It was to be used with the Sportsman charcoal grill that was made by BS&R as a fryer. There were two sizes, a shallow fryer and a deep fryer. The one pictured will also fit the lid from the deep fryer. The lid could be used as a smooth or ribbed griddle.
An older version of the pan had square handles and the lid would not fit.
Lodge later made the same fryers but the handles were not rope like but flat on top.