ID this #9 Skillet, please

[Douglas York]

Can anyone help ID this skillet?

[Douglas York]

Here's the back. No markings.  It's in the lye bath right now.  I'm going to season it and give it to my brother for Christmas,  but wanted to be able to tell him weekday foundry made it and an approximate date. Thanks!

[Stuart Lowery]

I'm not sure who made it, but it look like the kind I like to find. Maybe some markings will show up on the bottom after cleaning? keep us posted with new pics

[Douglas York]

I pulled it out of the lye bath and scrubbed it down. No markings on the back, unfortunately. It's back in the lye bath for another few days.

[Douglas York]

Here's the plan all cleaned and seasoned.

[Douglas York]

And the front....

[Douglas York]

There was a couple small rust spots that I cleaned up, but still wound up leaving these spots.  I seasoned this pan three times with crisco following the WAGS procedures, so hopefully these spots are covered up and will continue to be seasoned further with use and won't cause problems down the road for my brother.

[Douglas York]

And lastly, I also seasoned this bottom-gated griddle along with the above number 9.  A cracked formed on the side of the griddle during the seasoning process.  Bummer, but hopefully it'll still give me years of use.

[Dwayne Henson]

Sometimes those black spots you have are caused by impurities in the iron. They were unable to get the iron hot enough to drive them out. This doesn't happen with modern Lodges as their furnaces run hotter.

[Douglas York]

Interesting.  Other than those spots,  this it's the smoothest surface of any skillet I've ever owned.

[Jim Glatthaar]

Nice skillet and nice restoration job. 8-)

[Douglas York]

Thanks!

[Lee Bowen]

This is mere conjecture on my part, but does not the raised number, in this case the "9" indicate very early Lodge, or even Lodge's precursor, Blacklock, or was that the norm for that timeframe, (the early 1900's)?  Over the years that I have been into CI collecting and refurbishing, I have acquired several pieces with the raised size indicator, and no other markings.  I have a #8 pot with a raised number 8" and an external heat ring that the lid from my flat bottomed pot fits perfectly.  The lid is marked FBP D and has the tab on top with the hole to lift it with the cast iron hook that just happened to be in the FBP when I purchased the pot and lid.  Cheryl, am I way out in left field with this theory, or could there be some validity to it?

[Russell Ware]

Your lid marked FBP is more than likely a BSR Franklin Bean Pot lid (FBP). That type of lid is an early disamatic design.
Lodge and/or Blacklock were not the only foundries to use raised numbers on handles or letters on the bottom. There are a ton of photos posted here to attest to that. Until we find one with a label or some other definitive documentation, we wait patiently.
As far as the piece that cracked, what temperature are you seasoning with? I just had a piece crack on me upon seasoning. I don’t go higher than 450F with small, thin pieces of iron, and the older the iron, the more care needs to be taken, especially the thinly cast pieces.

[Lee Bowen]

Thanks for the info.  Like I said, it was just a theory, and I am glad to have it put to rest.

[Dwayne Henson]

I'm with Russell, so many foundries, so many used raised numbers.  For example there was at least 2 (two) other  foundries that made hollow ware in South Pittsburgh, TN along with Blacklock. Another thing is some foundries used pattern shops.

[Robert_Rodriguez]

Nice find and restoration.
I like it!!!
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