I understand that over time Wagner stole ideas, robbed patterns, made copies and compared to Griswold had inferior machining, quality control and cast iron in an effort to put out a cheaper product. So why the infatuation with Wagner?
Hilditch
Is there an infatuation with Wagner? I didn't know there was or is.
The big players in the cast iron business were not really all that numerous and they all knew each other. Wagner, Griswold, Wapak, CHF/Favorite, Martin, Lodge, Vollrath...............they all "stole" ideas from one another, made copies, bought patterns from others, etc. Take a look at the early shallow skillets. No one has been able to tell me yet who made the first one, but they all look like they came from the same mold. As far as machining goes I have yet to find any Wagner that was less finely machined/milled/ground (use whatever term floats your boat) than any Griswold. Early Lodge, Sydney Hollowware, BSR, and even some bottom gated stuff had absolutely beautiful grinding. Without any objective, quantifiable evidence it can only be conjecture based on personal experience as to whether the cast iron produced by Wagner was somehow inferior to others. I'm quite happy with all of the cast iron I have whether it was made by Wagner, Griswold, Lodge, or BSR, but the newest stuff I have was made in the early 70s when even Lodge was still making good stuff. (I wouldn't give ya 2 cents for
anything Lodge makes today although I read a rumor somewhere the other day that they may start grinding some of their stuff again so that could change my opinion.)
This is not to say that I think Wagner was better than Griswold, but I don't believe the quality was any less. I wouldn't trade my #10 Wagner for a second series #10 Erie, but I'd sure like to have one! Conversely, I wouldn't trade my Griswold #8 Chicken Pan with button logo lid for a Wagner #8 Deep Skillet with ringed cover. As long as it's quality, and I believe there is a lot of quality CI out there regardless of maker, I'd be happy with it and especially so if it's old quality.