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OBITUARY
Giles F. Filley
A noble life was closed last Tuesday in the death of Mr. Giles F. Filley at his residence, 1527 Locust street, this city*. He was for many years one of the city's most prominent manufacturers, and an exalted and altogether admirable type of manhood that the world can ill afford to lose. The story of his career is familiar to thousands who never met him face to face, and his large-hearted, unselfish patriotism, his rock-ribbed honesty and heroic sense of honor were such as to make his life a splendid example to those he leaves behind. Born in Connecticut on the 3rd of February, 1815, of the sturdy stock that made the great Republic glorious in its early years, he early manifested the grim determination and untiring energy that was to achieve for him such notable business success in later years. After ccmpleting his education at one of the leading academies in New England, he determined to join his brother, Oliver D. Filley, in St. Louis. The journey was a long and arduous one, and attended by many difficulties, part of the journey being made on foot. On arriving in St. Louis, Giles F. Filley began his labors in the tin shop of his brother, and upon completing his apprenticeship became a partner in the business--which continued until 1841, when he sold out his interest to his brother, and opened a crockery store. He had learned the value of Missouri clay, and in 1844 went to England to study the methods employed in making the higher grades of earthenware. Upon his return he established a first-class pottery plant. But this was a shortlived venture. He disposed of his crockery business in 1849, and established the Excelsior Stove Works, and the stoves became popular, until in a few years they furnished employment to hundreds of men. The business was incorporated in 1865, under the name Excelsior Manufacturing Company, which name it continued to bear until 1895, when it was re-organized under the name of the Charter Oak Stove and Range Company. The Charter Oak was and still is a household favorite throughout the length and breadth of the United States.
Mr. Filley rendered signal service financially and morally to the Union cause during the Civil War. He also furnished the necessary rock, as his contribution, to the great Eads bridge, which spans the Mississippi at St. Louis, the money value being about $200,000
But perhaps the most remarkable example of the man's sterling honesty is the following, which has becomethe property of all St. Louisans who take an interest in her representative men: A friend for whomhe had become an indorser, failed financially through a series of most unfortunate reverses. Mr. Filley's liability amounted to $1,000,000. He was urged to go into bankruptcy. But he refused to shirk the responsibility he had voluntarily assumed. He was given time, and though it took a number of years, and swallowed up the greater part of his life's income, he paid every cent of the debt $1,000,000 and $300,000 of accumulated interest besides. Such an example and such a deed stands almost unparelleled in the history of modem times. Of Mr. Filley's family, five sons of a family of nine- survive him. The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon from the family residence. The interment, which was private, was in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
* St. Louis, Missouri
The Age of Steel, March 3, 1900, Vol. 87
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I also ran across a toy size Griswold Heart & Star waffle maker. It was quite dirty and rusted but cleaned up real nice. Do you have any idea of value?
Many collectors may not be aware that covers were made for the Gris wold Loaf Pan and No768 Square-Fry Skillet. Like so many other pieces, neither of these, with or without the cover, appear in any of the Griswold catalogs I have seen. The No768 Square-Fry Skillet is not particularly rare but the iron cover (pattern 769) is. It would be my guess that this skillet was made around 1950. I do not know if the cover was available optionally during the whole time the skillet was made or only for a very short time. Around 1955 a square glass cover with with the Griswold TM on the knob was sold with this skillet. My guess at the production time for the Loaf Pan (pattern 877) and the Loaf Pan Cover (859) would be sometime in the 30's or 40's. Note that the piece is called a Loaf Pan and not a Meat Loaf Pan as it is referred to in Harned's book on Griswold. Both the Pan and Cover were made in chrome finish in addition to black iron. The Loaf Pan Cover is very rare and most Loaf Pans, which are, themselves, hard to find, do not have the cover. Perhaps the cover was made for only a very short time.
Above Toy sized heart pattern waffle iron. Maker, country of origin and date made are all unknown. It is about the same size as the toy Griswold, Wagner and Stover irons. Quality and detail of this waffle iron are superb. The top and bottom pictures show the different designs on the two sides of the iron. When found, this waffle iron was painted with silver paint. I have seen one other identical iron. Would like to hear from anyone with more information about this cute waffle iron. -ed.
This is my best guess and that's all it is. There really isn't that much difference in rarity amoung numbers that are three or four apart. No10 is definitely the most common one by a fair margin. -ed.
