Forest City Foundries Co. — Niagara Furnaces Mini Spider Skillet
A Cleveland foundry's miniature spider skillet — cast iron advertising in its most literal form. The Forest City Foundries Co. sent these three-legged miniatures out with their salesmen to sell Niagara Furnaces, and cast their city's own nickname into every one. The second piece in SSC's Cleveland's Forgotten Foundries grouping, documented as found with original patina intact.
The A.C. Williams Co. Sad Iron
Before the cast iron banks. Before the toy automobiles and airplanes sold through Woolworth's and Kresge's. Before A.C. Williams became the largest manufacturer of cast iron toys in the world — there was a heavy, solid sad iron with a detachable wooden handle. This one is marked "WILLIAMS CO." and "RAVENNA, OHIO" and dates to the transitional period when miniature models of this very product, made for traveling salesmen, caught a buyer's eye and launched one of Ohio's most celebrated foundries into the toy business. Acquired from Etsy seller stoneridgeattic, March 2026.
The Peck-Williamson Co. — Cast Iron Furnace Damper Plate
A cast iron furnace damper plate from one of America's first central heating manufacturers. The Peck-Williamson Co. of Cincinnati pioneered the Underfeed coal furnace in the early 1900s. This plate carries full maker's identification with original chain — dating to the pre-1911 Peck-Williamson era.
Ober Manufacturing Company — Cast Iron Trivet / Sadiron Stand
A cast iron trivet from an 80-year Ohio village foundry. Ober Manufacturing Company of Chagrin Falls produced sadirons, trivets, and woodworking machinery from the 1870s onward. Marked "OBER / CHAGRIN FALLS • OHIO" — the founder's home now houses the local historical society.
The Taylor & Boggis Foundry Co. — No. 0 Hand Torch
A cast iron hand torch from Cleveland's oldest foundry. The Taylor & Boggis Foundry Co., founded 1864, produced this No. 0 Hand Torch with original cap and wick intact. Full maker's mark identifies Cleveland, Ohio — a signature piece for the Cleveland's Forgotten Foundries collection.
Newman Brothers Inc. — The Last Supper Cast Iron Relief Plaque
A cast iron Last Supper relief plaque from one of Ohio's oldest foundries. Newman Brothers Inc. of Cincinnati has been casting metal since 1882. This high-relief devotional plaque carries the "NEWMAN BROS INC" maker's mark and extends the SSC's documentation into Cincinnati's decorative metalwork tradition.