Is this paint? What to do?

[Doris Mertz]

I pulled an old griddle out of the lye tank for a peek. It has an area on the end of the handle and a few other small spots that look like paint. What do you think it is? How do I remove it?

[Valerie Johnson]

To my eye it looks as though someone painted over a worn plated skillet

[Russell Ware]

Somehow I'm not sure that an old #8 round griddle would have ever been plated. Lye should remove most types of paint. If it doesn't, perhaps your lye solution is old or the type of paint may require another type of chemical paint stripper.

[Valerie Johnson]

I seem to remember an article I read somewhere that indicated nickel plating on cast iron cook ware was being done as early as the 1890's
I am not saying this piece is nickel plated but it appears to have several finishes, raw iron, some type of silver/nickel plating or paint, dark flat black which could be paint and the dark glossy burnt on seasoning.