I started this post with a question about which mfgrs produced skillets with raised numbers. The reason for the question was a picture I saw of a skillet available at a nearby estate sale. I have read the information here about unnamed CI. I just wanted to know who else produced raised numbers. Edgar's response convinced met to try and obtain the piece. Thank you Edgar.
I did obtain the piece along with a #3 smooth bottom CHF. I have not posted the "what it looked like when I got it" and "what it looks like now" pics, so here they are:
https://imgur.com/a/MIn8L
https://imgur.com/a/Hatrr
I was surprised to find no raised maker's mark on the bottom or an outside heat ring. I was also surprised that Edgar dated it at 100 or so years old.
That surprise and the resulting curiosity prompted me to send pictures of the restored skillet to Lodge with an inquiry about the skillet. Here is part of the response:
"The raised 8 on the top of the handle is of earlier Lodge Skillet. This skillet may date back to ...., between 1910-1920." The "....." is my effort to prevent more commentary in this post about "it is/it ain't BL" because she said "MAY".
Reading this just raised more questions for me about Joseph Lodge and his companies. I fired back about 6 questions of which only 2 got answered. Here they are.
"I have found out some info below, some I could not find out.
By the way, other than the 1910 - 1930 period, does anyone know why Lodge did not put its name/logo/trademark on pieces until the 1950's? Although we don’t know for sure, it is likely because Lodge did not have a formal logo until later on, and it did cost a little more to add details like that at the time."
Wally's thought, if we hear this enough (for Lodge and others like BSR, it must be true. (LOL)
"Finally, does Lodge have a "museum" of cast Iron pieces or an archive with product brochures and literature? That would be interesting to visit.
That is something that Lodge is currently working on."