Unknown Foundry

[RJ Ruchti]

Stopped in a store yesterday that used to be an old Ben Franklin Department store. They had a display of a wide variety of cast iron cookware along with some small stuff like kettle, stove, ash tray, etc. It was rough cast iron, much rougher than the lodge is. Also had a shine to it but could not detect any oil on it. Items were priced about the normal range for the Lodge items. Only information I could find was on their printed info was Dutch Country General Store. Information pertained to use, cleaning and care. Their CS is an 844 number which is out of Country. Looks like Dutch Country General Store is home based at Bloomfield, Iowa and Hannibal, Mo. Care instructions are not in line with what we are used to. exp: To re-season pour 1/4 cup of oil in the pan, spread it around good and bake it upside down at 350° for 30 min. Can be hand washed in hot soapy water. etc. Anyone else run into this labeling of cast iron cookware? Definitely made overseas and far from collector items.

 

[Doug D.]

844 is a US toll free prefix. The Iowa flagship store is a much larger affair. Pretty ambitious for a two location outfit to have private labeled, albeit imported, CI ware.

 

[RJ Ruchti]

I misread that, Doug. Thanks for the correction. Have seen a lot of different General Stores around but this was a new one. Dutch Country is definitely in the Bloomfield and Hanabal areas.