Can you handle another estate find? (attn. you cast iron fans)

[Thumper]

Here's another find I stumbled on at a sale this weekend. As you know, I've been getting pretty interested in cast iron cookware for the past year or so and have found some really cool pieces. I grab whatever Griswold I can get my hands on, but don't pass up the older Wagner stuff either. I "might" be tempted to grab some older Lodge stuff, but it's usually a stretch and I generally avoid it.

That said, I'm still an amateur and have a lot to learn. This weekend I stumbled on something that was new to me and have been studying up on it. It looks like I may have something new for my watch-list now. I found an old #9 "WAPAK" cast iron frying pan and grabbed it for $5. I've found it wasn't made all that long and was only manufactured from 1903, until the company went bankrupt in 1926 ... so they're relatively rare. There were a few different logos. Personally, I like their "Indian Head" logo the best (pic#1), but the one I found is the "Z" logo (pic#2). It's not a Griswold, but it brings some fairly decent coinage! Ya' may want to keep an eye out for some of this stuff if you can pick it up cheap. Oh yeah, regarding the name ... the manufacturing plant was in Wapakoneta, Ohio.


4786 4787

[DeputyDog]

Wapakoneta, Ohio, also famous as the hometown of Neil Armstrong.

[Thumper]

Never realized that.

John Young grew up in my hometown (Orlando) and went to school with both my parents. I think he was born in California, but the family moved to Orlando when he was in grade school. In fact, my mom had a bit of a crush on him in high school and they lived just a couple blocks from each other. I was in the same Boy Scout Troop he was in ... of course, that was LONG after he was a Boy Scout. ;)

[Big Skyz]

So what's something like that worth approximately?

[Thumper]

One of the big selling features with cast iron is how clean it is (other than rarity of course). So they'll be all over the map according to condition (it's a process to clean a crusty one, but not a major deal).

The Indian Head logo is the big seller and they can bring $150 - $300 for a nice one.

This one sold for $325.00 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wapak-Indian-Head-Hollow-Ware-12-Large-Cast-Iron-Skillet-/301573926527?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463734ee7f&nma=true&si=kyJwNzj4Zne6Te%252FTqND9NiPm1hc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This one went for a bit over $240.00 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wapak-No-3-Cast-Iron-Skillet-Indian-Head-/111617637463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fcedfc57&nma=true&si=kyJwNzj4Zne6Te%252FTqND9NiPm1hc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This one went for over $225.00 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WAPAK-10-7-Cast-Iron-Skillet-with-Indian-Head-Medallion-and-Heat-Ring-/261839494482?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf6d99d52&nma=true&si=kyJwNzj4Zne6Te%252FTqND9NiPm1hc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Mine has the "Z" logo which is not at the top of the collector market ... but will bring $50 - $100. I'm hoping it will bring a premium due to rarity as mine is a No. 9 and I've found VERY few 9's listed ... the most common is a #8 it seems. But, considering I paid $5, I'm not worried about losing anything. ;)

[Thumper]

I have a pile of Griswolds here. I'm stockpiling them while I decide whether or not I want to clean them. Mine are pretty run of the mill, but they can bring some fairly decent $$$.

As an example, this skillet just sold this morning for $450.00 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/GRISWOLD-14-CAST-IRON-SKILLET-BLOCK-LETTERS-SMOKE-RING-718-/331545058922?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d31a01e6a&nma=true&si=kyJwNzj4Zne6Te%252FTqND9NiPm1hc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557



Of course, like I said above, rarity is a huge factor. This old "hotel skillet" sold for almost $630.00!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griswold-20-hotel-skillet-/301631977764?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463aaab924&nma=true&si=kyJwNzj4Zne6Te%252FTqND9NiPm1hc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


I bought two Griswolds at a sale last week for $15.00 (for the pair) ... it makes for a fun hunt. :D