Restoring CI for Personal Preference or Value??

[Doug R. Hoffman]

I posted yesterday on the WAGS Mbr only Discussion Board photos of a cast iron egg poacher ( or Aebleskiver ) pan insert with a request to know what it was that I had. Administrator Tom Neitzel and Mbr Jim Fuchs responded with detailed info and some photos, which pretty much indicate that my CI pan Insert has a broken off center post handle. While I would still like to see some photos of a similar ( all cast iron, not enameled ) unit, (if any exist ), my bigger question is about restoring my unit to its original state ( which is why I would like a comparable item photo ).
Is there a plus side ( dollar wise ) in doing restoration work, or am I just satisfying my personal preference to have a ( restored) original??? Are there qualified restorers for this project, and where might I contact them? The handle post on my item appears to have been CAST, so no suprise that it broke off. I would prefer to restore with a solid metal handle to reduce future breakage aspect. Wanted to post this so guests may also preview and benefit from information.

[Spurgeon Hendrick]

Doug, I reckon it's personal preference. I recently had the paddles on a Wagner Wafer Iron replated. Probably ruined the collectibility of it, but I figure I'm never selling it ... and it sure is purty. Ha!


Spurgeon, I hope you don't mind the spelling correction, but I replayed it over in my mind and decided I didn't want anyone to get confused by what you did.

EDIT: I'm a product of the Alabama Public School System. I can use all the help I can get!  ;D

[Doug R. Hoffman]

yeah, pretty sure I am contemplating it for personal preference, it seems to be an uncommon item from what I can tell so far. I would like to have it as " original" as possible to "show it off" ( others might call it braggin rights, but, what the hay, play em or fold'em my pappy always said!))

[Russell Ware]

The “originality” is already compromised since the post you say was peened in place was sheared off. Value at this point depends on what you do and how well you do it.

Of course what I really want to know is if you have the original glass lid to go with the Wagner egg poacher sitting next to this pan in the first photo?

[Doug R. Hoffman]

So, I didnt want to flood the forum with to many requests figuring out what I have in my stable, but the wife found the "egg poacher" pan coupla years ago and she has been bugging me to find out just what it is. I decided to block out the picture of it and just go one at a time with my inquiry, but since you asked ( and have told me now just what it is ), sorry, no glass lid with it. It is marked " Made in USA" PAT Pending, but I dont know the maker.

[Russell Ware]

Doug,
If you look on the WAGS discussion board (WAGS members ONLY) on the Wagner Original Label thread of the member’s side, you will see the original pan with lid in reply #2. It was made by the Wagner division when GHC owned them in the 1970's. It is another egg poacher. The glass lid helped to keep in the steam when water was placed in the small center well.

[Doug R. Hoffman]

Will look at it ( discussion thread )  and show to the wife, figured it was an egg poacher of some type. when looking at Wagner breakfast skillets, the unique handle design stands out, that  thumb rest(?) at base of handle had me scratchin my head.
Any chance that I can find a picture of my solid cast iron aebleskiver/egg poacher with intact handle in a catalog, want a reference to refurbish mine from??

[Tom Neitzel]

I've known the Wagner pan as the Eggs Benedict Pan.

As far as finding that insert pictured in a catalog, I would make sure to buy a lottery ticket as I think your odds are better to win cash than find a picture.  You never know though.

Tom

[Russell Ware]

Yours is the first I've seen with only 5 cavities. Catalogs are tough to come by. They aren't always reliable either. Often times, stock images are used by the printer of the old catalogs that your piece would have been in.

[Doug R. Hoffman]

OK, Thanks to everyone, if i do the rebuild, i'll go with my gut feeling that it was probably a standard looped rod handle, BUT...nothing says I cant do a looped rod with a coiled spring heat handle!