Advice on an Erie Dutch Oven

[Andy Robillard]

Yesterday I saw an Erie dutch oven #838 with the low profile lid for $78 at a local antique mall.  The overall condition was good and it definitely looked like it was authentic.  What threw me was that the bottom was clearly marked Erie (without any Griswold markings) but there wasn't a smoke ring.  I guess that I always figured that since Erie preceeded Griswold that all of their products would have smoke rings and that something was wrong with this one since it didn't have any smoke rings.  I looked up Erie DOs on ebay when I got home and found several like the one I found that didn't have smoke rings and that were priced a whole lot more (around $300).

So, after laying all that groundwork...  ;)

Were Erie DOs made w/o smoke rings and what kind of price would make a #8 Erie DO like that one a good deal?

[Will Person]

The ones for $300,  were they sold or have bids?   People that see those prices have to realize that is NOT the price they are selling for.

I don't think there was ever a heat ring on any dutch ovens.   The DO sounds like a match.   With today's higher prices on all cast iron,  $78 was not bad.   Just looking at completed auctions.   They all go up to about $200 for a #8   I would grab it.

Will 8-)

[Mark Ritter]

 I agree with what Will said. I wouldn't have a problem with that price as long as it didn't have a hair line crack or condition problems.

[Andy Robillard]

Thanks, Will & Mark.  Hopefully I can persuade them to knock a little off the top.