Identify skillet please

[JHuff]

I came across this skillet with an odd marking on the back. Can anyone identify this for me?

 

[Doug D.]

The sloppiness of the casting indicates likely a recast from some other maker's pan being used as a pattern, but by someone with enough skill to not just bottom gate it. Probably a small unknown foundry.

 

[JHuff]

Someone said that it may have been made in a prison.

 

[Doug D.]

That's sort of come to be the fallback answer for unmarked pieces of obvious 20th century origin that can't be readily tied to any other known maker. Apparently, the thinking is the raised marks are molder's marks, indicating an operation tracking individual molder production or paying piecework., and other than Lodge ca. 1910-early 1940s, a rarity in 20th century CI cookware production.

 

[JHuff]

Is a piece like this valuable?

 

[Doug D.]

As a user, yes, if not warped, cracked or pitted. As a collectible, not so much. No real way to obtain provenance.