Welcome to the Library

Research, History, and Identification Resources for Vintage Cast Iron

The Steve’s Seasoned Classics Library is the educational heart of the site—a curated collection of research tools, timelines, foundry histories, authenticity guides, and restoration insights. If you want to understand how to identify, date, and evaluate vintage cast iron, you’re in the right place.

Start Here: Core Reference Guides

Brand Histories

Learn the story behind the major American cast iron foundries.

  • Wagner Manufacturing Company (Sidney, OH)

  • Griswold Manufacturing Company (Erie, PA)

  • Wapak Hollow Ware (Wapakoneta, OH)

  • Favorite Stove & Range / Favorite Piqua Ware (Piqua, OH)

  • Other American Makers

These pages introduce logo evolution, manufacturing techniques, notable catalog years, and regional influences that shaped cast iron production.

Identification & Dating Tools

Logo Identification Guides

Explore the shapes, marks, and text styles used by each maker across the decades.

  • Early block logos

  • Arc logos

  • Stylized script logos

  • Transitional logos

  • Pattern numbers and ghost marks

  • Heat ring vs. smooth-bottom eras

Dating Your Cast Iron

Understand the clues that help narrow a piece to a specific decade:

  • Logo style

  • Pattern number

  • Handle design

  • Skillet weight and wall thickness

  • Pour spout shapes

  • Machining marks

These guides help collectors more confidently identify unknown pieces.

Authenticity & Reproduction Guides

Learn how to spot:

  • Modern reproductions

  • Unauthorized copies

  • Tourist castings

  • Seller misidentifications

  • Refabricated toy skillets vs. true salesman's samples

  • Aftermarket grinding, sanding, polishing, or resurfacing

Clear examples and explanations help you protect yourself as a collector.

Restoration Science & Methods

Explore the preservation-first techniques behind Steve’s Seasoned Classics:

  • Why we never grind, sand, or use power tools

  • Lye bath process

  • Electrolysis tank fundamentals

  • Rust removal vs. metal preservation

  • Seasoning with pure oil

  • How to avoid destroying historical surfaces

  • Documenting restoration without “over-restoring”

This section helps both collectors and restorers maintain their cookware with historical integrity.

Reference Timelines & Research Notes

Foundry Timelines (1890–1963)

Chart the rise and fall of major American cast iron makers, including acquisitions, logo transitions, and manufacturing changes.

Catalog Excerpts & Advertisements

Original catalog scans and historic cookware ads (as you add them).

Research Notes

A collection of verified sources, citations, and field observations collected during the restoration and documentation of pieces in the museum.

Recommended Reading & External Resources

A curated list of trusted, authoritative sources for further study:

  • The Cast Iron Collector

  • Wagner & Griswold Society (WAGS)

  • Boonie Hicks Cast Iron Guide

  • Historical catalogs and regional foundry histories

  • Period cookware advertising

These vetted resources complement the Museum and Library content.

Where to Go Next

Explore the other wings of Steve’s Seasoned Classics:

  • Visit the Museum →

  • Explore the Kitchen →

  • View the Restoration Philosophy →

Whether you're researching a specific pan, studying logo transitions, or tracing your family’s cookware history, the Library is here to support your journey.