Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Food, Cooking, and Game Preparation Anyone tried this cast iron...

Wow that's a beauty! I have one that's almost like new but I paid $400 for it and that was a bargain... they are definitely the best for pizza...

For sure... I should have bought the bigger Griswold's years ago when they were cheaper... a person could make some serious money off some of it now

It looks like a nice skillet but I don't think anything can compare to the old Griswold and Wagner stuff. My .02

I can't imagine... but it has to be 100x better then the modern Lodge...

So tell me you guys who know your CI

What is it that is keeping an American company (Lodge?) from putting out a reasonably priced as in #12 for less than $100? Something polished smoother than the Lodge stuff of today?

Labor?: Seems to me that could be solved with mechanization/robotics?

Cost of material?: Mmm, methinks iron is not that expensive, the proper alloy might take some chemical engineer a few days to work up? After that, not much except tweaking for differences in what's coming from the supplier.

Overhead? Seems to me foundries are still operating and if they are on natural gas the price of that seems to be staying low for now. Environmental regs no doubt enter into the equation, but if the company is already casting other items, amortization brings the costs down for adding another product?

Marketing?: is the market too small? Seems to me the market is growing if I can't find a good skillet in the thrift stores anymore.

Collecting aside, can anyone really justify $200 for a piece of iron?

Anyone have any thoughts about the feasibility of having a foundry cast some "blanks" and starting a small shop to polish/finish/season them and could a guy get them done at a cost that would allow a decent markup and still have it "affordable" as I described above?

I like my cast iron, Lodge for now as I turned the 100 year old family skillet over to lil' sis, but I'm not interested in spending $200 for a new one or an old Griswold.

Do any of you know anyone in the foundry business?

Thanks for all your posts folks, I do enjoy looking at the old stuff.

Geno

I really have no answer for you there Geno... it's all about profit anymore so I'm sure the less they handle it the more profit they make...

I have absolutely no problem spending $200 on a quality skillet... whether it's new or 100+ years old... look at some of the higher end cookware and you can easily spend more then that...

I would suggest watching garage sales, second hand stores, flea markets etc... there are some bargains to be found... just make sure it sits flat and is not cracked... eBay of course has a ton but you have to know what you're buying and what it's worth...

Naw, I don't believe in $200 for any one piece of cookware, I'm not using it commercially. I love to cook too, but I have enough stuff other than some CI I'd like to have.

$200 works out to about a 1300 mile (one way) trip in my truck for a hunt, or a bunch of hunting/shooting/archery/fishing supplies.

I'll keep my eyes open I guess, maybe I'll get lucky at an estate sale or something.

Geno

I don't have a single piece of cast iron I couldn't get 2 or 3 times more for it right now than what I paid.

Yes, I buy the stuff to cook in, but that's not the only reason.

Everybody spends their own money the way they want. I know I do. And I don't have any problem with anybody else doing the same.

If you've only got $200 to spend and the choices are a nice hunting trip or a cast iron skillet, I'd more than likely pick the hunting trip, too.

Now, if I've got $400, or say even $600, well then it becomes a completely different equation.

local dirt,

are you telling us you're a candidate for the CIA?

Cast
Iron
Anonymous




Geno

THAT is awesome!

ironbender, that was a Craigslist'er. Buried in a list of probably a hundred items.

As I mentioned, the guy I bought it from was a collector, and a very eccentric one at that. He had all kinds of stuff in a "garage" behind his house that was at least 3-5 times bigger than his house. ex: A Chevy step van with a hydraulic lift out the side door for loading a wheelchair or cargo that looked like it'd never hit the street, new tires and all, several vintage Cadillacs that needed repair but not bad, a pristine antique roll top desk, and a pristine 60-70's era Limey motorcycle. Can't remember if it was a Triumph or BSA.

There was literally tons of other neat stuff you could probably spend 1/2 a day looking through. Fun guy to talk to, also. He could tell you the story behind all of it.

Never know what kind of deal may come along...
My late MIL(rip), bought the #14 Griswold I now have for $3 dollars at a church bazar sale. It's a large block logo with a heat ring. immaculate condition it is.
My brother just recently gave me a #20 large logo with heat ring and double D handles that he picked up for $50 at another church sale. While pretty grungy to begin with, it looks brand new after I gave it a lye bath and re-seasoned.

The most I can recall paying for a Griswold skillet was $175. for a #11 with large block logo and heat ring. It's my go to skillet.

If you want a sticker shock, check on the prices of a #2 Griswold with a large block and heat ring.
I have seen them list for almost $2000. crazy... and No, I don't have one in any of my sets!

#4's from certain years bring a premium price too.

tndrbstr, those are some nice pieces you have there! Never seen a #20 in the flesh. Congratulations on that #14, too.

Yeah, I've seen those #2's and #4's going for some crazy prices. I don't think they made any less of them. I think it's mostly a cool and cute factor on the #2's and the fact that almost nobody parts with them much.

Wouldn't mind picking up a #12 if I could find one.

My appetite doesn't call for a #2 much.

local_dirt, I have a #12 with a cast raised letter lid that goes with it.
The thing I've noticed towards the collectable cast iron skillet pricing seems to do with production and demand. The earlier skillets with the smoke ring were made before gas and electric dominated the scene. Families were more extended and larger in general so the market didn't call for the smaller pieces as much so less were made. Hence today, the smaller skillets with the smoke ring bring a premium price.

As time went on, gas and electric became more readily available and families dispersed more and got smaller in general. This is when the smoke ring went to the wayside and the need for the larger pieces was also in less demand so less were made. As a result, in general, the smooth bottom larger pieces tend to bring a higher price than the smooth bottom smaller ones.

I really like the Griswold oval roasters too, but man, folks are proud of them! especially the #3 and #5.
I picked up a #9 oval roaster and lid one time for $60. It didn't have the trivet with it tho. It will hold two turkeys! but it almost takes two people to handle it!

tndrbstr, I like those oval roasters, too. But, really would have more use for a dutch oven or chicken fryer. Finding them with matching lids in great shape is a challenge. I quit looking for a while. Probably start back up again after this thread has got the blood running again.

Hear ya on the trivets. Heck, I think they've turned into their own collector and reseller cottage industry themselves!

It's funny how different pieces come in and out of demand... #8 and #9 skillet griddles are always in demand... as well as #10, 11, and 12 skillets

If you want to see sticker shock price a #13 Griswold with lid.. ..if you can find one.

Makes sense. I've never come across one.

Guy I know collects old CI paid $2800 for one. He thought he got a good deal.

I've seen some super rare Griswold pieces go for $12,000...crazy