The Lodge Manufacturing Company is the longest-running cast iron foundry in America. It is and has always been family-owned. Joseph Lodge started the company in 1896 in the small town (pop. ~3500) of South Pittsburg, Tennessee. His great-grandson Henry Lodge is the current CEO. Another […]

Snuggle pups! I feel a new obsession coming on. I saw a collection of Snuggle Pups and Joe and Nancy Zawadowski’s home. I must find one. Or three. Or six. Creation of the Snuggle Pups Frank W. Hopkins created the snuggle pups. He was a cartoonist. […]

A rare Griswold 10 skillet has been found! A vintage Griswold grooved handle no. 10 small logo cast iron showed up on eBay a few weeks back. If authentic (and I think it likely is), it’s a unicorn in the cast iron collecting world. One has never before […]

Need a gift for a cast iron enthusiast? Stumped about what to get for your friend/brother/sister/co-worker who is interested in cast iron cookware?  Click on the link below to find personally curated ideas for you. Gift Ideas After I laboriously wrote the guide attached to […]

Jennifer M of Livermore California asked me a question about a vintage ACCO cast iron pup via the “Contact Mary” form on the website.  She wrote: “I was going through a few boxes of my grandparents special items. I came across the little orange puppy […]

Learn how you can search for yourself to find “sold” prices for vintage and antique cast iron. I am always asked, “how much is this worth?” It’s hard to answer, as value is very subjective. Condition, scarcity, precise markings, manufacturer, condition..condition…condition…all play a part. I […]

What is a fair price for an authentic Griswold pup? These sweet little vintage cast iron beauties are highly collectible.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I paid $275 for a beautiful black iron satin-smooth Griswold pup with a 30 on the back of […]

How can you tell whether a pup marked “Griswold” is authentic or a reproduction? Griswold pups have been widely reproduced. With just a little knowledge and education, you can quickly determine whether a pup marked “Griswold” is authentic or a reproduction. I spent time with […]