Wagner Ware Sidney -O- No. 13 Cast Iron Skillet
SSC MUSEUM COLLECTION
Catalog No. SSC-WGNR-SKL-013
Cast Iron Skillet | No. 13 | Catalog No. 1063 | Sidney, Ohio
c. 1924–early 1940s • Wagner Manufacturing Company • Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio
Interior cooking surface of the Wagner Ware Sidney -O- No. 13 skillet, showing the full 12¾-inch cooking floor, scalloped pour spouts on the rim, the double-loop assist handle at 12 o’clock, and the classic Wagner teardrop hanging loop on the main handle. The deep, even seasoning across the cooking surface reflects the quality of the restoration.
The Wagner Ware Sidney -O- No. 13 is one of the two scarcest sizes in the standard Wagner skillet line. At 14¼ inches across the top rim and 12¾ inches at the cooking floor, it sits just below the No. 14 in the size progression and shares its rarity, its heat ring, and its commercial character. This piece — catalog number 1063 — was acquired for the Steve’s Seasoned Classics museum collection in August 2025 and occupies the penultimate position in the full-run No. 0 through No. 14 complete skillet display.
What distinguishes this particular example is its condition. The cooking surface is exceptionally clean and evenly seasoned, the markings are fully legible, the assist handle and main handle are intact, and there is no evidence of cracks or repairs. Among No. 13 examples that surface in the market, pieces in this quality of condition are genuinely uncommon. The No. 13 was a working pan built for institutional and commercial use, and the attrition rate on pieces used in those environments was high.
This example carries the stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo, catalog number 1063, and the size mark ‘13’ on the handle top. The heat ring on the base is present and correct — the No. 13 was never produced in smooth-bottom form. No MADE IN USA marking is present, placing this piece in the pre-1959 collector era.
The No. 13 Skillet: Second from the Top
Profile view of the No. 13 showing the deep 2¼-inch sidewalls, the broad cooking floor, the scalloped rim with pour spouts, and the double-loop assist handle at left. The even dark seasoning across the exterior reflects a well-executed restoration.
Within the complete Wagner Ware Sidney -O- skillet series, the No. 13 occupies a singular position: it is the second-largest size ever produced, sitting immediately below the No. 14 in the progression and sharing with it the distinction of never having been made without a heat ring. Where every other size from No. 4 through No. 12 transitioned to smooth-bottom construction around 1930–1935, the No. 13 and No. 14 retained their heat rings for the entirety of their production. No smooth-bottom No. 13 has been documented.
The No. 13’s scarcity follows directly from its purpose. Like the No. 14, it was not a domestic skillet. At 14¼ inches across the top rim it extends well beyond the cooking zone of any standard household stove eye and was intended for institutional use: boarding houses, farm kitchens feeding large crews, logging and mining camp cookhouses, hotel and restaurant kitchens. Production of the No. 13 was lower in volume than the everyday sizes, the environments in which it was used were hard on cast iron, and fewer collectors pursued the larger sizes when they entered the antique market. The result is a size that appears infrequently, and in this quality of condition almost never.
The seller described the assist handle as a ‘helper tab’ — a colloquial term for what collectors and foundry catalogs variously call an assist handle, helper handle, or second handle. Whatever the terminology, its function is clear: at the No. 13’s size and weight, the assist handle made two-handed control not just convenient but necessary for safe use over a fire or stove.
Wagner Manufacturing Company: Sidney, Ohio
The Wagner Manufacturing Company was founded in June 1891 by brothers Milton M. and Bernard P. Wagner in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. The foundry opened with twenty employees and within three months was melting approximately 9,200 pounds of iron daily. R.O. Bingham, a veteran of the Marion Stove Works and the Sidney Manufacturing Company, joined as plant superintendent and proved a prolific designer. Wagner was an early adopter of nickel plating (1892) and cast aluminum cookware (1894). By the early twentieth century the plant had grown to 160,000 square feet with a staff of 300, and the Sidney Daily News described it as “the largest Holloware Plant in the World.” Wagner held, at its peak, approximately 60% of the American domestic cast iron cookware market.
About 1914 Wagner began marketing its products under the combined ‘Wagner Ware’ brand. Around 1922 the stylized W — the iconic looped letterform serving double duty as the first letter of both ‘Wagner’ and ‘Ware’ — was introduced above SIDNEY and -O-. In 1924 a four-digit catalog numbering system was adopted: 1050 plus the size number equals the catalog number for regular skillets. The No. 13 became catalog number 1063. Around 1930–1935 the standard skillet line transitioned from heat-ring to smooth-bottom construction for sizes 4 through 12, but the No. 13 and No. 14 remained heat-ring pieces throughout.
The original Wagner family divested between 1946 and 1952, selling to the Randall Company of Cincinnati. In 1957 Wagner’s Randall division acquired Griswold Manufacturing. In 1959 Textron acquired Randall, and the year 1959 marks the accepted boundary of the collector era: SIDNEY -O- was removed from the logo that year, reflecting that casting was no longer confined to Sidney. In 1969 Textron sold to General Housewares Corporation. The Sidney foundry closed permanently in July 1999 after 108 years of production. The factory building was demolished in June 2023.
Markings Analysis
Base of the No. 13 skillet. The stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo is clearly visible at the 12 o’clock position. Catalog number 1063 appears at the 6 o’clock position opposite the handle. The heat ring — the raised concentric ring separating the cooking floor from the outer base — is present and correct.
The stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo on this piece — the large looped W above SIDNEY and -O- — was introduced around 1922 and remained in continuous use through 1959. It is the most recognizable mark in Wagner’s history and the signature of the company’s peak collector era. The logo appears at the 12 o’clock position, consistent with standard placement for stylized logo pieces.
Catalog number 1063 appears at the 6 o’clock position. Wagner adopted catalog numbers in 1924 using the formula 1050 plus size number: No. 6 = 1056, No. 8 = 1058, No. 13 = 1063. The presence of the catalog number establishes a firm post-1924 date for this piece. No MADE IN USA marking is present — that text was added after 1959 and its absence is a positive indicator of pre-1959 manufacture.
Bottom profile of the No. 13 showing the heat ring and 2¼-inch sidewall depth. The heat ring is the raised concentric ring on the base, designed to seat over a stove eye. The No. 13 was never produced without it.
The heat ring is present and correct. The No. 13’s retention of the heat ring throughout its production run is not an anomaly — it is the defining characteristic of the two largest sizes in the Wagner line. Wagner’s transition to smooth-bottom construction around 1930–1935 applied exclusively to sizes 4 through 12. The No. 13 and No. 14 remained heat-ring pieces from first production through the end of the collector era in 1959.
Handle and Assist Handle
Handle detail of the No. 13. The incised size number ‘13’ is clearly legible at the base of the handle near the pan body. The Wagner teardrop hanging loop at the terminus is intact and well-formed, showing the characteristic open-eye design used across the Sidney -O- skillet line.
The main handle bears the incised size mark ‘13’ and terminates in Wagner’s classic teardrop hanging loop. The handle is intact with no cracks or losses and shows the deep even patina of the restoration throughout.
The double-loop assist handle — visible at the 12 o’clock position in the top-view photograph and at left in the profile view — is the feature the seller identified as the ‘helper tab.’ In the foundry and collector literature it is referred to variously as an assist handle, helper handle, or second handle. The form is a small cast loop or tab opposite the main handle, designed to give a second grip point for two-handed lifting. At the No. 13’s size and weight this was a practical necessity, not an ornament. The assist handle on this piece is fully intact.
Piece Details
Manufacturer
Wagner Manufacturing Company, Sidney, Ohio
Piece Type
Cast Iron Skillet
Form
Standard skillet with main handle, double-loop assist handle opposite, heat ring base, scalloped pour spouts
Material
Cast Iron
Markings
Stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo (looped W) at 12 o'clock; catalog no. 1063 at 6 o'clock; '13' incised on handle top
Catalog Number
1063
Size
No. 13 — Top diameter: 14 1/4 in. | Bottom diameter: 12 3/4 in. | Depth: 2 1/4 in.
Heat Ring
Yes — present and correct; No. 13 was never produced in smooth-bottom form
Made in USA Mark
Absent — confirms pre-1959 collector-era production
Logo Era
Stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- (post-1922; catalog number present = post-1924)
Date of Manufacture
c. 1924–early 1940s
Place of Manufacture
Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio
Condition
Excellent — professionally restored; deep even seasoning throughout; no cracks, no repairs; all markings legible; assist handle and main handle intact
Acquisition Date
August 20, 2025
Acquisition Source
eBay — Seller: tm69ss
eBay Item Number
306425411153
Order Number
14-13469-58749
SSC Catalog Number
SSC-WGNR-SKL-013
Collection Designation
Wagner Ware Sidney -O- Complete Skillet Set — No. 0 through No. 14
Corporate Timeline: Wagner Manufacturing Company
1881
Milton M. and Bernard P. Wagner begin producing light metal hardware castings in Sidney, Ohio.
1891
Wagner Manufacturing Company formally founded in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. Opens with 20 employees; within three months melts 9,200 lbs of iron daily. R.O. Bingham joins as plant superintendent.
1892
Nickel-plated hollow ware introduced.
1894
Wagner becomes one of the first American companies to manufacture cast aluminum cookware.
1897
Wagner Manufacturing acquires Sidney Hollow Ware Company from founder Phillip Smith. William H. Wagner joins to oversee the Sidney foundry.
1903
Sidney Hollow Ware Company sold back to Phillip Smith.
c. 1914
'Wagner Ware' branding introduced on hollow ware.
c. 1922
Stylized 'W' logo introduced — looped letterform shared by 'Wagner' and 'Ware,' with SIDNEY and -O- below. Wagner's most recognized mark.
1924
Four-digit catalog numbering system adopted. Regular skillets: 1050 + size number = catalog number. No. 13 = catalog no. 1063.
c. 1930–35
Smooth-bottom construction introduced for sizes 4–12. Sizes 13 and 14 retain heat ring throughout entire production run.
1934
Magnalite brand cast magnesium-aluminum alloy cookware introduced.
c. 1930–40
Pie Logo variant produced for approximately ten years — stylized W in wedge-shaped border. Most collectible Wagner logo.
1913
International distribution established. Wagner products reach Europe.
1946–52
Original Wagner family divests. Company sold to Randall Company of Cincinnati, Ohio in late 1952.
1957
Randall Wagner division acquires Griswold Manufacturing from McGraw-Edison.
1959
Textron, Inc. acquires Randall. SIDNEY -O- removed from logo. Last year of collector-era Wagner production.
1969
Textron sells Wagner and Griswold lines to General Housewares Corporation (GHC).
1996
GHC sells Wagner and Griswold rights to Slyman Group. Wagner plant enters receivership.
1999
Sidney foundry closes permanently. End of 108 years of production in Sidney.
2000
American Culinary Corporation acquires Wagner and Griswold trademarks.
2022–23
Wagner Cast Iron relaunches with Wagner family guidance. Former Sidney foundry building demolished June 2023.
Why This Piece Matters
The Wagner Ware Sidney -O- No. 13 matters because it is rare in a way that cannot be manufactured. Wagner produced the No. 13 in lower quantities than any of the everyday domestic sizes, the commercial environments in which it was used consumed cast iron without sentiment, and the antique market surfaces clean examples infrequently. A No. 13 in the condition this piece presents — fully restored, markings legible, structurally intact — is among the more significant individual acquisitions in the SSC Wagner collection.
It matters as a pair with the No. 14. Together, the No. 13 and No. 14 form the top of the complete skillet set — the two sizes that were never made smooth-bottom, the two sizes that were never domestic, the two sizes that most collectors never see in person. Displayed together at the far end of the No. 0 through No. 14 run, they anchor the collection with the weight and presence of iron that was cast for serious work.
It matters because the stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- mark on its base is one of the most honest marks in American manufacturing history. It names the maker. It names the town. It tells you exactly what you’re holding and where it was made. After 1959 that mark was gone. After 1999 the foundry was gone. After 2023 the building was gone. What remains is the iron, and the iron tells the truth.
The iron endures. The markings tell the truth. The story deserves to be told.
Sources & Further Reading
Physical examination of piece: stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo (looped W), catalog no. 1063, size mark '13' on handle top, heat ring present, no MADE IN USA marking. Five photographs from seller prior to shipment.
The Cast Iron Collector (castironcollector.com) — Wagner Manufacturing Co. page; Evolution of the Wagner Trademark; Numbers & Letters. Primary reference for logo dating, catalog number system, and production timeline.
Wagner Cast Iron (wagnercastiron.com/pages/story) — Official Wagner family history. Foundry founding, innovations, corporate ownership chain, foundry demolition 2023.
Wagner Cast Iron FAQ (wagnercastiron.com/pages/faq) — Catalog number formula: 1050 + size = catalog number for regular skillets.
Panman.com — Cast Iron Size and Capacity Charts (David G. Smith). Standard skillet dimension reference: No. 13 top diameter 14 1/4 in., bottom 12 3/4 in., depth 2 1/4 in.
Wikipedia — Wagner Manufacturing Company. Corporate history, ownership chain, Griswold acquisition, GHC era, Sidney closure 1999.
Cast Iron Collector Forums (castironcollector.com/forum) — Wagner Ware collecting thread; Smooth Bottom 1935–1959 questions thread. Confirmation that No. 13 and No. 14 were never produced in smooth-bottom form.
The Book of Griswold & Wagner (Wallaces-Homestead / Krause Publications) — Standard collector reference volume.
eBay acquisition record — Order No. 14-13469-58749, seller: tm69ss, August 20, 2025. Item: #13 Wagner Ware Sidney-O Cast Iron Skillet (1063) W/ Heat Ring and Helper Tab.
SSC Internal Collection Records — Wagner Ware Sidney -O- Complete Skillet Set documentation. SSC-WGNR-SKL-013 occupies the penultimate position in the No. 0 through No. 14 full-run display set.
About Steve’s Seasoned Classics
Steve’s Seasoned Classics is an online museum dedicated to preserving and documenting the heritage of American cast iron, with a focus on Ohio foundry pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The SSC collection features over 130 pieces with detailed provenance, historical research, and photography for each item.
