Where made?

[KenH]

Hello ya'll. I've got 4 or 5 cast iron pans that are totally blank on bottom - no markings of any type. Some looks a bit old with a fire ring on bottom, but some just looks "not new". I thought everything imported had to be marked with country of origin. It seems most everything that's made in USA is always marked as such. This is the top side.

and the bottom: The marks on the right pan seem to be a bad cast mark. I've looked close and can nnot see anything that looks like a mark. Any ideas ofd these pans? I'm planning to try some pancakes in them.

Thanks to all for any info.
Ken H>

 

[Charles Boyle]

We had a couple like these too. No markings, but they've got that old-school feel with the fire ring and smooth finish. Some early 20th-century pieces were made by smaller foundries that didn't stamp their pans, or the marks just wore off. If they're seasoned well and sit flat, they'll be pancake champs!

 

[KenH]

Yep, pancakes is what I'm thinking.

I just read over my post and am amazed how many typos I made - I don't see anyway to edit. I think this forum is set so editing can only take place before the first response.

I TRY to do better, but looks like I didn't this time.

 

[literalironman]

Blank bottoms aren't unusual at all and plenty of older U.S. foundries especially the smaller regional ones never bothered marking their pans, and even the big names like Wagner and Griswold produced unmarked store brand lines for hardware and department stores. The fire ring is a good clue that yours could be mid 20th century or earlier

 

[Greyh0und]

@KenH yeah, Major American foundries like Wagner, Lodge, and Birmingham Stove & Range (BSR) often produced unmarked cookware. They sold these 'no name' skillets to department stores (Sears, Montgomery Ward) or hardware chains to be sold at a cheaper price without devaluing their main branded lines.
They're often thin walled, beautifully smooth, and legendary for pancakes. Give them a good scrub and seasoning, and they will absolutely deliver on the pancake front!

 

[KenH]

Cooked pancakes the other day and they worked just fine. Good pancakes, maybe a little better for being cooked on "old iron" {grinning}