Info request on Griswold 110 Skillet Griddle.

[Don_Pape]

Hi all! I was wondering if any forum members might possibly enlighten me about a recent find, of which I know little. It is a Griswold 110 skillet griddle with no other bottom markings than the number "110", below which is a 3-1/4" diameter slant Griswold logo, and below that is the p/n "203". No other bottom markings. The upper part of the handle is marked "110". It is in really excellent condition, showing lots of circular grain, and faintly exhibiting the partial ghost of a heat-ring (as this is a smooth based pan); probably from a previous generation Griswold casting mold. I've never encountered one of these before, but liked it enough to fork over $35 to the vendor who displayed it. Any info regarding overall market collectability and value opinions would be greatly appreciated. Also any value info regarding an exc. condition Griswold slant/E #14 bailed griddle would be greatly appreciated as I'm contemplating a purchase of one of these from an acquaintance who recently acquired one. Its size is amazing, and I'd like to acquire it but know little of its current market value. My collecting trends have been more geared towards skillets and I really know little about griddles. Many thanks, in advance, to anyone providing any help regarding these 2 items. Best regards to all.

[Steve_Stephens]

Hi Don,
This is your first post but haven't you been on the WAGS site posting before?    $35 for the skillet griddle is not a good price for the seller.   You  made out very well on a rare piece.  The largest of the 7-10 skillet griddles, these later ones with few markings threw me at first when my Dad found a 108 for me.  Earlier skillet griddles by Griswold had all the markings and a heat rim to boot.  You may have a pan worth well over $100.  16 is the largest bailed griddle and 10 the smallest and maybe the hardest to find.  Somewhere in the $60-100 range if in great shape should be a close value.  The bailed griddles are not hot sellers but nice pieces to do sell but not always quickly.

Steve

[Don_Pape]

Hi Steve: Thank you for your very informative answer to my post. The vendor is at a weekey flea market and, like me, is more informed on Griswold skillets being more ignorant regarding other types of CI. He is high priced on his pans, but this skillet griddle slipped through the cracks and he sold it to me for a negotiated $35 (asking $50). Is value any greater or lesser for a late, less marked, smooth bottom piece like this 110? I'd assume an early produced example would command more collector interest, consequently being worth more. Thank you, also, for your input regarding the #14 bailed griddle. I'll temper my offer accordingly, based on your reply. To answer your question, I lost all access to the WAGS site about 3 weeks ago when my computer crashed and was subsequently replaced. The system wouldnt let me re-logon using my old e-mail address. When I received a new e-mail, due to changing internet service, I was able to register as a new visitor to the site. Hence the first post. Once again, thank you for your answer, and best regards to all on the forum.

[Scott Sanders]

Hi Don,
Just a little more info on the price of griddles.  All the ones I was trying to collect were the block logo.  I may be wrong, but I did not notice any slant logo bailed griddles in the books.  Maybe someone else knows where they are.  I got mine all off of ebay all in 2005.  The #10 p/n 616 went for $27.40 + $10.00 s/h/i, books for $125.00.  The #12 p/n 617 went for $20.50 + $8.75 s/h/i. books for $75.00.  The #14 p/n 618 went for $37.00 + $21.40 s/h/i, books for $75.00.  The #16 p/n 619 went for $80.99 + $12.00 s/h/i, books for $125.00.  Hope this helps a little bit in your negotiations.  Other types of Griswold bailed handle griddles show up on ebay, but I was just going after the Block logo.

Scott

[Steve_Stephens]

Don, since you have been replaced I'm glad to see you using your same old name.  I think the earlier skillet griddles may be worth a little more but there is, I think, only one version with slant/EPU made before the block TM and that smooth bottom slant one (110).  Before the skillet griddles were the N.E. Griddles which were slant/Eries.  I find the skillet griddles to be very useful pans and nicely cast and styled.  You did VERY well on the price.  Scott, there are both ERIE bailed griddles as well as slant/E and slant/EPU ones. Like you I was after the block TM ones but some of the earlier ones are also nice and should be worth close to the earlier ones.

Steve

[Don_Pape]

Scott: Thank you for your very informative feedback on the going price of bailed griddles. It would appear that they book for substantially more than their actual current collector value. This info is very helpful in guiding any negotiations on the aforementioned #14 bailed griddle.
Steve: Thank you for your further info on the skillet griddles. I wonder just why Griswold decided to meld the characteristics of a skillet and a griddle in one utensil. Anyway, as you point out, this 110 is very nicely cast and is an appealing piece of cast iron.
I also just recently acquired a very nice, smooth, thinly cast, #7 Griswold slant/E oval griddle with handle tabs at both ends. It appears that this is also a somewhat rarely encountered Griswold utensil as I've not noticed any appearing on ebay since I obtained it 3 weeks ago for the sum of $23. Any forum input on this griddle concerning current collector desirability and value would also be welcome.
Best regards to all.

[ysageev]

With a nice ad and a perfectly clean specimen, you should be able to get at least $125 on ebay, for the #14 griddle in similar condition, at least $70 on ebay.

For whatever reason griddles -- handled or bailed -- seem to be getting short shrift on ebay.  Not sure why they are not as popular as other items, but that seems to be the case as far as I've observed.    

[Scott Sanders]

Don,

Here is a #14 bailed griddle you might want to watch....it still has a low bid on it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Griswold-14-Griddle-14-inch-618-Erie-PA-w-Bail-Handle_W0QQitemZ6282856601QQcategoryZ976QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just a note on the griddles that I got......I was quite pleased with the price on the #10.  I'm not sure how it got past the eagle eyes of WAGS, but I'm glad it did.  Maybe everyone has one already.  I wasn't going to go too much higher on the #16, so was glad I got it for the price I did.  You don't see the #10 and #16 on ebay too often, but the #12 and #14 show up in one form or another fairly regularly.  I still don't understand the wide range of shipping prices though....I think some of these may have been shipped via UPS instead of USPS.  Happy hunting.

Scott

[Don_Pape]

Yair: Many thanks for your informative reply. Since your user name is easily recognized, I value your opinion as you obviously have extensive experience dealing on ebay. Nice clear pictures with concise and informative discriptions always go a long way to maximize final values. Even common skillets like #8 Griswolds with heat rings often do very well utilizing this strategy. Were you refering to the #7 oval griddle value @ $125, or the #110 skillet griddle? Like you, I dont understand why griddles are often overlooked on ebay. Possibly they dont make for as impressive looking a complete set as do skillets.
Scott: Like your #10 bailed griddle, I recently purchased a #10 block/EPU handled griddle, p/n 610 for $20 at a local antique coop. It needed a good lye bath cleaning and, after heat seasoning, came out very well. I dont know the book value (since I dont have a book), but these #10's are just not seen that often, and I didnt want to pass it up.  I doubt that I'll go for a complete set but I'm always prepared to acquire a bargain. After realizing that book values arent necessasarily accurate barometers, I think the seller of the #14 bailed slant/E will want too much and I may have to pass on this one. Anyway, thank you for your very enlightening posts.  Best regards to all and good hunting!

[C. Perry Rapier]

Scott, the wide range of shipping prices you see is because sellers are charging for the shipping. The money you pay for shipping is not all for the shipper. Those calculators you see on auctions, the seller can build into it what he wants. I think its a ripoff myself. When you buy a steak the butcher don't charge you extra for killing it, or wrapping it, or putting it in a bag.

These sellers are getting nuts. Thats why you see so much junk on ebay that sells for such a small price. They are making money on the shipping. There is a seller right now on ebay, that has beautiful cast iron, with buy it now at book prices, and shipping charges way too high, you can dam near get a bus ticket and go get the thing yourself for what these sellers are charging.

Case in point, I bought a skillet and the seller wanted 35.00 for shipping it 35 miles. I told him I'd come and get it, and I did.

[Steve_Stephens]

I think the seller of the #14 bailed slant/E will want too much and I may have to pass on this one.

Don, the seller only wants $9.99 even if he is hoping for more.  You can't lose by placing a snipe bid.  You win the item for your price or you save the same amount.  It's a win.

Do you see the sentence right under your pretty colored name on your posts?  Have you ever considered spending the $25 or so to join WAGS?  There is more to this forum and the club than what you can see and read on the non-member's side.  Plus, why not buy the blue and, maybe, the red books.  If you are really interested in the hobby either as a collector or dealer or both, you will get the most value for your time if you get those books and join WAGS.  You say you are always prepared to acquire a bargain and I think that a WAGS membership and the books are both bargains.  Give it (them) a try.

Steve

[Scott Sanders]

Don
I agree with Steve.  There are many benefits to becoming a WAGS member.  You can spend a month of Sundays reading all the information on the "Dark Side".  And you can't get a much better bargin than the $30.00 price for new membership ($25.00 to renew each year).  Think on it and come join us.  Click on the "Join WAGS" link at the top of the page.

Scott

[Steve_Stephens]

I agree with Scott.....
I really do mean my comments to Don about becoming a member to be directed to ALL visitors on the site if you have been around for awhile.  Obviously that means you have an interest and/or a need for more information so what better way than becoming part of the information handing out organization.  You participate and get back in exchange.  You don't even really have to participate but it can be a lot of fun while being educational even for an old timer like I.

Steve

[Don_Pape]

Steve: I was referring to my own personal contact, as per the initial post of this thread, regarding acquisition of the Griswold #14 bailed griddle, not the ebay seller referred to by Scott. It appears that market value of bailed griddles are substantially lower than either commonly percieved or book values. I totally agree with your gracious invitation and intend to join WAGS a.s.a.p. since the information I've gleaned from this site is priceless. Are multiple sponsors needed, as per the application? If so, how are these contacts generated? A check will be in the mail as soon as these details are ironed out! Best regards to all.

[Steve_Stephens]

Don, You can put my name down as sponsor but I don't think one is really needed and I never understood why a sponser blank was on the app.  Might just be for who referred you.   I think you will find your membership very worthwhile.  
Steve

[Don_Pape]

Steve: Thank you for your offer to use you as a sponsor. I will have the check in the mail tomorrow. Looking forward to membership in this fine organization. As always, best regards.