Erie 752 Shallow Pan

[Frank Dimos]

Picked this up at a local sale Saturday. Blue book simply says "No. 8 Shallow Long Pan." Couldn't find any other information in the form of pics in the red or blue books. Only found one other one on the web, and that guy said it was cast iron, but based on the picture he had, it was clearly cast aluminum, just like this one. Question: this says "Erie" on it; is it Erie (pre-Griswold name) or Griswold? Also, did it come with a cover? Looks more like a server than a pan to me. :) They seem kinda rare, so I have no idea what it's worth either.

Frank

[Valerie Johnson]

Here is some info ;
http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1138261896/15

http://www.icollector.com/ERIE-GRISWOLD-752-8-FROM-THE-LATE-1800-S-857083_i5507981

[Frank Dimos]

Thanks Val; I think this is the same person on the post and on the auction offer, given the timing and the reference to Greg. But I don't think this is cast iron and based on her picture, I don't think her's was either. The sale is the same reference I found Sunday.

[Valerie Johnson]

My guess is that the "ERIE" with a pattern number falls in the same date range as the "ERIE" skillets with a 3 digit pattern number circa 1892-1905, Is there any measurement that correlates to Number 8, I ask because on many early pieces the number correlates to a stove eye, I have seen long griddles that have a step in them so that they fit in stoves that have  stove eyes with a removable piece in between the eyes to make a single long oval opening, I saw such an unmarked except for the No.8 griddle at a local flea market last week, I passed on it basically because it had 2 gate marks that protruded from the bottom and were so uneven that it rendered the griddle useless for burner top use.

[Cheryl Watson]

Frank, you don't think it is cast iron? Does a Magnet stick to it?

[C. Perry Rapier]

Hello Frank. Thats a nice piece. You say you don't know if its cast iron or not, test it with a magnet, if it sticks its cast iron, if it does not stick then its Aluminum. It LOOKS like aluminum but its hard to tell from a pic sometimes. If you are interested in selling that piece Frank send me an IM. I like it cause its different. A lot of these were sad iron heaters. And yes what Valerie is saying is certainly true about taking taking the stove eyes out and the middle piece so you would have an oval opening immediately below the piece. So it got hot quick, as opposed to a piece that just sat upon the stove. Hope that helps some as well.  :)

[Frank Dimos]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I put a magnet on it, and it's definitely NOT cast iron, as the magnet doesn't stick. Guess that makes it aluminum. I assumed it wasn't CI because it just doesn't have the weight that CI pieces of that size do.

The pan measures about 21" long on the top including the handles and 9-3/8" wide. The bottom part that's recessed measures about 16-3/4" long and 7" wide. Those dimensions would seem to fit the theory that this would have fit into two stove openings with the center removed, especially given the round ends.

Perry, I'll send you a note, When I had the surgery, I figured out I couldn't afford to collect, but I enjoy finding and restoring so much that the next best thing is selling them. I think I love the hunt more than owning them--just the way I'm built.

The number two Griswold came out of the lye bath over the weekend--beautiful and won't need the electro. I have to decide whether I want to season it or sell it the way it is. I'll post pics this week.

Also found a number 8 Wagner Ware National over the weekend--first one I've ever seen in person. Needs some work, but it'll be worth it.

[Frank Dimos]

So, Perry and I have been emailing, exchanging information and thoughts on this piece--and we've concluded that this piece is NOT Griswold or Erie, but rather a fairly well done aluminum casting made from a mold formed on the basis of a Griswold piece. We don't know who did it or why. The conclusion is based on the closed handles that have some casting roughness where the Griswold openings in the handles were, and there is nothing in the Griswold catalogs about an aluminum version of the 752. Given that the 752 was never that popular (there aren't alot of them around, at least on the internet), I'm not quite sure why anyone would make an aluminum copy, but there it is--lost in the annals of time. :) Interesting piece, none the less.

[Valerie Johnson]

The blue book has a similar piece although made of cast iron and marked Favorite listed as a sad iron heater, Not saying that this piece was made by Favorite just that they have one listed as a sad iron heater. I would think that cast iron would be a much better material for a sad iron heater though when it comes to heat retention.

Someone would have to have had an actual ERIE piece to make a mold for the aluminum piece  and as noted there are a few that have popped up so what really would be the point of copying such a low appeal piece

[Frank Dimos]

Doesn't make any sense, does it? I suggested to Perry that it could be a prototype by Griswold to test aluminum in a similar mold, but he said (and I agree) that Griswold would not do a closed handle. Given how sharp the Erie and the part # are, this is a good copy for sure.

[Valerie Johnson]

The one in the link I posted above has open handles, Are your handles actually solid or are they cast over with a very thin layer of aluminum?

[Frank Dimos]

They're solid, but the casting is rough on the top at the handles where the openings would have been, and on the bottom of the handles, you can see a very slightly recessed area where the openings would have been. The top of the handles reminds me of what happens when you putty something using your fingers, but the bottom of them is very well done, smooth and defined.

[Dwayne Henson]

Does anyone have this in cast iron to do some measurements for a comparison with? For a recast it sure is nicely done. Makes me almost wonder if someone at the foundry cast it, so the wife would have a lighter one, that and aluminum is a much better conductor of heat.

[Frank Dimos]

This is the only one I could find listed. It's from 2006, claimed to be cast iron and had open handles. The dimensions they gave:
Specifics: 21.5" handle to handle;

9.5" exterior width;

1-1.25" depth;

17" interior length;

7" for the interior width.

The one I have measures 21x9-3/8 (actually just under) exterior, 16-3/4 (a little over) by 7 interior, 1" high at the lip and 1.75" high at the handle end. I have no idea how well they measured, so it would be good if a member had one. They seem quite rare.