Sidney, Ohio · 1891–1999 (Sidney foundry)
Wagner Manufacturing Company
Wagner Manufacturing was founded in Sidney, Ohio, in 1891 by Bernard and Milton Wagner and became Griswold's main rival. For roughly its first two decades it marked iron with the plain word WAGNER, later with SIDNEY O.; from about 1914 it used the name "Wagner Ware", and around 1922 it introduced the "stylized" logo — one large fancy W for both words, with SIDNEY and -O- below — which collectors date in phases: heat ring with size number (about 1922–1924), heat ring with catalog number (about 1924–1935, including the 1924–1934 "pie logo") and smooth bottom (about 1935–1959). Wagner was sold to the Randall Company in the early 1950s; Randall bought Griswold in 1957, Textron took over both in 1959 and General Housewares in 1969, and the Sidney foundry ran until 1999. Wagner also made Magnalite, a cast aluminum line that is not cast iron. Pre-1960 Wagner skillets have milled cooking surfaces comparable to Griswold.
Identification marks
Stylized Wagner Ware Sidney -O- logo on the bottom with a four-digit catalog number (1058 on the No. 8 skillet, 1059 on the No. 9) and a mold letter; earlier pans show a plain WAGNER or Wagner Ware mark with SIDNEY O. and a size number. Later pieces read Wagner Ware with MADE IN USA. Magnalite pieces are aluminum, not iron.
Wagner Ware references in this catalog
10 hand-curated Wagner Ware reference pages — every one with identification marks, common defects to inspect, and typical used price bands.
Skillet1918–1945Wagner Ware No. 9 Sidney Skillet (1059)
typical $70–$150
c. 1922–1959
Skillet1918–1945Wagner Ware No. 8 Sidney Skillet (1058)
typical $40–$100
c. 1922–1959
Skillet1890–1917Early Wagner No. 9 Skillet (pre-stylized logo)
typical $80–$200
c. 1891–1922
Skillet1918–1945Wagner Ware No. 7 Sidney Skillet (1057)
typical $50–$120
c. 1922–1959
Dutch Oven1918–1945Wagner Ware No. 8 Dutch Oven / Round Roaster (1268)
typical $90–$260
c. 1920s–1959
Cornbread Pan1918–1945Wagner Ware 7-Stick Corn Stick Pan
typical $20–$60
c. 1920s–1960s
Dutch Oven1918–1945Wagner Ware Drip Drop Roaster
typical $150–$320
c. 1920s–1940s
Griddle1918–1945Wagner Ware Square Skillet / Griddle (1218)
typical $50–$130
c. 1930s–1950s
Muffin Pan1918–1945Wagner Ware 11-Cup Muffin / Popover Pan (1323 / 1337)
typical $35–$90
c. 1920s–1950s
Waffle Iron1918–1945Wagner No. 8 Stovetop Waffle Iron
typical $100–$240
c. 1910s–1940s