet around the site! (Read 5927 times)

Frank Dimos · « **on:** July 17, 2015, 04:43:10 PM »

Everyone must be on vacation. Found an unusual Wagner Ware utility grill today, No 1148. Book shows and 1150 and there are a few 1148's on the web, but the construction of this one is different--solid handles, the words "Utility Grill", and 6 rays on the back instead of the usual 4 rays. Not sure if this is older or newer than the 1150 shown in the book and the 4 ray open handle ones I see on the web. Also found and old no 7 bottom gate, inset heat ring--lots of seasoning, but looks good underneath. Note the really small diameter spouts and fancy handle. Sure wish we had a reliable way to determine who made these old ones.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:44:10 PM »

More pics of the grill

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:45:22 PM »

Pics of the no 7

Greg Gordon · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2015, 09:40:22 PM »

i sure like that number 7 skillet
greg

Jim Glatthaar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2015, 11:52:48 PM »

Very nice #7 skillet. I love the handle. It looks like it has very small nice pour spouts. I hope it cleans up well. Will it be a user or a collection piece?

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2015, 05:07:43 AM »

Honestly, I'll probably sell it; I would say it could go either way. It will most likely sell in the $50-70 range, and if it cleans up with a smooth cooking surface, I would use it--because of it's age, it's a lighter piece, easy on the wrist. :)

Jim Glatthaar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2015, 11:57:20 PM »

I agree with you, Frank, I just love the older, lighter weight pieces, they were just meant to cook with.

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2015, 12:16:51 AM »

Over the years I have picked up a few of the older skillets like the one here. They are lightweight. I have a 6 through 12 of them. I don't know know where they are for sure, but, somewhere around here. If you find a six pick it up. That was the most difficult one to find as I recall. But I still buy one from time to time. Its like them pups in the window, them big sad 'take me home eyes'. ;D

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2015, 07:42:41 AM »

I hear that! I love old cast iron and it's really a labor of love to clean them up and put them back to use. Can't explain it, It's certainly not for the money--hate to think of the hourly rate.

Robert Hynes · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:03:20 AM »

Picked up a griddle yesterday, matched up to Gurney, looks like the same style handle. Not the same pattern on the bottom, this one has a very thin heat ring and small number 10. Looks like someone had a go at the seasoning, hoping they didn't damage it but the lye bath will tell the tale.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:42:13 AM »

I think I have one like that. Is the 10 raised or incised? I also have one with a gate mark, fancy handle, and inset heat ring. Cooking surface was a little roached, but it came out ok for display.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:42:48 AM »

The back

Robert Hynes · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:50:05 AM »

It's in the lye bath at the moment, i'll take some pics when I get some coffee in me and give it a scrub. The back of the handle is flat I believe.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2015, 12:04:46 PM »

Quote

Gurney

Are you referring to E&C Gurney of Canada, the stove company? I've found a few catalogs, but nothing that shows good detail of the handle. Here's an excerpt from an 1892 catalog, but the skillet shown is single spout. The handles do look similar from what I can see. Do you have a better source?

Frank

Robert Hynes · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2015, 12:22:59 PM »

Yep, that's what i'm going by with this griddle. Also with pics of Gurney stove numbers, i'll have to dig those out. I'm pretty positive mine is a gurney. Just gave it a preliminary scrub after a 12 hour soak, thankfully there doesn't seem to be any damage to the surface. Might end up using this one, it's flat and true.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2015, 01:12:18 PM »

My skillet is still in the lye, think it'll still be a couple days yet. But I went back and looked at my high res photos of the skillet that the low res ones above are based upon. While they are very similar to your griddle, I noticed that the end of my handle has a bit more of a point on it (yours looks more rounded). The same is true of the ridge that borders the hole-a bit more pointed. The back of my handle is depressed, as are many skillets. My numbers are at the handle end of the skillet rather than the top, and the gate mark is more toward the handle than the middle. However, that may just be the differences between a skillet and a griddle. I'm gonna say you're right and call it a Gurney unless someone disagrees. Anyone else have a photo of a confirmed Gurney skillet? How 'bout the folks in Canada? Opinions?

Robert Hynes · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2015, 01:28:03 PM »

Unfortunately, one picture does not make for a positive ID. Many Canadian cast manufacturers didn't mark anything, except for number sets - i'm seeing more wood stoves that haven't got a name on them. McClary alone has at least 3 different number fonts which adds to the confusion - but all known pieces are X marked. McClary was also a jobber which adds to the confusion - I know now that Eaton pans were made by at least McClary, James Smart and probably Griswold.

Been chipping away slowly for the last 6 months on Canadian cast, and i'm still only scratching the surface. Frustrating is a good word for it.

Robert Hynes · « **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2015, 01:45:51 PM »

Quote

My skillet is still in the lye, think it'll still be a couple days yet. But I went back and looked at my high res photos of the skillet that the low res ones above are based upon. While they are very similar to your griddle, I noticed that the end of my handle has a bit more of a point on it (yours looks more rounded). The same is true of the ridge that borders the hole-a bit more pointed. The back of my handle is depressed, as are many skillets. My numbers are at the handle end of the skillet rather than the top, and the gate mark is more toward the handle than the middle. However, that may just be the differences between a skillet and a griddle. I'm gonna say you're right and call it a Gurney unless someone disagrees. Anyone else have a photo of a confirmed Gurney skillet? How 'bout the folks in Canada? Opinions?

If it is indeed Canadian, and there are no guarantees of that - then Windsor foundry is another possibility, but i'm still working on that one. Similar handle but more rounded at the tip, raised number is on the handle. I have one griddle that I think is windsor, still working on proving it as I don't know what the underside of the handle looks like nor do I have anything else Windsor to match the number fonts to.

Frank Dimos · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2015, 07:51:13 PM »

Wow, and I thought American CI could be a pain! Let me know what you find.

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Author Topic: Todays' Finds--Sure is quiet around the site! (Read 5927 times)