Author Topic: Help ID'ing antique griddle  (Read 1843 times)

Offline Jonathan Sutton

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Help ID'ing antique griddle
« on: June 25, 2016, 02:37:03 PM »
I would like some information about a griddle/skillet that belonged to my second great-grandmother on my mom's side. I'd like to find out who made it if I can. I don't have pictures (the griddle is owned by a relative and she hasn't provided any pictures). This is what she knows about it, however.

Antique deep  cast iron griddle
(my) grandmother has purchase date of 1870 (2nd GGma married in 1866)
Civil war vintage
Belonged to <2nd GGma> [1843-1938]
Size:  1 1/2" deep; 10 1/2" wide; 21 3/4" long [oval with 2 handles] [straight sides]; oval means oval (two semicircles attached to a rectangle), not elliptical
Light weight
Might be steel

My mom's family were all from mid-Michigan since before Michigan gained statehood. In all likelihood, the griddle was manufactured somewhere close by or at least in the midwest.

Any ideas?
« Last Edit: June 25, 2016, 02:51:45 PM by y0rlik »

Offline Russell Ware

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Re: Help ID'ing antique griddle
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2016, 09:47:48 AM »
You know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words. It really applies here. I can't even venture a guess without at least one photo.
We really like photos here too.

Offline Jonathan Sutton

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Re: Help ID'ing antique griddle
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2016, 01:45:17 PM »
I finally got some pictures. Most likely we'll never know who made it, but here they are anyway.

Offline Dwayne Henson

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Re: Help ID'ing antique griddle
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2016, 02:13:36 PM »
The older catalogs typically call those iron heaters. One would remove two stove eyes and the hour glass piece in between and place that pan in the elongated hole. Then the sad irons would be placed on/in it to heat. Man people use these as griddles now, but from what I've seen is the old griddles have a pour spout on them, to pour out any grease, where yours does not, making me want to call it a sad iron heater pan. Many foundries  made those and most are unmarked. Maybe some one else can help with the ID.
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Offline JR Doffin

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Re: Help ID'ing antique griddle
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2016, 10:06:49 PM »
Hey Jonathan, Those pans are made of cast iron, not steel. Very well made and thin casting. Really like the handle style. I agree they may have been from Michigan. I see them around here from time to time. I am in far north Indiana.  I have one like it and also a smaller one that is 19 inches long.  There may be other sizes.  With family history on it , that's a real keeper.