Canadian cast anyone?

[Robert Hynes]

Pretty sure it's James Smart, they are old and unmarked for the most. There is an X916 on the lid and bottom of one.

Lid, raised 10.


Body pics

[Mike Goulet]

I'm going to  guess that because of the " X "  in the number  it could belong to  McClary   as most skillets have X915  or other # etc ...

[Robert Hynes]

That's what I thought first too, have a spider with an X mark. Other postings were leading me in different directions as Smart DO's commonly used the round bail attachments.

I'm going to head to the library and see if there's any info on Canadian foundries and their wares.


Thanks.

[Chris Stairs]

I have some with the McClary-type part #, starting always with an "X". I think it would be safe to assume these ones were made by McClary.

  The ones with no marks could be any number of different foundries in Canada. I like to call this kind of bail attachment, "frankenstein neck-bolt style", as that is what they remind me of. Have seen these attachments on a marked item from L'islet, Quebec, but others probably used them as well. I have never seen one like this with a Smart Brockville mark. The ovens in any old Smart catalogs I have seen had a different style of attachment.

Here are the three that I have. a 9, 10 and a 12. I also have a 15", looking for a lid for that one.

Chris

[Robert Hynes]

Seen a Smart's at a local antique mall, didn't buy it - also has the full GSW logo. It has the round bail attachments - although they are a bit smaller. It looks very similar to my findlay DO. Seems at least McClary, Smart, and Findlay used the same style handles - look to be in 2 peices, welded then welded to the pot lid.



There is a number 14, couldn't find marks on it. Is that the 15"?

[Chris Stairs]

The Smart dutch oven that you show has a different attachment. There are two extra bits on either side of the round knob part. This makes it lock into the straight up position, and by pushing straight down, it disengages, allowing the bail to fold down. The loops on the ends of the wire bail are elongated to fit into the slot formed by the bail attachments.
  As you say, GSW also made them just like this, along with Smart, Findlay and Eaton's, sometimes marked "Eatonia".
Most of the time they will have a plated lid, like the one you show, except for the Findlay. I have never seen a Findlay with a plated lid.

  I don't have a 14 in this style, but I have seen them, and also 11 and 13. The number on the lid works out to be the diameter of the lid in most cases.

Chris

[Mike Goulet]

Hey Chris,

I just cleaned up a #9 Smart's DO with same lid,   the question is , how do you keep the top looking shiny without seasoning it ? 

thanks
Mike

[Chris Stairs]

  I just use mineral oil to prevent it from rusting in storage. Scrubbed off before use, and a spray of Pam while cooking. A good scrubbing after use, dry in the oven, then a wipe down with the mineral oil while still warm.
 You could just use the Pam, but it will go rancid if not heated to season. Any cooking oil will go rancid

  I don't have a Smart with a plated lid, but one of my McClary Dutch ovens has one.

[Mike Turcotte]

I have some with the McClary-type part #, starting always with an "X". I think it would be safe to assume these ones were made by McClary.

  The ones with no marks could be any number of different foundries in Canada. I like to call this kind of bail attachment, "frankenstein neck-bolt style", as that is what they remind me of. Have seen these attachments on a marked item from L'islet, Quebec, but others probably used them as well. I have never seen one like this with a Smart Brockville mark. The ovens in any old Smart catalogs I have seen had a different style of attachment.

Here are the three that I have. a 9, 10 and a 12. I also have a 15", looking for a lid for that one.

Chris

Chris, what brand (and timeframe, if known) are these ovens? And do you have any pics handy of the bottoms? I have been looking for something like this since I started collecting, but all I have found in my area are the more modern fully marked Canadian pieces. Would love to stumble upon some of these in the wild!

[Robert Hynes]

Not sure what you're looking to spend but it's not often they come up. I found these at a local antique shop.

There's an X marked 11 on kijiji in Ottawa.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-art-collectibles/ottawa/antique-mcclary-11-inch-cast-iron-pot-dutch-oven/1026597491?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Chris Stairs]

Mike,

  The only ones that I have identified are the ones with the McClary x*** marking. The rest have no markings beside a size number, indicating the diameter in inches. Some folks like to guess at these things, but I don't believe the unmarked ones will ever be positively identified.

  None of them have heat rings or anything at all on the bottom for features. Some are bottom gated, but ground smooth so that they sit flat. I have a couple that actually work on my glass top stove. Both of the ones that have McClary markings are side gated.

As far as dating them, this style is shown in a couple of old Canadian catalogs from the late 1800's, but I don't know when they may have first been made, or when they were phased out of production.

 If you ever find a 15 " lid for one, grab it for me. I have been looking for a couple of years now...

[Robert Hynes]

That is a nice set Chris... I wondered if McClary had a set out with no X markings. Of the 2 I have, 1 is X marked, the other is not.

Curiosity sakes, what price tag would you put on your DO's if you were to sell them?

[Chris Stairs]

Robert,
  I would not call this a set, it is more of a pile. ;D

McClary made marked waffle irons, with their name right on them, and they made unmarked waffle irons. Both the marked and unmarked ones had the pattern numbers on them. McClary must have used these numbers for inventory and storage of their patterns, as well as making it easier for customers to place orders, and replacement parts.

  As far as dutch ovens, I have some without pattern numbers, and they were almost certainly made by someone else. The patterns used by McClary to make their items apparently had numbers on them.

  I mainly collect early unmarked skillets and very few of them have known makers. Much of my collection is loved for what they are, not who made them.

  I have never sold any of my ovens.
 
 Chris

[Robert Hynes]

Pile, true enough, that's what i have lol.

I think you're right on inventory parts, picked up a dutch oven this weekend that's clearly marked. X601 on the bottom, X602 on the lid and the trivet is marked X588. Won't be parting with this one. Haven't used it yet, needs to be seasoned.

[Mike Turcotte]

Wow that's a nice looking "pile", Chris! Thanks for showing that, it gives me a much better idea on what to look for. I may have passed up on similar items when I first started collecting because I didn't know better, but I can't remember now for sure. and Robert, that's a nice oven you got there! I recently picked up the #9 variant, complete with trivet also. I am guessing these were late model McClary pieces, made up close to the point when GSW took over the foundry, or did GSW keep making McClary marked ovens after the takeover? Might be a question that's hard to put an answer to

[Robert Hynes]

Wow that's a nice looking "pile", Chris! Thanks for showing that, it gives me a much better idea on what to look for. I may have passed up on similar items when I first started collecting because I didn't know better, but I can't remember now for sure. and Robert, that's a nice oven you got there! I recently picked up the #9 variant, complete with trivet also. I am guessing these were late model McClary pieces, made up close to the point when GSW took over the foundry, or did GSW keep making McClary marked ovens after the takeover? Might be a question that's hard to put an answer to

In my travels, i'm seeing other old cast "McClary" items - sad irons, stove vents and such. Then there's "McClary's" that are definitely more recent. Trying to find out if the 's was added after GSW.

Here's a McClary's bailed griddle, looks more recent but it is X marked.

[Mike Goulet]

Here's a link to a post I made on my different McClary  #9 skillets

I'm wondering if the ( 'S) was added to the McClary line after the GSW merger

All my #8  are McClary's,  the #9  are McClary


http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1401584782

[Robert Hynes]

Here's a link to a post I made on my different McClary  #9 skillets

I'm wondering if the ( 'S) was added to the McClary line after the GSW merger

All my #8  are McClary's,  the #9  are McClary


http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1401584782

That's interesting. Do you have pics of the full bottom of number 8's? I'll have to look at my spider, see if it matches yours.

I have a Findlay 10 dutch, then found a Smart's dutch that's near identical. Same lid, same handle, same drip pattern under the lid. Different companies, same products.

[Mike Goulet]

Not sure if this photo is clear enough,  cropped it from an older post, if  not i'll take fresh photos,  all 3 of my #8  are the same

[Robert Hynes]

I have the very same pan Mike, but the bottom of mine is pitted pretty good. Didn't see the 's in McClary on mine but i can see it's there now.