Cast Iron Pattern Numbers Explained
A Complete Reference for Collectors
Steve's Seasoned Classics | Library → Identification Guides | June 2026
The pattern number cast into the bottom of a vintage cast iron skillet is one of the most misunderstood marks in the collector record. Many collectors ignore it entirely. Others mistake it for a date or a size number. In fact the pattern number is one of the most precise identification tools available — when you know how to read it.
This guide presents the SSC methodology for reading and interpreting cast iron pattern numbers across all major American foundries. Understanding pattern numbers allows collectors to identify specific production variants, date pieces within a production run, and cross-reference physical artifacts against foundry records.
Section 1 — What Is A Pattern Number?
A pattern number is a foundry's internal mold design identifier. When a foundry designed a new skillet — a specific size, shape, and feature set — they assigned that design a unique number. Every piece cast from that mold design carried that number.
The pattern number is not:
• A date of manufacture
• A size number
• A serial number
• A quality grade
The pattern number is:
• A mold design identifier specific to one foundry
• A tool for identifying specific production variants within a size
• A cross-reference point for foundry records and trade catalogs
• Part of a dating system when read with logo and bottom configuration
SSC Note: Pattern numbers are foundry-specific. Wagner's 1058 and Griswold's 704 both identify No. 8 skillets — but from different foundries with no relationship between the numbers. Never cross-reference pattern numbers between foundries.
Section 2 — Where To Find The Pattern Number
Pattern numbers are cast into the iron during the casting process — they are not stamped or applied after the fact. Their location varies by foundry and era.
Wagner Ware
• Cast into the bottom of the skillet
• Located near the handle — below the center of the bottom
• Four digits followed by a letter suffix — example: 1058T
• Sometimes cast into the top of the handle on specialty pieces
Griswold
• Cast into the bottom of the skillet
• Located near the handle gate area
• Three or four digits — example: 704
• Letter suffix present on many pieces
Favorite Piqua Ware
• Cast into the bottom near the handle
• Numbering system less standardized than Wagner or Griswold
• May require cross-referencing with trade catalog records
Other Ohio Makers
• Location varies by foundry
• Some foundries used letters only — no numbers
• Some pieces carry no pattern mark
• SSC Ohio Foundry Directory documents pattern systems for confirmed Ohio makers
Section 3 — Wagner Pattern Numbers Complete Reference
Wagner Manufacturing Company used a highly systematic four-digit pattern numbering system. The SSC Museum Collection's Wagner documentation provides the most comprehensive pattern number reference in the SSC archive.
Wagner Skillet Pattern Numbers By Size
Size
Pattern Series
SSC Documented Examples
Notes
No. 0
1050 series
Toy/salesman sample
Rare — miniature production
No. 3
1053 series
1053J
SSC collection documented
No. 4
1054 series
1054 series
Standard production
No. 5
1055 series
1055H
Standard production
No. 6
1056 series
1056D, 1056V
Standard production
No. 7
1057 series
1057 series
Standard production
No. 8
1058 series
1058T
Most common Wagner size
No. 9
1059 series
1059D
Standard production
No. 10
1060 series
1060A, 1060S
SSC collection documented
No. 12
1062 series
1062 series
Large format
No. 13
1063 series
1063J
SSC No. 3 — note number mismatch
No. 14
1064 series
1064 series
Largest standard production
SSC Note: The 1063 pattern number appears on the SSC Museum Collection's No. 3 skillet. This is not an error — Wagner's pattern numbering did not follow a strict size-to-number sequence in all cases. Physical measurement and logo confirmation are required alongside pattern number identification.
Section 4 — The Letter Suffix Explained
The letter suffix following Wagner's four-digit pattern number is the single most misunderstood mark in Wagner collecting. It is not a date code. It is not a quality grade. It is a mold identifier.
What The Letter Means
When Wagner produced a new skillet pattern, they created physical sand molds to cast from. As production volume increased, additional molds were created to meet demand. Each new mold received the next letter of the alphabet.
Letter Suffix
Mold Number
Implication
A
1st mold
First mold — earliest production of this pattern
B
2nd mold
Second mold — production expanding
C
3rd mold
Third mold
D
4th mold
Fourth mold — established production run
H
8th mold
Eighth mold — significant production volume
J
10th mold
Tenth mold — well-established pattern
T
20th mold
Twentieth mold — very high production volume
V
22nd mold
Twenty-second mold — extended production run
What The Letter Does Not Mean
• The letter is NOT a date code
• Later letters do not mean later production dates — molds were added throughout the production run
• The letter does not indicate quality — all letters cast from the same pattern design
• Missing letter suffix does not indicate an earlier piece — some periods used numbers only
SSC Example: The SSC Museum Collection's Wagner No. 3 skillet carries pattern number 1063J — the tenth mold in the 1063 pattern series. This confirms significant production volume preceded this specific casting. The J suffix tells us this is not an early experimental piece but a mid-to-late production run casting.
Section 5 — Griswold Pattern Numbers
Griswold's pattern numbering system differs from Wagner's in structure but serves the same purpose — identifying the specific mold design used to cast each piece.
Griswold Skillet Pattern Numbers
Size
Pattern Number
Notes
No. 3
700
Standard small skillet
No. 5
724
Standard production
No. 6
699
Standard production
No. 7
701
Standard production
No. 8
704
Most common Griswold size — large block and small logo eras
No. 9
710
Standard production
No. 10
716
Large format
No. 12
719
Large format
No. 14
715
Largest standard production
Griswold Specialty Hollow Ware Pattern Numbers
Piece
Pattern Number
SSC Documentation
Erie Dutch Oven No. 8
1278
SSC collection documented
Bean Pot
912
SSC collection documented
Scotch Bowl No. 4
Variant series
SSC collection documented
Section 6 — Using Pattern Numbers For Dating
Pattern numbers alone cannot date a piece. But combined with logo and bottom configuration they narrow the production window significantly.
The SSC Dating Method — Pattern Numbers In Context
Step
Marker
What It Tells You
1
Logo style
Foundry and broad era — decade range
2
Bottom configuration
Heat ring or smooth — narrows to 10-15 year window
3
Pattern number
Confirms specific mold design — rules out variants
4
Letter suffix (Wagner)
Position in production run — early vs established
5
Cross-reference
Compare against SSC archive and Ohio Foundry Directory
SSC Method: Every piece in the SSC Museum Collection is dated using all five steps in sequence. No piece receives a production date from pattern number alone. The pattern number confirms or narrows — it does not determine.
Section 7 — Pattern Numbers and The Ohio Foundry Directory
The SSC Ohio Foundry Directory — scheduled for public launch in October 2026 — will include pattern number documentation for all confirmed Ohio makers in the SSC archive. This will be the first publicly available cross-reference of Ohio cast iron pattern numbers against physical artifacts and primary source documentation.
For obscure Ohio makers — the defunct foundries of Cincinnati, Dayton, and northwest Ohio that are the core focus of the SSC research mission — pattern numbers are often the only remaining link between a physical artifact and its maker. A piece with no readable maker mark may carry a pattern number that, cross-referenced against trade directories and city records, can be attributed to a specific foundry.
This is original research. No existing collector reference database documents this material. It is the work that SSC was built to do.
About The SSC Museum Collection
Steve's Seasoned Classics documents 130+ pieces from 50+ confirmed Ohio cast iron makers — the majority of them absent from standard collector references. The SSC research methodology pairs physical artifacts with original historical investigation, connecting marked pieces of Ohio cast iron to the patents, partnerships, city directories, and trade catalogs that tell the stories no one else is telling.
The Ohio Foundry Directory — SSC's comprehensive index of confirmed Ohio cast iron makers cross-referenced against physical artifacts, patent records, and archival sources — is scheduled for public launch in October 2026.
The iron endures. The markings tell the truth. The story deserves to be told.
Steve's Seasoned Classics — www.stevesseasonedclassics.com
Page: Cast Iron Pattern Numbers Explained — A Complete Reference for Collectors
Section: Library → Identification Guides
Curator: Steve Thaman, SSC
Research standard: Primary source cross-referenced
Last updated: June 2026