Author Topic: Griswold Food Chopper Question  (Read 2816 times)

Offline Frank Dimos

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Griswold Food Chopper Question
« on: April 27, 2014, 12:17:03 PM »
I recently got a number 2 Griswold food chopper, just because. Anyway, went to the blue and and red books, and this one isn't shown. On one side of the bowl, it has a plain number "2" (not preceded by anything), with the double circle Griswold cross below it. Inside the cross, "GRISWOLD" in block letters. Handle number is "1742" and body number is "1712". Inside handle below the number is labeled "The G, M, CO. ERIE, PA.", and the handle has a patent number 98.313" , which my research shows was issued to Roger W. Griswold in January 1936. Now for the question---anyone know the time period this particular grinder was actually made. I've seen a few on the internet, they're not expensive, but they seem to be less common then some of the other Griswold grinders, so now I'm curious about how many and when they were actually made.

Thanks folks!

Offline Adam Hoagland

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Re: Griswold Food Chopper Question
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2014, 04:29:21 PM »
It's a more recent series of grinders than the series that appears in the Blue book.  The grinders that you're describing (which have p/ns of a form 17xx for the body, the ring, the scroll, and the crank) appear in a reprint of a Griswold catalogue from 1940-1942, whereas the grinders shown in the blue book are from the late twenties or thirties.  I don't have any idea how many were produced, but they're pretty common and you can usually find them in pretty good condition.  I collect Griswold-made grinders, and the 17xx series of four sizes is the only series that I've thus far been able to complete.  The patent is just a design patent, probably for the cosmetic appearance of the grinder rather than any functional parts.

Take this with a grain of salt; I'm not an antique dealer and I've not done extensive research into Griswold grinders.  Buuuut.... I think it works like this...

In order of oldest to newest:

Spout grinders (those with a spout under the body to collect juices) - early 1900s
No. 10, 11, 12, 13 choppers - about 1915/ WWI era
No. 110, 111, 112, 113 grinders - same as above
No. 1110, 1111, 1112, 1113 grinders - 1920's-1930s?
No. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 grinders (old style, almost identical to above) - 1930s
No. 1, 2, 3, 4 grinders (new style, like yours) - 1940s

There are some oddballs, too, like the Kwikut in at least one and possibly two sizes, and grinders that Griswold made with other company's names on them (Wizard and Lamark are two that I've found, but I think there are others out there.)

Offline Frank Dimos

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Re: Griswold Food Chopper Question
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2014, 03:55:48 PM »
Thanks so much! I'd almost given up hope that anyone would have an answer!