WIRCo

"Is there any way to date a WIRCo skillet"

Boy, you're leaving yourself wide open for a terrible joke, there!! :laughup:

Seriously, I had no problem finding some stuff about the founder, Henry Harrison Culver, and a couple of eBay listings that claimed certain dates, but nothing authoritative.
 
David, I have one of the iron skillets and one of the steel skillets. I think the reason that you can't find info is because the iron ones were such a failure. Every one I have ever seen is a spinner, including mine. I don't think they are collectible so no one has really taken the time to gather any information. I will say that my steel skillet is one of the sturdiest steel skillets I have ever come across. Maybe you can find more info and share it with us.
 
It's interesting that there is little known about WIR hollow ware. Found an article in a Canadian trade catalogue that claims they are the largest manufactory in the US. 140,000 square feet is impressive. The article is about WIR setting up shop in Canada around 1917-18.

THE HOME COMFORT RANGE TO BE MADE HERE.

A real estate deal of very considerable im-
portance, not only to the immediate locality,
but to the whole city, was consummated
on Thursday, when the premises of the
Barnum Wire and Iron Works company, on
Keele street, Toronto Junction, passed into
the hands of the Wrought Iron Range com-
pany, of St. Louis, Mo., U.S. The company
operates the largest range manufactory in
the world, their offices and factory in St.
Louis occupying an entire block, having a
floor space of 140,000 feet, which is three
times larger than any other range factory in
the States. It employs 1,500 men and 400
travelling representatives, who have carried
the firm's goods into every corner of the
continent. For some time past the question
of opening up a branch factory in Canada
has been under consideration, and Mr. W.
W. Culver, the president of the company,
has made several trips to this city and other
points to ascertain what the prospects are,
The result is as stated above, and having at
last acquired the site, with suitable buildings
and considerable machinery already there-
on, the necessary alterations will be imme-
diately put in hand, and in a very short time
the new factory will open up with about 50
hands. With the exception of the manager
and two or three experts who will come up
from St. Louis, all the help needed will be
engaged on the spot, and it is also the inten-
tion to utilise Canadian raw material as far
as possible in every department. In view of
the approach of winter, with its consequent
lack of employment, this important addition
to local industries will be doubly advantage-
ous. Mr. W. L. Culver, the present secre-
tary-treasurer of the company, will in all pro-
bability move his family to Toronto and take
the personal oversight ot the new venture.
The special feature about the "Home Com-
fort
" range, which this factory will turn out,
is that it is the only range in the world that
is made almost exclusively of malleable iron
and wrought steel, and they are all supplied
with asbestos-lined end flues. — Globe.


And another.

1918 - NOW IN NEW PREMISES
The Wrought Iron Range Company
have moved into new premises at 149
King Street West, Toronto, where they
have added 800 square feet additional to
their showroom space. The new show-
room and store is just east of their
former location. An additional two
stories have been added to the new loca-
tion at the rear. The showrooms have
been refitted through with mahogany
showcases. One of the advantages in
their new location is to give them con-
nection by archway with their factory
in the rear. A W. Caldwell, manager of
the company, is an enthusiastic member
of the King Street Improvement Associ-
ation which has recently been formed.
Mr. Caldwell has the distinction of tak-
ing out the first membership in the as-
sociation.
 
There is a lot more info on that domain than just that history. I read H.H. Culver's bio and obituary plus many others in the area and in that company. It's the little bits and pieces you pick up in seemingly non-related articles that shine the light. Great find Bonnie! Rob did a great job too. Thanks you two.
 
Rob, I believe this is one of the skillets that article is referring to. I wouldn't really consider that cookware. Many of the foundries used these little advertising ashtrays. I could be wrong however but the article does say little skillet.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miniature-A...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Well, this article specifically mentions cookware laid out for the ladies in 1895... Look down a little on the left to Wrought Iron Ranges.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=TCkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5720,4921142&hl=en
 
Wrought Iron Range was founded in 1864, 30 years before the exhibition - I would imagine there's cookware made before the 1890's?
 
Also Bonnie, it mentioned that the ladies were flocking to the exhibit. I don't believe they would have beat a path to their door for ashtrays but you never know.


 
Apparently someone reported my video to YouTube of violating it's terms of service and it was taken down.

I used no music, no content owned by anyone else, etc etc... Just me filming my own skillet and stating that it was a WIRCo skillet and it wobbled and spun like a top. WTF?! :confused: :headpop:
 
Obviously you didn't pay enough royalties to the YouTube gods to make your video available. I hear Google is offering free legal help to youtube users. See what happens when your ego gets bigger than your head, I think you chose the right emoticon.
 
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