Wagner cast iron | Wagner Ware

history, dates and logos. https://www.booniehicks.com/wagner-cast-iron/

Identify and date your Wagner cast iron

cookware using logos. Also, learn the
fascinating history of Wagner
Manufacturing.
Wagner cast iron cookware is regarded by many as some of the
nest examples of
19th and 20th century cast iron. And much of the cast iron is over 100 years old and still
very usable today. These antique pans are sought-after by enthusiasts and those
preferring vintage cast iron to newer pans. But identifying and dating these old
Wagner Ware Sidney -o- pans can be tricky.
So, with this article, I hope to help you and other proud owners identify and give an
estimate on the age of your cookware. You can also learn the history of your cast iron
manufactured by the Wagner Manufacturing Company.

Here is what you can
nd in this article.

1.Wagner cast iron “why is it so collectible?”

2.Learn the history of the Wagner Manufacturing Company.

3.Where you can buy Wagner cast iron.

4.Considerations when purchasing Wagner cast iron cookware.

5.How you can identify and date antique Wagner cast iron using trademarks
and logos.

6.Final thoughts on collecting vintage Wagner Ware cast iron.

But
rst, here is a quick look at the Wagner Manufacturing Company.
Background to Wagner Manufacturing cast iron.

Founders Milton M. Wagner and Bernard P. Wagner

Operational dates The foundry in Sidney operated from 1891-1959

Located Wagner was located in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio

Product line Wagner was one of the largest American manufacturers of cast iron products in
the 20th century.

Their product line included: skillets, kettles, bean pots, Dutch Ovens, roasters,
fruit presses, scoops, broilers, Griddles, waffle irons, muffin pans, and
cornbread pans.

The company also had a range of aluminum cookware.

Wagner brands Wagner used different logos and had a range of budget-friendly brands.

Wagner labeled their cookware under the following names:

Wagner, Wagner Ware Sidney -o-, Wagner Ware, National, Long Life,
Magnalite, Wardway, and Ward’s Cast Iron

Signature products Wagner is best known for the Sidney -O- range of skillets and Dutch Ovens.

Reason for closure The reason for the closure of the foundry came from two fronts.

Firstly, the Wagner family sold their interests in the company in 1953 and was
ownership transferred to the Randell Company.

Secondly, the company struggled financially because of a drop in sales.

This was due to two World Wars, the Great Depression, the development of
new cookware materials, and the increase of lower-priced imports from Asia.

Wagner after buyout In 1957 the Randall Company purchased long-term competitor Griswold from
(non-collectible) McGraw Edison.

The Randall Company was sold to Textron Corp in 1959.

Textron was sold to General Housewares Corporation in 1969.

In 1994 production of Wagner Ware ended.

 Picture of the Wagner Manufacturing Company. Also, note the wording you’re

likely to
nd on Wagner cookware.

Why is Wagner cast iron collectible?

Super smooth cooking surface.

Wagner cast iron is highly collectible. Like most antique cast iron, Wagner
manufactured high-quality cookware for their entire range of cast iron products.

Unlike, Wapak cast iron ironware that often has characteristic casting aws. Wagner
cast iron tends to have few casting aws resulting in very smooth cookware on both
the interior and exterior of the cookware.
Focus on quality
Imagine that workers would have worked on individual pieces of ironware. And
machined smooth the interior and exterior of each pan. You can only see this level of
detail in high-end cast iron cookware such as Le Creuset and Staub.

Today Le Creuset and Staub have the bene
t of combining traditional and modern
methods of manufacturing. However, for the workers at Wagner, to make cast iron
cookware without casting aws or bubbles. Must have taken great skill and attention
to detail.

Wagner made a wide range of cast-iron cookware.

Sure, I think you can’t go wrong with an old Wagner cast iron skillet. It will serve you
well for years, and they’re great fun to use. However, you may want to consider a
Wagner Dutch oven. They are super smooth, and just like the skillets, they are

reasonably priced. You can also buy cast iron mu n pans, which can be pretty cheap.
But watch out for shipping costs that can increase to overall price drastically. Some of
Wagner cast-iron cookware range includes:

Dutch ovens

Griddles

Gem pans


Wa e irons

Skillets

You can even collect Wagner cast iron cornbread pans that are in the shape of corn
cobs. Wagner Manufacturing also produced aluminum cookware. Which must have
seemed revolutionary for the time.

Collect your favorite logo.

If you are looking for a vintage skillet, then Wagner skillets are a great choice. You

can choose from sixteen di erent logos and trademarks or markings. I like pans with
heat rings, while others may prefer a pan with a smooth base.

I think this wide selection makes Wagner cookware more collectible than other
manufactures. Such as Vollrath and Martin Stove and Range, which manufactured a
limited range of products.
Wagner Manufacturing Company focused on quality over
quantity.
Quality was a focus from the very start for Wagner Manufacturing Company. They
even advertised to consumers this selling point. Old advertisements read;

We do not strive to manufacture hollowware as cheaply as possible but as


good as it can be made. We cannot a ord to put on the market ware that
will not sustain our reputation. The name Wagner is cast on the bottom of
each piece of ware.

Wagner Manufacturing Company History

Founders and foundry
Who founded Wagner Wagner Manufacturing Company was founded in
Manufacturing? 1891 by Milton M. and Bernard P. Wagner. However,
two more Wagner brothers, Louis and William
Wagner, joined the company in the following years.

Another key player in the foundation of the company

was R. Bingham. Bingham previously worked a
Marion Stove Company and the Sidney Manufacturing
Company.
Where was Wagner cast The company was based in Sidney, Shelby County,
iron and Wagner Ware Ohio.
made?
Although early cookware was simply stamped
Wagner, later Wagner included Sidney O. in their
cookware around 1895. The term Wagner Ware
rst
appeared in the logo in the 1920s.

Willian Wagner the
rst President of the Wagner Manufacturing Company. Photo credit goes to the Shelby County
Historical Society.
Nickel plating, aluminum, Magnalite were added to the
Wagner product line.
Nickel-plated cast To complement their cast iron range, Wagner added a
iron nickel-plated range.

Unlike cast iron and copper pots, nickel plating does not
react to acidic foods such as tomatoes which can taint
food.

It’s easy to look past the development of nickel-plating.

But, in the 19th-century bonding, two metals together
would have required a lot of expertise in metal casting.
Aluminum cookware Along with nickel-plated cast iron, the Wagner brothers in
1894 manufactured a line of aluminum cookware, and
Wagner Manufacturing was one of the
rst companies to
do so.
Aluminum cookware By 1913, Wagner cast iron and aluminum products were
exported to Europe selling in Europe.
Magnalite In the 1930s, Wagner manufactured a cookware line with a
patented aluminum alloy which they called Magnalite.

Wagner Manufacturing Company sales truck. Photo sourced from the Shelby County Historical Society.
Wagner Manufacturing buys their Sidney competition.
Wagner bought In 1897, Wagner bought the Sidney-based competitor Sidney
Sidney Hollowware Hollow Ware Co. from the founder and owner Phillip Smith.
Company.
Sidney Hollow Ware made very high-quality cast iron cookware
that was extremely light and smooth. Sidney Hollow Ware Co.
was also an early adopter of nickel-plating cast iron.
Why did Wagner It was a brilliant idea to buy the Sidney Hollow Ware Company.
buy Sidney Hollow After all, Wagner Manufacturing and Sidney competed in the
Ware Company? same city and made comparable products.

However, it was common knowledge that Smith made a tidy

pro
t from his original investment in the foundry. To run the
Sidney Foundry, William H. Wagner joined the family business
to oversee the operation.
Wagner sold Sidney In 1903 the Sidney Hollow Ware Company was sold back to the
Hollow Ware back original founder Phillip Smith. Sadly due to health reasons,
to Phillip Smith. Phillip Smith did not reopen the foundry.
Wagner introduces a new product line to stop a decline in
sales.
The Great 
I have to take my hats o to Wagner because they introduced a
Depression new product line called Magnalite in one of the deepest
recessions the world has ever seen.
(Magnalite)
Wagner Manufacturing was steadfast in making only quality
products. For this reason, the cookware is collected and highly
usable to this day
The sales decline Although Magnalite was introduced to stop falling sales at
Wagner Manufacturing, it was not due to their product range.

 
Magnalite was hugely popular, but it could not o set the e ect of
the worldwide recession.

From 1929-1941, the US was in the grips of what we now call the
Great Depression. Therefore it was not only Wagner. But many
foundries struggled
nancially to survive. Many didn’t.
The family sells their interest in the foundry.
Wagner family sells the company to Wagner Manufacturing Co. lasted longer
Randall Corp. than many foundries. However, in 1952
Wagner was sold to the Randall Company.
Unbelievably the Randall Company was a
car parts manufacturer.
Textron buys Randall In 1959, the company was sold again. This
time to a company called Textron. Textron
also purchased Griswold Manufacturing
Company.

At this time, it is considered production of

Wagner Ware stopped. Wagner cast iron
pans made after this date are currently
considered not as collectible
General House Wares General Housewares Corporation in 1969
buys the rights of Griswold and Wagner.
Is Wagner Ware still made? With the world rediscovering cast
iron cookware, will we see Wagner
Ware skillets manufactured again?

General Houses Ware stopped the

manufacture of Wagner Ware 1994.

However, there is a glimmer of hope for

Wagner Ware. In 2014 American Culinary
bought both the Wagner and Griswold
trademarks.

So
ngers crossed cast-iron fans, one day

they may decide to manufacture Wagner
cast iron again.

Where can you get your hands on some Wagner Ware?

grandparents (best deal and great to keep your heritage in the family)

antique stores (check online to compare the store price)

garage sales (rescue those poor skillets from the tip)

ea markets (search the markets for hidden gems)

online (largest selection available, however, asking prices can vary greatly)
Buying considerations before you buy antique
Wagner Ware

There is plenty of Wagner cast iron around, so take your

time.
There is no shortage of Wagner cast iron. In fact, Wagner had a large percentage of
the cookware market back in its hay-day. And there are plenty of fantastic Wagner
skillets and Dutch ovens around in excellent condition.

What size skillet or Dutch oven suits your needs?

The
rst thing you may want to think about is the size you need. There are often
plenty of #8 skillets around. This size seems to be the most common. Not only for
Wagner skillets but for most of the other vintage cast iron manufacturers such as
Favorite Piqua.

Inspect carefully since a lot of Wagner Ware is nickel-

plated.
Check the cookware carefully. The Wagner Manufacturing Company were early
adopters of nickel plating. Although much of Wagner cookware will be simply cast

iron, heavy seasoning can hide nickel plating. Nickel-plated can wear o or be patchy
in places. Take a close look before purchasing.
Would you like a Wagner Ware skillet with a smooth bottom
or with a heat ring?
Do you want a pan with a smooth bottom or one with a heat ring? The older Wagner
Ware skillets will have a heat ring while the later made pans have a smooth at base.
It is really a personal preference. I tend to like the older skillets with heat rings. I think
they have more character, but the smooth bottom Wagner cookware tends to be a
little cheaper. And they are great cooking pans too.

Does the cookware sit at?

As with all antique cast iron, it could be a good idea to ask the seller if the pan sits
at. This is especially important if you are cooking on a at surface such as induction
or glass.

Learn how to date and identify your

Wagner Cast iron using logos and
markings.
Although I’ve researched carefully, please use the dates as an approximation only.
Wagner cast iron cookware, to my knowledge, has sixteen known logos, brands, or
markings. These include:

Straight Wagner logo 1890s-1915

Two Wagner Cast iron skillets with the

“Wagner” in straight block text. Note this

logo lacks the Sidney -O- marking seen in

later designs. Circa 1891-1915.

Thanks to a kind reader who sent in this photo to add

to the helpfulness of this resource. We can see an

example of a Wagner Dutch oven with straight

wording. Note the unusual placement of the size

number. That’s one great
nd.

Wagner arc logo 1891-1910

An early logo by Wagner. Circa 1891-1910

The arc logo may overlap the block logo. Circa 1891-1910
Double Arc Wagner Sidney O 1895-1915

In the double arc logo, both “Wagner”

and Sidney are in a slight curve. I

don’t see these beauties too often.

Keep an eye out for them.

Sidney Arc logo circa 1897-1903.

Not much is known

about vintage

Sidney skillets.

However, many

cast iron

enthusiasts believe

they were made in

the Sidney

Hollowware

foundry. After the

company was sold

to Wagner

Manufacturing
Straight Sidney logo circa 1897-1903.

It’s hard to place an accurate date on when. Wagner produced these Sidney cast iron. I’m willing to change my

mind, but currently, I date this cast iron Circa: 1887-1903. During this period, Wagner Manufacturing owned and

operated the Sidney Hollowware

Sidney cast iron skillet made by Wagner after the Sidney

Hollow Ware was sold to Wagner Manufacturing Company.

Center straight logo circa 1897-1903

Straight Wagner Sidney O. (Centered.) 1910-1915

Antique Wagner Sidney O skillet. This logo is

centered, and both Wagner and Sidney are

straight in block lettering. Circa 1910-1915

Wagner Sidney O. Wagner slightly arced while the Sidney

lettering is straight. Circa 1915-the 1920s

Arc Wagner and straight Sidney

logo. This skillet was made from

1915 through the 1920s.

First Wagner Ware Sidney O. with Arc Wagner and straight
Ware and Sidney. Circa 1920s.

Here is a little kettle with a scarce

Wagner Ware logo. Check roasters

and kettles for this logo.

Stylized Wagner Ware Sidney O. for regular skillets. Circa

1920-1924 with heat ring and single-digit size number.
1924-1935 with heat ring and a four-digit pattern number.
Around 1935-1959 for skillets with no heat ring.

You will see a lot of Wagner Ware with the

stylized logo. This skillet has two other

methods we can use to place an age on the

skillet. You’ll notice this skillet has a four-digit

pattern number and a heat ring. So, I think

this skillet is Circa 1924-1935.

Here is an excellent skillet with a smooth base. This skillet was made circa 1935-1959.

Centralized Stylized Wagner Sidney O. 1924-1935 with heat

ring.

Vintage Wagner Ware Sidney o with the stylized logo placed in the center. Circa: 1920-1935
Pie Logo 1924-1934. However, manufacturing dates are
uncertain.

Wagner Skillet

with pie logo. This

skillet does not have a

heat ring. So I think it

is unlikely it was made

before 1930. Circa

1930-1934

National cast iron 1914-1940s.


There are several di erent versions
of cast iron with the National
marking. This budget-friendly range
was manufacturing from circa 1914
to 1940.

This National cast-iron skillet was made by the

Wagner Manufacturing Company. This skillet has
large lettering in an arc. It was likely made
between 1914-1930

Economy brand of Wagner Manufacturing Company. Circa 1914-the

1920s
Long Life logo 1930s.

Cast iron Long Life Skillet made by Wagner.

This skillet was made in the 1930s.

Wardway and Montgomery Ward. Wagner Manufacturing

Company was contracted by the Montgomery Ward
Department store to produce an in-store label. Circa the
1930s.

This Wards cast iron skillet was made in

the Wagner casting works in the 1930s.
And It was sold as a house label for the
Montgomery Ward Department store.

Montgomery Ward cast-iron logo.

Here’s a Wardway cast iron skillet.
Montgomery Ward contracted Wagner to
make this in-store brand. And it was most
likely made in the 1930s.

Final thoughts on Wagner cast iron.

Fortunately, Wagner cast iron is easier to date than other foundries of the time.
Wagner Ware also has a huge collector base, so dates are well documented. The Cast
Iron Collector is a valuable online resource for enthusiasts. Also, there are Facebook
groups you can share your love of cast iron cookware.

The Wagner Manufacturing Company was known for quality over quantity. And,
therefore had a good reputation for making trustworthy products. Today Wagner cast
iron is highly prized by collectors. However, you don’t need to be a collector to enjoy
vintage cast iron. And here are 6 reasons why Wagner Ware is excellent Ironware..

Although many cast iron enthusiasts look for Wagner-made skillets. But you’re not
limited there. Wagner Manufactured a wide selection of cast iron goodies. And you
may
nd yourself becoming interested in:


mu n pans

Dutch ovens

Scotch bowls

Since Wagner made some of the
nest quality cast iron of the 19th and 20th
centuries. Wagner ironware is enjoyed by cast-iron fans and hobbyists alike.