Columbus Iron Works or Griswold?

[Ron_Wheeler]

I recently sent Perry a Sportsman Grill made by Columbus Iron Works, Columbus, GA. that has been discussed on the "Items Wanted Board" under the topic of Columbus Hollow Ware.  Perry was seeking a lid for the grill.  After sending the grill to Perry I found some more information on it that I find interesting and will post here for the cast iron foundry historians to sort out.

I recently acquired some older books on cast iron and found the following pictures.  The first pictures are from GRISWOLD CAST COLLECTIBLES, HISTORY & VALUES, by Bill & Denise Harned, 1986 edition, page 54.  These pictures show the grill on three legs and claim the grill is Griswold with a pattern number of 903.  The Blue Book confirms that #903 is a Habichi type Grill and that the number 903 was also used for No.00 Waffle Iron Base.

Here are pictures:



The third picture is from GRISWOLD CAST IRON, A Price Guide, by L&W Book sales,1993 edition.  This picture is in the Grills and Furnace section, page 89.



So now the question I have is who really made this grill, Griswold or Columbus Iron Works, and how did Pheonix Foundry end up with the patterns?  Who's on first?


Chris, I know Perry said he would send you some pictures so maybe some of the following will be duplicates.  These are my pictures of the grill before I sent it to Perry.












Excuse me Perry for jumping in here, I assume you sent Chris the pictures you have with the lid on the grill.  I think the more pictures the better.  All the pieces on Perry's grill have the Columbus Iron Works Co. part numbers.

Okay historians, what do ya think??

[Roger Barfield]

Ron, unfortunately those books have errors.  I don't think that these pieces have anything to do with Griswold.  It's like that Guardian trivet that's listed as a #13 skillet heat regulator.

[Chris Stairs]

Ron,
    I think that Gerald Melsheimer stated in a thread that the  Phenix Foundry might have made these items for C.I.W.
   Has anyone ever seen one of those Griswold hibachi grills with the Griswold pattern number?

  Thanks Ron, for the pictures. You are right, the more pics the better. I especially like the ones showing the legs in place.

Chris

[Chris Stairs]

Ron,
  Could this be the #903 grill from the Blue Book? There appears to be only one piece of cast iron, hence only one pattern number. None of the pictures show this number. I have asked each seller if there is any number on the cast part of the grill.

 The C.I.W. has separate numbers for each casting if I read your post right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320423522755&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350252435439&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Will Person]

I have one just like this but in aluminum.   So who made mine then???


Will 8-)

[C. Perry Rapier]

Ron, I sent Chris, the pictures that you sent to me, the pictures of the pan and lid in the ebay auction, which I bought, and then I also sent him the pictures that I took of the grill with the lid, and some others that I also took of the grill and its parts, so he is all pictured up for sure.  :)

[Chris Stairs]

I have one just like this but in aluminum.   So who made mine then???

Will 8-)

Will,
 Does your grill have the same type of part numbers as Perry's?

[Ron_Wheeler]

Ron,
  Could this be the #903 grill from the Blue Book? There appears to be only one piece of cast iron, hence only one pattern number. None of the pictures show this number. I have asked each seller if there is any number on the cast part of the grill.

 The C.I.W. has separate numbers for each casting if I read your post right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320423522755&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350252435439&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Chris, the L&W book, volume 2, 1994, page 75, shows the Tote Grill as part number 137, and was made by Randall Mfg. after 1957.  

Bill & Denise Harneds' book shows a #10 Barbeque Grill, pattern # 180 base, 821 Grill, 820 coal tray, marked with griswold emblem, circa 1922-1957.  This grill is round, 12 1/4" diameter at top.

These part numbers hold true in the Smith & Wafford books.  Therefore, I'll step out on a limb, and say that the 903 was probably a number assigned to the sportsman grill Habaichi by Griswold and that it was probably made by Columbus Iron Works, marked "G", and sold by Griswold.

And Roger, I hear what you're saying about errors in the books, I just find it puzzling that all three authors, L&W, Harned, and Smith & Wafford, come to the same conclusions, are they all wrong?  ??

[Will Person]

I have one just like this but in aluminum.   So who made mine then???

Will 8-)

Will,
 Does your grill have the same type of part numbers as Perry's?

No part numbers at all.


Will 8-)

[Chris Stairs]

No part numbers at all.
Will 8-)

 Will,
   That ain't much to go on. :o

Ron,
 I don't have the L&W book or the Harneds' book. I did see see the Sidney Ohio on the box in the auction, but then the Wagner made 310 camp oven is listed in the Griswold section of the Blue book. :-/

 Maybe you could email Dave Smith. Perhaps he can shed more light on your question.

Chris

[randrhardee]

I have the pan that has the fancy handles... Although in dire need of some TLC.

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