From Ellis Morehead

[Greg Stahl]

In reading the past issues of Kettles n'Cookware that I have just received, I noticed the article in Vol. 6, No. 3 about Prizer Ware, and the possibilities of some pieces being made by Wagner.  I remembered a similar piece in our storage.  In looking at our piece, I noticed some differences, mainly that our piece has the circled R below the name, and along the bottom, is S S 1090.  It brings to mind the recent dissusions since the WAGS convention about clarifying the circled R on a Griswold piece (I think).  As I recall the former Wagner employees indicated that it was indeed put on at the Wagner plant.

Anyone have some thoughts about the circled R on our piece, is it possibly a tie in to the Wagner plant?  Our piece is the  small square skillet, red and white, similar to the picture in Vol 6.

We would welcome any and all comments from the WAGS community.
Thanks to all, cheers, Ellis    

[Troy_Hockensmith]

The most infamous R is the one on the square egg skillet. It is suspected it might mean Randall or maybe registered. The R on the egg skillet is not circled. But one thing for sure is it was made in Sidney. I would venture a guess that yours was made there as well.

[Steve_Stephens]

How about this instead:

 Prizer Ware was made by Prizer-Painter Stove Works in Reading, PA.  It was a large, very old foundry with Orr, Painter & Co.  (O. P. & Co.) being the predesessor.  I think that, between those two names the company was the Reading Stove Works.

I would say the circled R means "registered" and the piece has no connection to Wagner but was made by Prizer themselves in Reading, PA.  Being no expert on this company I welcome other information such as when this ware was made, etc.

And, if anyone want to research this company or other Reading, PA companies, here is a good place to start:
http://www.berksweb.com/histsoc/
The Historical Society of Berks County, PA
I'll keep that one in mind in case I get back there again.

Added note-
Amazing what Google can tell us:
http://www.prizer-painter.com/%60history.htm
That's the history of the company from Prizer-Painter.  Looks like their Prizer Ware was made in the 50's.


Steve

[Greg Stahl]

That is one pretty stove!

[Steve_Stephens]

What stove Greg?  The little thumbnail in the Prizer-Painter website history?  That guy is c.1895 and is a beauty.

I made a mistake on the link in my post above for the Berks County Historical Society but have fixed it now.

Steve

[Ellis Morehead]

Thanks for the input.  Does anyone know if a four digit number is something that was included on other Prizer Ware?
Cheers, Ellis

[Cheryl Watson]

Well, almost 12 years later I have found a few answers to the mystery.  Watch the members side, Info on Foundries Board, as I have now found the link to Randall!  woo-hoo!