Long time lurker - just got my first Griswold!

[JamesD]

Hey there! Long time lurker, but I haven't posted before. Been researching for awhile and acquired a great Wagner #8 that I use for absolutely everything. I stripped it in the self cleaning oven (no warping, cracking) and reseasoned with crisco. Today (almost a year later) eggs just slide around the pan and I haven't used water on it in months. Surface is glass smooth and I didn't think it could get any better. . .but it might have just gotten better!

My mother's friend just gave me 4 pieces of CI that she said belonged to her grandmother. All pieces are pre-1960 for sure. I got a griswold 3, 7 and 9 as well as an unmarked round griddle. The round griddle isn't much bigger than the #3, so i'm not sure what I'll use it for. They were all in great shape, but I'm stripping them anyway. They're all in black bags in the back yard right now covered in Heavy Duty oven cleaner (didn't want to risk the self cleaning oven for heirloom pieces!).

Let's see how many attachments I can add. . .looks like only 3. so here's an album of small photos on photobucket:
Cast Iron

Anyone have any ideas about the small round griddle? Only marking is that P. I just hosed them down again with oven cleaner (it's only been about 30 hours, but it's going to rain tomorrow. I won't have another look until tuesday) and it looks like it's working pretty well. They weren't in terrible shape to begin with, so i'm expecting good things!

-James

 

[Bonnie Scott]

I like that slant logo #7. That's a pretty nice gift.

 

[JamesD]

I like that slant logo #7. That's a pretty nice gift.

Yeah - i'm pretty excited! My Wagner is a #8 (slightly bigger) so it sits right in between the 7 and 9 Griswolds that she gave me. I know #8 is the most common size, but I never find myself saying "this is the perfect size" with the Wagner. It's usually a little big (for two eggs) or too small.

I have to try not to get too crazy with collecting, but there's only a few more pieces I "need." I'm sure i'll go overboard and get kicked out of the house! lol

-James

 

[JMoss]

JamesD,
I have a griddle very similar to yours (just a little larger) and I am told it was made by BSR

Jack

 

[RickC]

For just starting out, you've got a nice collection there..

 

[JamesD]

For just starting out, you've got a nice collection there..

Thanks! I've also got a Wagner #8 that i've been using regularly for 8 months or so as well as an unmarked post-1960 Lodge #3 that I just identified. I used the Lodge exclusively for my eggs before I got the wagner, but the bottom isn't machined so it can't touch the Wagner in terms of non-stick. I haven't used it once since I got the Wagner. I also have a newish Lodge that I use for steaks - I'm never worried about the hard scrub or searing at super high temps!

Out of those 4 I just got, I have the griddle cleaned up (with one "seasoning") and the #7 cleaned up and seasoned (6 coats of crisco). I've been using the #7 for eggs (my comparison) and it seems just about the same feel as the Wagner - so no surprises. I'm really looking forward to the #3 and #9. I found all of the Griswolds in my blue Griswold and Wagner book except for the #9. The closest thing I found to that with the funky font "Erie" and "no 9" instead of "9" is a #5, but the heat ring on my 9 is on the edge and the 5 was in a little bit. Any thoughts?

My next wants are a nice 2 burner width griddle, something bigger than the 9 and maybe a chicken fryer or something else deep enough to do some deep frying. Maybe a dutch oven would be good for that.

-James

 

[RickC]

My daily cooker is an old National/Wagner No.9 my Mother gave me. It's my perfect size. I've got a lot of iron in my collection but this one never leaves my stove.

Yes, get yourself a dutch oven. Stew, Chili, Roasts, etc etc...

it seems just about the same feel as the Wagner - so no surprises.

I've actually seen people claim that one cooks better than the other but it's all B.S. They were both great brands that made quality products.