Author Topic: Blankenship Collection (Read 19177 times)

Mike Bohannon · « **on:** April 27, 2007, 03:42:48 PM »

Besides name brand collectibles I also accumulate some odd stuff. I got a new camera and was trying it out. Here is a couple of pics of my "Blankenship" Combo Cooker collection. I still haven't found out the foundry Mr. Blankenship was associated with but am still searching.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2007, 03:44:11 PM »

Some of the combinations that can be made. Mike

junkjunkie · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2007, 05:12:33 PM »

Nice lookin' collection, Mike! You did a great job with your new camera. Very interesting how you can interchange the pieces. Thanks for the pictures! :) Judy

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2007, 08:18:47 AM »

Hey Mike, it looks like you hit the ground runnin with your new camera, nice pictures. And nice pieces too. ;)

I looked in the foundry list and did not see the name Blankenship. Do you know any history on these pieces. At first blush it would appear that either they are very plentiful or you are hoarding them. The odds of finding pieces like this that go together are usually slim. A lid and a pan yes, but most pans without a lid can even be found a lid to fit. But these have four pieces or so it looks. So, can you tell us more about them?

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2007, 08:49:55 AM »

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Hey Mike, it looks like you hit the ground runnin with your new camera, nice pictures. And nice pieces too. ;)

I looked in the foundry list and did not see the name Blankenship. Do you know any history on these pieces. At first blush it would appear that either they are very plentiful or you are hoarding them. The odds of finding pieces like this that go together are usually slim. A lid and a pan yes, but most pans without a lid can even be found a lid to fit. But these have four pieces or so it looks. So, can you tell us more about them?

Perry, the top piece has the patent # on it and it is listed on our Patent List on the members side (Pat 2199687). It was patented in 1940 by Edward W. Blankenship of Chattanoga,TN in 1940. It unknown what foundry Mr. Blankenship was associated with. I'm still working on that. The patent is for the 3 piece set, lids were not included in the patent but all lids were purchased with either the bottom kettle or middle skillet. When I got the 1st lid I thought it was a marriage but it did fit prefectly. When I got the second lid identical to it made me believe it may have been and optional or extra that could be added to the set. As you can see in the pic one lid has a tab style handle and two have a loop handle. They are identical except for the handles. The first set came from one antique shop but the pieces were seperated. All the other have been found with pot or skillet with lid or seperate. I have never found a complete set, it seems nobody knows they go together. I have found the pieces in IL, TN, KY, and TX. 5 of the 13 pieces I have came from Southern IL. I'm probably the only on that collects them so not much competition. ;) Mike

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2007, 09:07:47 AM »

Thats interesting information Mike. I know firsthhand what you are talking about when you say people don't know the pieces go together, or how, or why. The Wapak Odorless skillet is one such piece. When I first saw it at the auction some were discussing if the pieces went together and if so what was it? And it was listed at the auctions brochure as not knowing exactly what it was. Thanks again.

Paul Beer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2007, 10:47:36 AM »

Nice post Mike. From reading the patent it would seem that lids were not contemplated as the main distinction was rotating the handles on the two pans to let out the steam. As you say the lids you have are each different, at least to the handles. If I had a vote I would say the lids are marriages. Have you tried any other skillet lids to see if you get a fit? As to the foundry I would first suspect Lodge due to Blankenships residence. Nice work on your part and an interesting subject. My congrats. Paul

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2007, 11:24:20 AM »

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Nice post Mike. From reading the patent it would seem that lids were not contemplated as the main distinction was rotating the handles on the two pans to let out the steam. As you say the lids you have are each different, at least to the handles. If I had a vote I would say the lids are marriages. Have you tried any other skillet lids to see if you get a fit? As to the foundry I would first suspect Lodge due to Blankenships residence. Nice work on your part and an interesting subject. My congrats. Paul

Paul, no I haven't tried any other lids. Two of the lids are identical even have two dimples in the exact same spot. The things that makes believe they go with the set. 1. the lids will rotate the same as the top skillet for venting steam2. the lip that locks the lids and top skillet to the other pans are same height and diameter. 3. casting finish is very similar 4. one lid was purchaed with the bottom pot in IL and one lid was purchased with a deep skillet in TN, these were the two with the loop handles- what are the chances of the exact same lid being married 200 miles apart? The one with the tab handle is the same in all diminisions as the loop handles- only the handles are different. Am I 100% sure? Nope! I'll take some more pics. Please add all thoughts and ideas! Mike

I have been told there were possibly as many as 10 foundries in the Chattanooga area in 1940 when this was patented. So may never know who the foundry was.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2007, 11:54:56 AM »

Top skillet and 'extra' lid both rotated on deep skillet for steam venting, one of the points made in the patent.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2007, 11:57:29 AM »

Inside rims/lips of top skillet/lid and 'extra' lid.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2007, 11:59:48 AM »

Comparison of finish of deep skillet and 'extra' lid. Not sure how it will show up in the pic but is very similar.

Jerry Cermack · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2007, 01:48:55 PM »

I've seen a world of these type skillets and double skillet sets in the South but have no idea about where they came from. I've never seen a name on any of them, but they all have the heavy rim design i call it on the top edge of the pot or skillet.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2007, 08:56:43 PM »

Jerry, I don't live too far from you. If you know the location any of these heavy rimmed pieces in your N. Miss area let me know, got a couple of others sets I'm trying to assemble. "Scrap Iron Mike" :)

Duke Gilleland · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2007, 04:14:33 AM »

Cleaned one of these recently for a man. Good to be able to identify it now. I have seen very few in our area...

Sandy Glenn · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2007, 07:04:11 AM »

Mike, That's really a nice looking collection... hope you bring them to the convention. I don't see any of those pieces at all in my area. BTW, your new camera's a keeper. What kind is it?

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #15 on:** April 29, 2007, 08:17:37 AM »

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Cleaned one of these recently for a man. Good to be able to identify it now. I have seen very few in our area...

Duke, to ID these- the top skillet/lid has the patent #on it in 2 places and NO 1- the middle/deep skillet just has NO 1, none of my bottom pots have any markings.

Sandy, the new camera is nothing really fancy, it's a Sony Cyber-shot. It is a big step up from my old one, it was a Sony Mavica- It is about the size of a laptop computer and you had to put a floppy disk in to store the pics. ;D I'm kinda slow to up grade as long as something is still working. My new laptop computer doesn't even have a floppy drive so decided it was time to upgrade the camera. Mike

Dwayne Henson · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2007, 06:56:50 PM »

Mike, there is a possibility that Edward Blankenship worked for a pattern maker or with one. Lodge is only 30 miles from Chattanoga and use to have their patterns made there, they still might. As others have said there was many foundries in that area heres a few I know of:
Lodge Manufacturing
Tennessee Stove Works (Closed in the 60's)
Dixie Foundry (Became Magic Chef)
Brown Stove
Phillips & Buttorf
WS Stove
Grady Jacobs Foundry
Samuals Stamping & Enamaling (Not sure if they had a foundry)

Hope this helps, have a phone number of another foundry man in Alabama and will give him a call, as well.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2007, 08:50:07 PM »

Thanks Dwayne for the info. I've sent several emails to libraries, historical groups, and others in the area-few responses and really no info. Have searched patents by name, date, and product- can't find anything else Mr. Blankenship patented. I'm now working on the name, 1940 is really not that long ago so maybe can hit a link. Mrs. B and I will be in the Chattanooga area in couple weeks so maybe have time for a little footwork in the area. Mike

Doug Lovvorn · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2014, 10:47:08 AM »

Trying to find out what I have here. It was my grandmothers and looks a lot like this. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Mike Bohannon · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2014, 10:41:18 AM »

Doug, you have a 'combination cooker' of some type. It's not a Blankenship set as the center piece has loop handles rather than the skillet type handle and the bottom piece/pot does not have the pour spouts. Are there any markings on any of the pieces? If not marked we will probably never know who make it. Mike

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Author Topic: Blankenship Collection (Read 19177 times)

junkjunkie