Favorite Piqua Ware No. 8A Skillet — Smiley / Miami Dual Logo
SSC MUSEUM COLLECTION
Catalog No. SSC-FPW-SKL-08-SM-001
Smiley Logo + Miami Diamond | No. 8A Size | Piqua, Ohio
Circa 1905–1930 • Favorite Stove & Range Co.
Bottom view showing the dual-logo configuration: “FAVORITE / PIQUA / WARE” in the Smiley cartouche at top, “MIAMI” in the diamond mark at center, and the size designation “8A” near the handle junction. The heat ring is clearly visible at the base perimeter.
The No. 8 is where every Favorite Piqua Ware collection begins. It is the workhorse size—the pan that was produced in the greatest volume, that turned up in more Ohio kitchens than any other size in the line, and that survives in greater numbers today than any other FPW configuration. If you have one Favorite Piqua Ware skillet, it is almost certainly a No. 8. The No. 8 is the baseline against which every other size in the line is measured, and it is the size that established the Favorite Piqua Ware brand identity in the early 20th-century Ohio market.
This No. 8A carries that standard significance and adds to it: the dual-logo configuration that places the Smiley “FAVORITE PIQUA WARE” cartouche above the Miami diamond on a single base, from the same foundry, on the same pour. It is the companion piece to the SSC No. 7 documented in the adjacent catalog entry—both acquired from the same seller in the same lot, both carrying the same dual-logo marking, and now documented as a provenance-linked pair that provides comparative research value neither piece could offer alone. What the No. 7 establishes about the dual-logo configuration in a less common size, this No. 8A confirms in the workhorse size: the dual marking was not a single-size anomaly but a production practice that crossed at least two sizes from the same foundry period.
The “A” suffix on the size designation is itself a documentation detail. On Favorite Piqua Ware pieces, size numerals sometimes appear with letter suffixes—“8A” rather than simply “8”—indicating a specific mold gate position, a pattern variant within the No. 8 size designation, or a foundry production tracking code. The “A” on this piece appears clearly in the photographs and is documented in the SSC catalog record as part of the complete base marking description. The SSC collection already holds a No. 8A Smiley single-logo specimen, making this dual-logo No. 8A the second No. 8A in the collection and the first in the dual-logo configuration—a meaningful expansion of the comparative record for this specific variant.
Piece Details
Close-up of the base markings: the Smiley “FAVORITE PIQUA WARE” cartouche above the Miami diamond, with size designation “8A” near the handle junction. The Miami diamond on this No. 8A appears as a single-outline frame, a subtle variation from the double-outline treatment visible on the companion No. 7—a marking detail worth preserving in the comparative record.
Manufacturer
Favorite Stove & Range Co.
Brand
Favorite Piqua Ware
Secondary Mark
Miami (diamond frame)
Logo Configuration
Dual logo: Smiley FPW cartouche + Miami diamond — both cast on base
Piece Type
Skillet
Size Designation
No. 8A
Base Marking
Smiley “FAVORITE / PIQUA / WARE” cartouche at top; “MIAMI” in diamond at center; “8A” near handle junction
Miami Diamond Frame
Single-outline diamond frame (cf. double-outline on companion No. 7 — see comparative notes)
Bottom Configuration
Heat ring present; smooth cooking base inside ring
Pour Spouts
Two opposing spouts at rim
Assist Handle
Small tab assist handle at rim opposite main handle
Handle Style
Flat handle with teardrop/keyhole hanging loop
Date of Manufacture
Circa 1905–1930
Place of Manufacture
Piqua, Miami County, Ohio
Condition
Very Good — both logos legible; heat ring intact; sits flat; no cracks, chips, or active rust; clean interior with developed seasoning; display ready
Acquisition Date
February 10, 2026
Acquisition Source
eBay — Seller: northstargoods94
eBay Item Number
287122749955
Order Number
09-14223-11396
Purchase Price
$195.00 item (2-piece lot with No. 7) + $17.93 shipping + $18.05 tax = $230.98 total; $115.49 allocated per piece
SSC Catalog Number
SSC-FPW-SKL-08-SM-001
The “8A”: Understanding the Letter Suffix
The “A” appended to the size numeral on this piece is a marking convention documented across multiple Favorite Piqua Ware specimens and appears in the SSC collection on at least one other No. 8A piece. In American foundry practice of the early 20th century, letter suffixes on size numerals typically indicated one of several things: a specific gate position in the mold—the location where molten iron entered the mold cavity—which could affect surface texture, shrinkage characteristics, or finishing requirements; a pattern variant within a nominal size, where “8” and “8A” were slightly different patterns producing pieces with the same size designation but measurable dimensional or weight differences; or an internal production tracking code used by the foundry to distinguish mold sets or casting runs for quality control or inventory purposes.
For the collector, the “A” suffix is a documentation variable rather than a separate size classification—a No. 8A fits in the No. 8 position in a size run and serves the same cooking function as an unmarked No. 8. But it is a distinct marking configuration, and a collection that documents both No. 8 (plain) and No. 8A specimens is building a more complete record of the FPW production system than one that treats all No. 8 variants as interchangeable. The SSC collection now holds two No. 8A specimens: the single-logo Smiley piece documented in an earlier entry, and this dual-logo Smiley + Miami piece documented here. Their comparative record—same size designation, same “A” suffix, different logo configurations—adds another layer to the SSC FPW documentation.
Diamond Frame Variation: Single vs. Double Outline
A marking detail emerged in the comparative photography of this No. 8A and its companion No. 7 that is worth documenting explicitly. The Miami diamond on the No. 7 appears to carry a double-outline frame—two concentric diamond lines framing the “MIAMI” text—while the Miami diamond on this No. 8A appears as a single-outline frame. Both pieces came from the same acquisition, the same seller, and presumably the same prior provenance, yet the Miami diamond frames are visually distinct between the two sizes.
This variation could reflect different pattern series for the two sizes—if the No. 7 and No. 8A Miami diamonds were cast from different patterns, different pattern makers may have treated the diamond frame differently. It could also reflect pattern wear: a double-outline frame can lose definition over casting cycles and appear as a single outline on later castings from the same pattern as the finer outer line fills with sand or wears down. Or the variation could be a production period difference, with double-outline and single-outline Miami diamonds representing different phases of the mark’s use at the Piqua foundry. The SSC documentation records the observation without asserting a resolution—this is the kind of detail that requires a broader population of dual-logo pieces to analyze, and SSC invites collector observations on Miami diamond frame configurations from their own holdings.
The No. 8 in the Favorite Piqua Ware Line: The Workhorse Standard
To understand why the No. 8 is the reference point for the entire Favorite Piqua Ware line, it is necessary to understand what the No. 8 did in the early 20th-century American kitchen. At roughly 10½ inches across the cooking surface, the No. 8 was sized for the daily cooking needs of a nuclear family: two to four portions of protein, a full batch of cornbread, enough pancakes for a family breakfast without needing to cook in multiple rounds. It was not too large for the home cook to manage comfortably, not too small to be genuinely useful for daily family cooking. It was the right size for most of what most households needed most of the time.
This functional centrality drove production volume, and production volume drove market presence. A foundry that made one size well could establish a dominant market position in that size—and Favorite Stove & Range, by producing the No. 8 in volume under both the Favorite Piqua Ware and Miami trade names, ensured that its iron reached the Ohio market through multiple distribution channels simultaneously. The dual-logo No. 8A is direct evidence of that multi-channel strategy: the same piece, the same iron, carrying both the premium FPW identity and the Miami trade identity, ready to satisfy either kind of customer.
Profile view showing the heat ring configuration, smooth cooking base, sidewall depth, and the assist handle tab at the rim opposite the main handle—a feature present on this No. 8A that distinguishes its profile from the companion No. 7. Both logos and the 8A size designation are partially visible on the base at left.
Comparative Notes: No. 7 and No. 8A as a Documented Pair
The acquisition of the No. 7 and No. 8A together from seller northstargoods94 creates a documented provenance pair that has research value beyond what either piece individually represents. Both carry the dual Smiley + Miami configuration. Both were acquired on the same date, from the same seller, under the same order number. Both are now documented in adjacent SSC catalog entries with cross-references. For a researcher studying the dual-logo configuration—its distribution across sizes, the consistency of the marking treatment, the relationship between the two brand identities on the Piqua foundry floor—this pair provides a two-size comparative dataset from a single provenance that is not easy to assemble from the secondary market.
The comparative documentation also reveals the Miami diamond frame variation noted above: double-outline on the No. 7, single-outline on the No. 8A. Whether this is a pattern difference, a wear difference, or a production period difference cannot be determined from two pieces alone, but it is documented here for the benefit of any future researcher who assembles a larger population of dual-logo pieces. The SSC collection is not the endpoint of this research—it is a contribution to an ongoing community effort to understand the Favorite Stove & Range production system, and the documentation of marking variations is how that contribution is made.
Physical Characteristics & Condition Assessment
The No. 8A is the standard workhorse configuration of the Favorite Piqua Ware line in physical terms: cooking surface sized for daily family use, heat ring on the base exterior providing the primary contact surface with the stove eye, smooth cooking surface inside the ring. Two opposing pour spouts interrupt the rim. A small assist handle tab is present at the rim position opposite the main handle—a feature visible in the top view photograph and absent on the companion No. 7—providing a secondary grip point for managing the pan with two hands when loaded.
The main handle is flat with a teardrop hanging loop at the terminus, consistent with the standard FPW handle design. The overall proportions are correct for the No. 8A size and are consistent with what is documented in the FPW collector reference literature for this configuration.
Condition is assessed as Very Good. Both logos are legible: the Smiley cartouche reads cleanly with the characteristic arc, stacked text, and curved lower bar intact, and the Miami diamond is present and readable with the single-outline frame noted in the comparative section above. The “8A” size designation near the handle junction is clearly cast. The piece sits flat with no warping or wobble. No cracks, chips, cold shuts, or active rust are present. The interior cooking surface carries a clean, well-developed seasoning with the smooth, dark character of a properly maintained vintage pan. Display ready.
Top view showing the clean cooking surface of the No. 8A with well-developed seasoning, dual pour spouts, and the assist handle tab visible at the rim position opposite the main handle. The cooking surface is smooth and even—among the best interior presentations in the SSC FPW sub-collection.
The Company: Favorite Stove & Range Co.
Favorite Stove & Range Company operated in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, producing cast iron cookware under the Favorite Piqua Ware brand and parallel trade names including Miami and Puritan. The company was a significant presence in the Ohio foundry corridor during the early 20th century, operating alongside Wagner Manufacturing—the dominant regional force—and producing a premium consumer cast iron line marketed under the Piqua city-of-origin identity. The Favorite Stove & Range corporate family is distinct from the earlier Columbus Hollow Ware operation, which shared the “Favorite” name but operated in Columbus (Franklin County) from 1882 to 1902 as a separate company with separate ownership. The SSC collection documents both as part of the Ohio Foundry Corridor narrative while clearly maintaining the distinction between them.
Provenance & Acquisition
This No. 8A skillet was acquired on February 10, 2026, via eBay from seller northstargoods94, under eBay item number 287122749955 (order 09-14223-11396). The listing described the piece as part of a two-skillet lot: “Vintage Favorite Piqua Ware Smiley with Miami Dual Logos #7 and #8.” The lot was purchased at $195.00 plus $17.93 USPS Ground Advantage shipping and $18.05 in sales tax, for a total of $230.98. Cost is allocated at $115.49 per piece for individual catalog records.
Physical examination on receipt confirmed the condition as represented: both logos present and legible, heat ring intact, base flat, interior clean with well-developed seasoning, assist handle tab intact. The Miami diamond single-outline frame variation relative to the companion No. 7 was noted on receipt and documented in this catalog entry. The companion No. 7 from the same lot is cataloged as SSC-FPW-SKL-07-SM-001 with cross-reference to this entry.
Corporate Timeline: Favorite Stove & Range Co.
c.1880s–90s
Foundry operations in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio established. The Miami River valley geography provides the basis for both the Favorite Piqua Ware and Miami brand identities.
c.1905
Favorite Piqua Ware brand and Smiley logo configuration enter production. The premium consumer cast iron line is marketed under the Piqua city-of-origin identity.
c.1905–30
Dual-logo production period. The No. 8A with dual Smiley + Miami configuration is produced during this period alongside the companion No. 7. The “8A” gate designation is in use, indicating a specific mold configuration within the No. 8 size.
c.1930s
Favorite Stove & Range operations wind down. Piqua cast iron production consolidates.
2026
Steve’s Seasoned Classics acquires the No. 8A alongside companion No. 7 from eBay seller northstargoods94. Documented as SSC-FPW-SKL-08-SM-001, the second No. 8A in the SSC FPW sub-collection and the first in the dual-logo configuration.
Why This Piece Matters
The Favorite Piqua Ware No. 8A with dual Smiley and Miami logos matters because it is the workhorse size of the FPW line in the rarest marking configuration, acquired as a documented provenance pair with a companion No. 7 that extends the dual-logo comparative record across two sizes. The “8A” suffix adds a production variant dimension to the standard No. 8 documentation. The Miami diamond frame variation—single outline here versus double outline on the No. 7—adds a marking detail that no single-piece acquisition could have surfaced. And the clean interior, flat base, and fully legible dual logos make this an exhibition-quality specimen that represents the dual-logo configuration at its best.
The SSC collection holds the No. 8A in two configurations: the single-logo Smiley already documented, and now this dual-logo Smiley + Miami. Together they demonstrate that the “8A” pattern was in service across at least two different commercial identity periods or distribution channels at the Piqua foundry—a finding that single-specimen documentation cannot establish.
The iron endures. The markings tell the truth. The story deserves to be told.
Sources & Further Reading
BoonieHicks.com — “Guide to Favorite Piqua Ware”: comprehensive documentation of FPW logo configurations, size designations including letter suffixes, and dual-logo variants.
CastIronCollector.com — Favorite Stove & Range Co. reference page: operational dates, location, and brand family documentation.
WorthPoint.com — Historical auction records for Favorite Piqua Ware dual-logo and No. 8A specimens.
SSC Internal Collection Records — Companion No. 7 dual Smiley + Miami entry, SSC-FPW-SKL-07-SM-001; No. 8A single-logo Smiley entry, SSC-FPW-SKL-08A-001.
About Steve’s Seasoned Classics
Steve’s Seasoned Classics is an online museum dedicated to preserving and documenting the heritage of American cast iron cookware, with a focus on Ohio foundry pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The SSC collection features over 60 pieces with detailed provenance, historical research, and photography for each item.
