Griswold & Cast Iron Association 2014 National ConventionWinchester VirginiaMay 8th to May 11thMore info http://www.gcica.org/forum/content.php/7-2014-national-convention**Fair warning: collectors can become addicted and accumulate vast amounts of cast iron cookware. This condition has been dubbed "castironitis" by enthusiasts. Some of these pieces are beautiful enough to be considered art. Check the handles on this double broiler:http://www.gcica.org/forum/showthread.php/369-Majestic-Double-Broiler

My son is always dragging old cast iron in for me to season again. Some of the stuff looks impossible, but it comes back to almost new looking and cooking. He ends up passing it out to family members as gifts, on special occasions, from both or us. Some pieces he has sold on EBay for quite a profit. terry r.

swtgran wrote:My son is always dragging old cast iron in for me to season again. Some of the stuff looks impossible, but it comes back to almost new looking and cooking. He ends up passing it out to family members as gifts, on special occasions, from both or us. Some pieces he has sold on EBay for quite a profit. terry r. Some of the more rare old pieces can command four figures. You're right, they do clean up nice. Check out some of the photos at that Griswold link.

Those are nice pieces. It's a shame I'm on the other side of the country at the moment or I'd go to that Griswold convention.

If one ever finds a Griswold or older Wagner Ware and it looks grubby, put it in your self-cleaning oven for 2 hours. let it cool, Wash well with steel wool and re-season with coconut oil at least 4 times and you are good to go,. The older cast iron is much lighter and smoother than what is sold in the stores today. Nothing like cooking outside at the campground on cast iron. Homefries are the best in cast iron!

I have an old 3 legged cauldron, in perfect condition. It belonged to my grandmother's family. Even the handle is unbent and in perfect condition. It is so old it is unmarked with a gate mark on the bottom. I am saving that one as an "investment piece". My son drug in a large old nickel plated Griswold skillet, he bought for a buck and turned into quite a bit. I have a double sized Wagner griddle to redo. I have to wait until the weather gets warmer because it won't fit in the oven and have to do it over a campfire. terry r.

For Collectors of Older Cast Iron Cookware | Good Sam Community

swtgran
Explorer
May 07, 2014
Don't be afraid of the rust. It is hiding a jewel. Some of them can be pretty gross.
SWMO
Explorer
May 07, 2014
In my experience Ray, avoid the flea markets until you get desperate. They know their worth. Don't overlook rural estate auctions though. Auctions and garage sales are the best bet.
RayUSMC
Explorer
May 07, 2014
mkane wrote:
My mother still has two Griswold frying pans left from the days when folks turned in their cast iron to support the war effort.
I'm thinking many couldn't afford to turn in the only pots and pans they had to cook in so they're still around.

Thanks everyone. Looks like we'll be going to more yard sales and flea markets.
mkane
Explorer
May 07, 2014
My mother still has two Griswold frying pans left from the days when folks turned in their cast iron to support the war effort. Wonder what those are worth?
magnusfide
Explorer II
May 06, 2014
What few pieces I didn't inherit from family I found at yard sales.
swtgran
Explorer
May 05, 2014
Flea markets, auctions, yard sales, estate sales.
RayUSMC
Explorer
May 05, 2014
Where would be good places to look for older cast iron?
SWMO
Explorer
May 03, 2014
Our neighbor across from us, when I was a kid, made soap twice a year, spring and fall, in a huge pot set on a wood fire. I'm going from memory so the description might be exaggerated. The pot, as I remember, was about 18-24" in diameter and height. I remember it as CI, but it could have been dirty copper probably.
swtgran
Explorer
May 03, 2014
I love my old cast iron. The newer stuff is heavier and a harder on my arthritis thumbs. Plus, I prefer the smoother surface.
magnusfide
Explorer II
May 03, 2014
swtgran wrote:
I have an old 3 legged cauldron, in perfect condition. It belonged to my grandmother's family. Even the handle is unbent and in perfect condition. It is so old it is unmarked with a gate mark on the bottom. I am saving that one as an "investment piece".

My son drug in a large old nickel plated Griswold skillet, he bought for a buck and turned into quite a bit.

I have a double sized Wagner griddle to redo. I have to wait until the weather gets warmer because it won't fit in the oven and have to do it over a campfire.
terry r.

Sounds like your son knows where to hunt up those old pieces. We have an old jambalaya cauldron of unknown provenance but its believed to have been made in a post Civil War foundry in Louisiana.

Herself likes to watch Pioneer Woman cooking show and Ree Drummond uses a lot of cast iron ware.

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