Kevin Meares
New member
Two weeks ago, right before I joined this forum, I splurged on six pieces of CI at a high-end thrift store and risked branding myself as part of the problem with inflated pricing, the CI equivalent of what the poker players call "dead money". I am much wiser now :chuckle: Wiser, but needy, for after reading the responses to the "Top 4 users" thread I suddenly feel naked without a nice DO in my stack.
So today I returned to the scene of the crime, and to my surprise I found a fresh table-full of vintage CI with the characteristic retail pricing for unrestored pieces. My heart rate spiked when I saw the exact piece I was looking for: a Griswold slant EPU "9" DO that will go perfectly with the slant "9" EPU skillet I paid $75 for two weeks ago. It might even be from the same litter! It has a $125 price tag that I would gladly pay (after a hard swallow) since it has the nice "Tite-Top" lid and all. I really wanted it! It needs a good cleaning, but otherwise seemed pretty nice--not much crud or rust--but then I saw a 2"+ crack on the side. Damn! I was already welcoming this prize into my happy little family of CI pieces--a glorious focal point to a dazzling duo of cullinary cast iron--but I had to desist and go home empty handed :sad:
Collector value aside, what does a crack like this mean to the use value of the piece? Can I still use it, assuming I can get it for a fraction of the price, and if so, what are the ramifications in doing so?
Thanks.
So today I returned to the scene of the crime, and to my surprise I found a fresh table-full of vintage CI with the characteristic retail pricing for unrestored pieces. My heart rate spiked when I saw the exact piece I was looking for: a Griswold slant EPU "9" DO that will go perfectly with the slant "9" EPU skillet I paid $75 for two weeks ago. It might even be from the same litter! It has a $125 price tag that I would gladly pay (after a hard swallow) since it has the nice "Tite-Top" lid and all. I really wanted it! It needs a good cleaning, but otherwise seemed pretty nice--not much crud or rust--but then I saw a 2"+ crack on the side. Damn! I was already welcoming this prize into my happy little family of CI pieces--a glorious focal point to a dazzling duo of cullinary cast iron--but I had to desist and go home empty handed :sad:
Collector value aside, what does a crack like this mean to the use value of the piece? Can I still use it, assuming I can get it for a fraction of the price, and if so, what are the ramifications in doing so?
Thanks.