Author Topic: Unique heat ring BSR or Wagner Ware (Read 9590 times)

Valerie Johnson · « **on:** June 02, 2015, 09:24:33 AM »

I picked up a number 8 skillet at a local thrift store yesterday and it has a very unique heat ring on the bottom, To me the heat ring looks like a BSR identified piece shown here: http://www.modemac.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl/bsr-unique-01.jpg

But the handle looks more like a Wagner Ware shown in image 27 of 38 on the unmarked cast iron page

The skillet is marked 10 1/2 inch skillet and has a letter R at the 6 oclock position outside the heat ring and a letter R on the underside of the handle, The number 8 is engraved on the top of the handle

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2015, 11:55:14 AM »

That looks like a Wagner to me, and most likely had Teflon coating on the interior at one time....

Russell Ware · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2015, 02:19:45 PM »

The BSR's have different lettering and no number on the handle. I've got a #3 and #5 of the 60's-ish Randall era Wagner/Griswold skillets (the real name was on a paper label, so we'll never know). How much you want for your #8? I need to complete the set! Oh, no, then I would have to get the chef skillets GHC/Wagner put out with the same heat ring.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2015, 04:38:43 PM »

Hi Cheryl, Thanks, I thought it was a Wagner by the handle design, I have it in the lye tank so we will see if it has/had a non stick surface when it comes out.

Hi Russ, I will most likely be selling it once I get it cleaned up, Does your set have non stick cooking surface?

Russell Ware · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2015, 04:55:53 PM »

The #3 did not have the coating, only the #5. But it was so abused and burned, I removed it by running it through a self-cleaning cycle in the oven. At least the 2 pans match now.

Russell Ware · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2015, 05:02:59 PM »

Here is what the BSR looks like:

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2015, 09:02:16 PM »

The skillet is in the lye tank and cleaning up nicely, no sign of a non stick interior but what I have noticed is that it seems lighter than other skillets of comparable size, Is it possible these were made of some type of lighter weight cast iron alloy if there is such a thing.

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2015, 11:12:13 PM »

Russell is that your foot in that picture? ::) ;D

Russell Ware · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:35:19 AM »

Quote

Russell is that your foot in that picture? ::) ;D

No Perry, that's not my color of nail polish on that foot!

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2015, 08:33:13 AM »

Were these bottoms designed with a specific purpose, possibly for use on electric ranges or glass top ranges, would they help reduce the downward warping found on so many skillets without heat rings?

Russell Ware · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2015, 09:24:12 AM »

Quote

Were these bottoms designed with a specific purpose, possibly for use on electric ranges or glass top ranges, would they help reduce the downward warping found on so many skillets without heat rings?

I believe they were designed for use on electric ranges (don't think glass tops were around circa 1960), so the pan would sit flat on the coils.
Warping is really caused by over-heating. That is user-inflicted damage. Not really due to the design of the pan.
I was surprised by your comment about the pan's weight. The #3 and 5 pans I have are rather bulky when compared to the older and more collectible pans. These pans are more novelty than collectible. But they can still be good users.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2015, 10:04:55 AM »

Thanks Russ, When I take it out of the bath I will do an actual weight comparison on it with a similar pan, To me it just felt considerably lighter than my other pans.
Now about that warping, I read somewhere and I can't remember where that when metals are heated that the molecules expand and what happens is that the molecules on the heated side are expanding more than those on the inside which causes an outward or in the case of skillets downward movement.

Russell Ware · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2015, 01:16:31 PM »

As it pertains to cast iron skillets, most warping is caused by either improper heating technique (always using high heat) or using the wrong size burner for the size of the pan.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2015, 09:38:38 AM »

Ok, Out of the lye tank and is now in the oven with a first coat or LouAna and you are right, before I threw it in the oven I weighed it and I was surprised to see that it weighed 4lbs 9 Ounces as compared to a number 8 "ERIE" I have that weighs just 3lbs 8 ounces...I must have just had my bowl of Wheaties when I picked it up and thought it was lighter...oh well...I can always blame it on old age.
Any the pan came out nice, a little dark staining on a small area on the inside but not bad, no signs of any Teflon coating

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2015, 10:40:55 AM »

Well here it is cleaned and seasoned with 2 coats of LouAna and ready to use

Russell Ware · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2015, 01:19:50 PM »

Looks great, and ready for use!

I weighed my series 2 #8 "ERIE" and it weighed just 3lbs 4 ounces. Do you know which series your "Erie" is? That's a tongue twister.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2015, 01:29:05 PM »

My number 8 is a series 3

Dwayne Henson · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2015, 11:26:05 PM »

Proof how closely foundries watched what the others were doing. Wagner/Griswold come out with a Teflon cast iron pan and BS&R comes out with a Teflon pan. I always wondered if that fancy bottom grid was to keep electric ranges from getting the pan too hot. Teflon sure smells funny it it gets to hot.

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2015, 12:05:17 AM »

In 1967, Wagner stated this about these skillets:

"New Grid Bottoms ensure even heat distribution"

So that was their marketing approach... :)

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2015, 02:10:19 AM »

Valerie what is that stuff you used to season that piece? I have never heard of LouAna before.

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Author Topic: Unique heat ring BSR or Wagner Ware (Read 9590 times)