South Pittsburg, Tennessee · 1896–present (vintage: to about the 1980s)

Lodge Manufacturing Company (vintage production)

Joseph Lodge founded the Blacklock Foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, in 1896; it burned in 1910 and was rebuilt as Lodge Manufacturing, which is still family-run and the only major American cast iron maker that never stopped. For most of the 20th century Lodge did not cast its name on skillets, so collectors date vintage Lodge by casting features. The best known is the notched heat ring: a single notch opposite the handle on 1930s-era pans, then three notches at roughly 9, 12 and 3 o'clock from about the 1940s, with later three-notch pans adding "Made in USA" and pan-type letters such as SK. No marked Blacklock skillets are known, so pans described as Blacklock are attributions. Vintage Lodge is generally smoother and lighter than current production and costs far less than Griswold or Wagner, which makes it a sensible way into old iron for cooking. Lodge's modern "Blacklock" line, sold new today, is unrelated to the antique foundry's pans.

Identification marks

Usually no maker name. Skillets show an inset heat ring with one notch (1930s era) or three notches at about 9, 12 and 3 o'clock (from about the 1940s) and a raised size number near the top of the ring; later examples add MADE IN USA and letters such as SK. Early pans attributed to Blacklock have an outside heat ring, a raised size number on top of the handle and a raised molder's mark at 6 o'clock. Pieces cast with the LODGE name are generally later production.