Three dots

[Daniel McDowell]

I asked and recived some good info on my dot pot (unmarked Wagner) Yesterday while doing Christmas shopping in a second hand store I found a #3 skillet that has 3 dots under the handle, it is a smooth bottom with pour spouts on each side, it also hammered, the #3 on the top of the handle and the 3 Dots under the handle are the only markings on the thing, anybody got any Ideas, I would send a Pic, but here at work we are sending some Lineman and crews to Tulsa to work the Ice Storm, we have had request for help from Oklahoma City and southern Mo. so I don't know when I will get back home to take a pic.

[Troy_Hockensmith]

Daniel,
 I don't think we've ever figured out who the three dot skillets are. I got a small one in the garage and my impression is it had some age and was a pretty nice casting. The Dimples that make up the hammering are larger than most if I recall right. As far as who made it, I've no clue.

[Daniel McDowell]

Yes, the hammering is not like and thing I have, I looked it over for a little while before I really saw the dimples and they are much larger and very random, the pan is in good shape, feels good when you hold it, was worth the $2.99 I paid for it.

[Ed Allspaugh]

Does the hammering look like the hammering on this cover? I see these around but have know idea who makes them. Some I see look like they just came off the boat.  

[Daniel McDowell]

Yes, it's like that and the pan, inside and bottom, are as slick as glass the iron is kinda thin and has the feel of quality.

[Ed Allspaugh]

Yes, it's like that and the pan, inside and bottom, are as slick as glass the iron is kinda thin and has the feel of quality.

  Hmm, all of them I have had are heavy, thick walled, very awkward short handles. Had Numbers 3 5 8 regular skillets,sold them. Kept the # 8 deep skillet thats what the lid goes to. As I said no idea on who makes/made them or years of production. You may have an early variation. Hard to tell in this hobby, less you find some catalogs or hard facts of some sort.

[Mike Bohannon]

Ed, I've got the 3, 5, and 8 also.  Mine are like you stated smooth casting but heavy and kind of clunky with short handles.  I've seen the deep skillet you have and #8 DO that look like they are by the same maker but don't have either one. I've never been able to find any info on the maker either.  Here is a pic of my #3.  Mike

[Ed Allspaugh]

Found the 3 I have. It only has 2 dots.

[Ed Allspaugh]

top of handle. I had the D/O also, may still have in the pile in the garage.

[Daniel McDowell]

Thats just like the one I bought, It's weird that the maker is not know to anyone. I'm going to check my pile of stuff, I think I may have a #5 its is one of the few hammered that I have but I don't rember the dots.

[Mike Bohannon]

I know I ain't got a dog in this fight, but it all looks like Lodge to me, especially the number 8 hammered lid Ed posted.

With all due respect Perry these ain't Lodge.  I've got several Lodge hammered pieces and there is no comparison to the quality of the castings.   I have no idea as to the maker/foundry of these but sure don't believe they are  Lodge.  I can post more pics of both if anyone wants to compare.  Mike

[Ed Allspaugh]

I know I ain't got a dog in this fight, but it all looks like Lodge to me, especially the number 8 hammered lid Ed posted.

With all due respect Perry these ain't Lodge.

 I concur with Mike. To me these are the "Ugly Betty's" of the hammered patterns. The quality just is not there. Some I wonder if they are not imports if not all.

[Mike Bohannon]

I know I ain't got a dog in this fight, but it all looks like Lodge to me, especially the number 8 hammered lid Ed posted.

With all due respect Perry these ain't Lodge.

 I concur with Mike. To me these are the "Ugly Betty's" of the hammered patterns. The quality just is not there. Some I wonder if they are not imports if not all.

Ed, 'Ugly Betty' is a nice term.  I refer to them as my 'Clunker Set'. :)  I'm still trying to add to add the Deep Skillet and DO at cheap price. Ebay shipping on one item is usually more than I think the whole set is worth.  Why I would want them? I have no idea. ;D  Scrap Iron Mike

[Ed Allspaugh]

The deep skillet weighs 11lbs-4oz.

 Yes Perry these lack the quality of early Lodge by far.

[Will Person]

Are they more heavy than a new Lodge.   I know they are a brick.



Will 8-)

[maloney108]

For comparison, my 4 dot #5 UB (Ugly Betty - I like it) weighs in at 3 lbs, 11.5 oz.  while my #5 Slant Griz w. heat ring is 2 lbs, 3.5 oz.

If you've looked at more than three CI pans in your life, you know these UB's lack every aspect of what would be considered "quality", so, Daniel, if yours feels good and looks good, it's a different animal for sure.  Show us some pics when you get a chance.

By the way, I keep my #5 UB as a lesson - Early in the progress of this disease, I picked this one up at a yard sale for $2 - I had tried my luck at cleaning up pans in lye and was sure all the ripples, bumps and nicks, etc were just built up gunk.  Well, I left it in the lye for about a week and then ran it throught the self cleaning cycle in the oven and it certainly was bare metal, but all the ripples, bumps and nicks were still there.  That was a valuable lesson (two bucks wasn't a bad price), so now every pan I think has crud gets tested with a pen knife before I consider taking it home.  

[Daniel McDowell]

Thanks, Scott I have done this type of work for 40 yrs come Feb, was a lineman first 18 went into training and supervision last 22, We hav lost three thieves over or system in the last year due to electrical contact. Home now and its late but couldn"t sleep without addressing the 3 dot pot. After reading some of the post I felt like a guy at his Sr. Prom and his date was a 10th grader with the best personality in the whole school. So Jim I went one more than your three CI inspection I took Four pans . The #3, 3 dot, Wagner Pie logo #3, Lodge #3 marked SK  D on bottom , and Lodge #3 Marked with 2 dots on bottom, handle side. Dot pots Handle 4" ,1/8 inch longer than Pie, 1/4 in longer than both Lodges, Weight 1lb. 4 oz. 4oz. heaver than the pie, 4oz lighter than the 2 dot Lodge, and 8oz lighter than the SK lodge, Thickness of the sides 3/16", 1/16 thicker than the pie pan, 1/16 thinner than the lodge 2 dot, the sk had a 1/4 lip and the wall smeed to be like the 2 dot,(couldn't find my mic to be sure) now I don't know about your #5, never seen one. I pick up CI because I love the stuff, in my 30 some odd years of gathering it up I have never sold a piece, gave, some away to friends. Never have I scratched the bottom of another mans pot till I bought it, if it looks good and feels good I take it, The three dot feels that way to me. I have attatched some pic not to good couldn't get the light right. try some other time. Left to right  in pic. 3dot pan, Wagner, Lodge Marked  SK, and Lodge marked with 2 dots.

[Daniel McDowell]

Wagner and 3 Dot

[Daniel McDowell]

This may be why It called Ugly

[maloney108]

Daniel,

That's a nice comparison of several pans!

I've been harsh on MY UB pan, not on yours, so I apologise if you've taken offense - none intended.  In fact, you're pan looks pretty good and I believe you if you say it feels good.  On the other hand,  mine is truly BAD.  It has ripples in the casting, chunks missing from the pattern, it's unbalanced, rough and heavy - nothing good can be said about it.  

Your pan is probably an original item and much better made, but I think mine is a really bad copy.  For some reason, SE Pennsylvania seems to have a lot of these Ugly Bettys.  I haven't seen a single hammered 'dot' pan that's been decently cast.  Interestingly, I've only seen two and four dot pans.