BSR Recast?

[Jonathan Sutton]

Some time ago I acquired what was sold to me as a BSR Red Mtn #7. It is marked 7G4 on the bottom down near the handle. I remarked to the seller I had never seen a Red Mtn with a number after the letter, but didn't think much more about it. I didn't bother to measure it either.

Fast forward to a week or so ago when I happened to get a BSR Red Mtn #7 in a set with some others (including a Red Mtn #10 I have been looking for). I happened to put them next to each other tonight while making dinner (using one of my Red Mtn #8's) and noticed that the 'BSR #7' marked 7G4 was markedly smaller than the BSR #7 I got in the set.

After measuring both of them tonight, the 'BSR' 7G4 is about 1/2" smaller in diameter than the #7 from the set, and the #7 from the set matches the published diameter for BSR #7 skillets. I suspect the 7G4 is a recast made from a real BSR #7. Other possible clues: the handle ridge seems more rounded than a real BSR and the heat ring is also less well-defined. (It's still a nice skillet, so I don't feel bad about having bought it.)

Pictures are attached. The real BSR #7 is on the left. The suspected recast is on the right.

[Jonathan Sutton]

More pictures with close-ups of the handles and the numbers.

What's the consensus? Locally made recast? It doesn't look Asian to me. It looks like a BSR skillet as far as general quality goes. It's just smaller.

[Cheryl Watson]

This post on the WAGS Facebook page may be helpful...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/56688022987/permalink/10154097888602988/

[Dwayne Henson]

Yup, that chart Cheryl put together after hours of work and research is the best one out there.

Cheryl after the convention we have to get some things moving on the BS&R Board. Because of Jim, yes it is Jim's fault, I've been doing nothing but reading about Blacklock and TCI&RR Co. I'm going to be presenting some of things Jim found.

[Cheryl Watson]

Exact measurements would be helpful, as data collection is ongoing...

[Cheryl Watson]

Jonathan, chart and How To Measure graphic can also be found here on our Forum.

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1470973093/8#8

 :)

[Jeff Friend]

Jonathan,

A size difference of one-half inch between two No. 7 skillets is much more than you would have  by using a skillet as a pattern.  You would be better off looking at the other attributes of the skillet, such as weight, quality of the finish, details around the handle, and the size and detail of the lettering, to come to a conclusion about the authenticity of your smaller No. 7.

Jeff

[Cheryl Watson]

The size changes in the number 7 (smaller to larger) over time are 7/16 inch.. (call it 1/2 inch).  I would say the 7G4 is solidly in the Red Mountain era,(older) and the 7G most likely a "Century" during the transition period from Red Mountain to Century time frames which began in 1954 thru 1966/67.

[Jonathan Sutton]

Measurements were requested. The smaller of the two (the 7G4) is about 9 3/8" inner diameter (i.e., not counting wall thickness) and about 9 5/8" outer diameter (so the wall thickness is ~1/8"). The larger of the two (the 7C) is 9 7/8" inner diameter and 10 1/8" outer diameter.

These measurements are consistent with with the sizes Cheryl has kindly posted for us (9 11/16" and 10 1/8" for Red Mtn and Century, respectively). The 7G4 is probably an older Red Mtn, and the 7C is a newer Red Mtn/Century transition.

(And I checked her chart before posting, and it didn't register with me that the size of the smaller one was OK. Grrr! If I had seen that, I wouldn't have posted. But then, I suppose you wouldn't have seen my fine old #7.)

[Jonathan Sutton]

This post on the WAGS Facebook page may be helpful...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/56688022987/permalink/10154097888602988/

I'm not on Facebook. Care to give me a summary?

[Dwayne Henson]

This is a great piece of work that Cheryl put together. Most will have no idea how much time it takes to research this type of thing. Lots of catalog time.