Tite - top dutch oven + lid?

[Ray Armstrong]

I have this Tite-Top dutch oven and I am wondering if they sold them new with the lid having the slant logo and the oven being the large block logo. I also noticed there is no size # on the oven, only on the lid. The pattern number for the oven is 310 A, is that the size # also? It seems like the lid always says tite - top on it. Is one older than the other?

[Sam Roberts]

I am not an expert on the Griswold Camp Ovens, the Blue Book states the No. 10 was made between 1910-20 and came with a slant logo cover. It also state the #10 as p/n 180. The 310 you refer to is not connected with the size. Someone else can give you a better scoop on this one than I can. It would be nice to see a picture of the top of the cover.

[Chris Stairs]

 Ray,

  The 310 says Griswold on it, but does not say Erie PA. That's because it was made after the Griswold foundry shut down. It was made in Sidney Ohio at the Wagner facility. They were the new owners of the trademark and patterns.
   Some would say it is not a "real" Griswold. The bail seems to have been replaced at some point as well.
  The good news is, most people (outside of collectors) don't know the difference, and the value is not much different between your camp oven and the ones really made by Griswold.
  I dunno about the lid. maybe others will add more.....

Chris

[Roger Barfield]

That's the correct lid.  They had the slant logo on the lid, but the block logo on the bottom.  The 310's were made in Sidney by Wagner.  The bail looks correct to me Chris, what do you see that makes it look replaced?  It is a size 10, which is about 12" or so in diameter.  It's larger than a Lodge size 10 would be, but that's how Griswold/ Wagner sized them.  As Chris said, they bring about the same as the Erie, Pa. marked ones on ebay.  If it doesn't have any hairline cracks, it looks to be a nice one.  Welcome to Wags, Ray.

[Chris Stairs]

The bail looks correct to me Chris, what do you see that makes it look replaced?

Roger,
 I thought it looked too long, and maybe shaped wrong. You are more familiar with these items than I am though. If you say the bail looks original, I'll take your word for it.

Chris

[Roger Barfield]

The bails are kinda big.  They have that bend to go around the lip of the lid.  These aren't the best users in my opinion.  The bail knocks the lid off if your not careful.  Here's one on ebay where you can see it better.  This is a later one that lacks the Griswold logo and pattern number.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/1920-CAST-IRON-DUTCH-OVEN-TITE-TOP-WITH-LID-LEGS_W0QQitemZ270338050941QQihZ017QQcategoryZ976QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Ray Armstrong]

Sam asked to see a picture of the top of the lid.



The lid weighs about as much as the oven, by the way. I have heard this style of oven called a camp DO, camp fire DO and a spider DO. Can some one tell me what the book calls it, Im ordering the books from the pan man, so I can sound like I know what Im talking about when I need to. The bail was draging hard on the lid when I got it so I adjusted it and now its not so bad. I dont see anything on the bail that makes it look like its been replaced. Thanks for educatin me on this stuff folks.

[Jerry Cermack]

Sam asked to see a picture of the top of the lid.



I have heard this style of oven called a camp DO, camp fire DO and a spider DO. Can some one tell me what the book calls it, Im ordering the books from the pan man, so I can sound like I know what Im talking about when I need to.

Ray,
The Blue book calls them Chuck Wagon Ovens, and states prior to 1950 they were called "Dutch Oven with Legs".....thats why you will see the abbreviation used on the forum at times..DOWLEGS.  Others call them Camp Ovens too.

[Ray Armstrong]

Thanks Jerry

[Roger Barfield]

Ray, I call them camp dutch ovens.  I use the term spiders to describe the versions like this that have a handle on the bottom, like a skillet would.  They have the legs on bottom and the same lid for coals.  I see you discovered what I was talking about with the bail.  It will knock the lid off if you're not careful.  Do you plan to clean it up and use it?  These are cast thin compared to newer stuff like Lodge for example.  They can have more "hot spots" when you cook with them if you don't get the coals evenly distributed.  I could ramble on about them ;D In case you haven't noticed, I collect and use them quite a bit. ;D

[Ray Armstrong]

 Do you plan to clean it up and use it?  

Yes I want to use it. I dont think it needs to be striped and reseasoned but I have cleaned it up some and I'll get it in the oven soon. It does seem pretty thin compared to the others I have. I have myself under the impression that good iron dont need to be as thick as the lower quality iron does, although I know this DO is not made of the "sweet iron" that was mined in the 20s.
Thanks again

[Roger Barfield]

Ray, don't fall for that sweet iron talk.  Cast iron is cast iron, plain and simple.  The only difference is the older ones were poured by hand versus the automated machines.  The sand used for the molds is also different.  I use my Lodge camp ovens over any others I have.  They are thicker and hold the heat better and have less hot spots.  The thin "sweet" ones are for collecting.  At least that's my opinion of them.  If I take my Lodge ones camping and something happens to one, I can get a replacement. ;)  I'm not saying I wouldn't use any of the older ones, but it's just that those Lodge ones cook just as well and I like to use them.  Please keep us posted on yours and how you use them.  We all like cast iron and especially cooking with cast iron. :D

[Dwayne Henson]

I have to agree 100% with Roger. Our local Girl Scout Camp has Dutch (camp) Oven cooking sessions that I help with. They have Griswold and Lodge CO's. Without a doubt the Lodge is a superior CO in design and in how it cooks. It takes a much more watchful eye with the Griswolds. Sad most of the Griswold's have Lodge lids due to being so poorly designed that the lids have fallen off and broke. In saying that I do use my Griswold CO's at home, but when it comes to hunting time, it is the Lodges that get thrown in the back of the truck.