Vintage cast iron called Favorite Piqua Ware.
Have you come across Favorite Piqua Ware cast iron at a garage sale? They have an ultra smooth cooking surface and thinner than modern made cast iron. If you like vintage cast iron rummage your local garage sales and flea market for a Favorite Piqua Ware skillet or bowl.
So why should you look for a Vintage Piqua Ware skillet? In this article we will cover;
- Who made Favorite Piqua Ware
- Variables which may affect the value and collectability
- Is Favorite Piqua Ware cast iron any good?
- The History of Favorite Stove and Range and the company’s predecessors
- How to date and identify the different Favorite Piqua Ware logos
- Final thoughts
Who made Favorite Piqua Ware?
Piqua Ware vintage cast iron is often in great shape and still very usable even on modern stoves including induction.
So “who made Favorite Piqua Ware?” Favorite Piqua Ware was in-fact the product name for cast iron cookware manufactured by a company name Favorite Stove & Range. Favorite Stove and Range like Wagner Manufacturing Company had a full range of cast iron products not only cast-iron cookware.
Do you have a Favorite Piqua skillet or maybe a scotch bowl? Don’t hide them away in the bottom shelve they are fantastic to cook with.
If you have a piece or two of antique cast iron? Well, these old pieces are still great cookers.
No need to tuck Grandma’s skillet away in the bottom cupboard. Use these old timers as your go-to pan and they’re also a lot of fun too use.
It’s kinda neat that you can cook in an old pan which someone used the 19th century on their coal-range.
Favorite Piqua Ware great cast iron without the price tag
There are many variables that can affect the price of vintage iron. Such variables include:
- Casting flaws
- Hairline cracks
- The smoothness of the cooking surface including pitting and utensil marks
- Size
- Movement on a flat surface
Favorite Piqua Ware is often less costly than the big two names in vintage or antique cast iron. The two being Griswold and Wagner.
So you may find a great Favorite Piqua Ware cast iron skillet or Scotch bowl for a lower price especially if you find a larger piece.
Favorite Piqua Ware, is it any good?
If Favorite Stove and Range cast iron is cheaper than Griswold and Wagner then a question to ask is “Favorite Piqua Ware any good?”
“Yes, Yes they are. Favourite Piqua Ware tends to be incredibly smooth and very light” You don’t need a Griswold or a Wagner to have a great vintage pan.”
If you look on eBay you’ll find many Favorite Pique Ware skillets in great shape. You won’t have to search for long to find one in great condition. Favorite Piqua Ware, Sidney Hollow Ware, which is one of my favorites and Wapak often go under the radar with collectors.
Often there are many listings to choose from and new listings are regular. However, many cast iron enthusiasts enjoy finding hidden gems at antique stores and garage sales. You could attend cast iron auctions and meet others cast iron enthusiasts.
The History of Favorite Stove and Range Co.
Where was Favorite Piqua Ware manufactured?
Favorite Stove and Range Co made Favorite Piqua Ware cast iron. They manufactured a wide range of cast iron products including cast iron stoves. Their foundry was located in Piqua Miami County in Ohio and like Sidney Hollow Ware the history is fascinating.
When was Piqua Ware manufactured?
Probably somewhere between 1916-1935.
Hollowware may have been manufactured before this date. However, 1916-1935 stands out in a possible strategy change towards hollowware or when hollowware was first manufactured in the Favorite Stove & Range Piqua Ohio foundry.
The foundations of the Favorite Stove and Range Co. started in 1832
Before the first Favorite Piqua Ware Skillet came off the line in their Ohio foundry. A different company called W C. Davis and Co established in Cincinnati in 1832. W. C Davis &. Co. founded by Willian C Davis.
W.C. Davis & Co.
The W.C. Davis & Co. was a company focused on the manufacture of ironware. They also had interests in another foundry called Anchor Iron Works, located in Cincinnati.
Like many foundries, W.C Davis & Co. didn’t focus on any one product. Instead, they manufactured a wide range of metalware.
W.C. Davis and Co. and Anchor Iron Works together manufactured a large range of metalware. W.C Davis manufactured metal coffins called the Fisk’s Metallic Burial Case under license.
W.C Davis & Co. also made cast iron hollowware
Although you can still find W.C Davis cast iron it much harder to find. If you have a piece of cast iron made by them, then you have a real piece history.
However, W.C Davis & Co. can still be found occasionally for sale. Pots and skillets may have a distinctive single pouring spout instead of the double pouring spouts which are standard today.
W.C Davis & Co. renamed to Great Western Stove Works
The W.C. Davis & Co was renamed to Great Western Stove Works which included a series of ongoing restructuring efforts. Davis also sold his interest in Anchor Iron Works to Chamberlain & Co. Iron and the casket business to Martin Hale Crane and J.R. Barnes in 1853.
The Great Western Stove Works to Favorite Stove Works
After the retirement of Willian Davis in 1880, a partner named Willian Boal who had a controlling financial interest renames the company from Great Western Stove Works to Favorite Stove Works.
The move from Cincinnati to Piqua
Willian Boal travelled to Piqua and soon after signed a contract to build a new foundry in the city.
Boal moved from Cincinnati to Piqua and formed the Favorite Stove and Range Company on July 1,1888. By 1889 the foundry become operational and began production
The growth of Favorite Stove & Range Co.
The Favorite Stove & Range Co. became the largest manufacturer in Piqua. The city also became affectionately known as the “Favorite City.”
Even by today’s standard, the company’s foundry was on a huge scale. The foundry was located on ten acres of land. It also employed 550 to 600 people when the foundry became established. Favorite Stove and Range had such an impact on the area, several other companies adopted “Favorite” in their company name.
New leadership and expansion of manufacturing hollowware
In 1916 Willian King Boal dies and Willian Stanhope Boal his son took over his fathers interests. It was Stanhope Boal who ramps up cast iron hollow ware production.
Labour Strikes
In 1919 a labour strike hit the firm. During this strike, workers demanded an extra 25 percent increase for wages for laborers. The strikes lasted for eleven days.
Management turnover
Stanhope Boal remained president until 1923. The next five years the company had three other presidents. Willian C. Katker became the final president for Favorite Stove & Range Co. in 1928.
The impact on Piqua Ware sales during the Great Depression
Sales declined in the 1930s because of the Great Depression.
The passing of Willian Stanhope Boal
On December 17th 1933 Willian S. Boal dies.
Favourite Stove & Range Co. liquidates
1935 the company liquidates, and patents, trademarks and tools were sold to Foster Stove Company of Ironton, Ohio.
Chicago Hardware Foundry bought patterns and machinery.
Post WW2 and the drop in demand
After restructuring, Katker renamed the company to the Favorite Manufacturing Company. However, the company operated on a much smaller scale. They produced coal and wood ranges, gas cooking stoves and hollowware although molding was outsourced to Champion Foundry Company also located in Piqua.
In 1958 the company stopped operation due to the post WW2 decline in demand.
Piqua Ware cast iron logos How to date Favorite Piqua Ware
Favorite Stove and Range used eight logos for their hollowware range between 1916-1935 seems to be the general consensus. Did they make hollow ware before this date? Yes, there are online catalogs to indicate hollow-ware was produced such as scotch bowls, caldrons and spiders. Spiders are basically frying pans with feet to raised out of hot coals. Although the spiders in the catalog do look to have no feet.
We know W.C. Davis & Co. produced skillets so it is not unreasonable to think Favorite Stove and Range do as well.
It’s also difficult to give an accurate date of manufactured cast iron by looking at the logos. However, we can look to other manufacturers at the time and look at their logos estimate of which Favorite Piqua Ware logos were most likely the earliest and which were the latest, towards the end of production.
Favorite Piqua Ware Block logo
Considered one of the older logos, the Favorite Piqua Ware block logo is simple but has plenty of charm.
The word “Favorite” is slightly arched and placed near the top of the skillet and Piqua Ware is stamped straight underneath. The lettering in this logo is capitalized in block form.
Favorite Piqua Ware Best To Cook In Block Logo
I love the “best o cook in” logo. It must have been pretty good marketing for the time.
Similar to the block logo. The word favorite is arced at the top of the skillet similar to an early Lodge or Wagner skillet. Piqua Ware is written under the word Favorite and is embossed straight. Finally “The best to cook in” is written beneath. The lettering again is in block form and in the same size font.
Sunrise with Favorite Piqua Ware
I’ve only seen this logo on waffle irons.
The Piqua Ware Sunrise logo looks pretty nifty. A circular logo in the center containing Favorite Stove and Ranges with the Sun rising and sunshine rays. Surrounding the logo are two banners. The upper banner contains the words “WE GUARANTEE” and the lower banner contains the words “BEST IN THE WORLD.” The circumference has familiar wording of “FAVORITE-PIQUA-WARE.”
Favorite equals Piqua Ware logo
I’ve only seen this logo a few times on waffle irons. Favorite equals Piqua Ware logo is not an official name for the logo. I haven’t found any information about this logo to name it differently. The logo lettering is arced with FAVORITE=PIQUA WARE written in upper case and in the same sized font.
Stylized Favorite Piqua Ware in block writing
This Favorite Piqua Ware logo is more stylized than the previously mentioned logos. Again Favorite is arced however the “F” and “E” FAVORITE are in a larger font. Piqua Ware is written in a smaller font than favorite. Lettering is all written in upper case.
Favorite Piqua Ware smiley logo
Do you have a soft spot for the smiley logo? I sure do. Although it’s very similar to the stylized logo the lettering is thinner. Underneath is ever so friendly embellishing which resembles a smile. This may have been a very popular logo and it’s not uncommon to find a Favorite Piqua Ware with this logo.
Favorite Stove & Range: Vertical Diamond Miami logo
This logo was made by Favorite Stove & Range however sometimes is referred to as Miami cast iron. The diamond is vertical with the word MIAMI written in the center, Although the lettering is Capitalized the font size varies to contain the wording within the logo.
Favorite Piqua Ware smiley logo and vertical diamond logo
This logo has both the smiley and the Miami logo. The Maimi logo is in the center while the smiley logo is in the regular position of 12 o’clock.
Puritan logo private Sears Roebuck logo
The Puritan logo was an in-store private label skillet which was made for Sears Roebuck and company which is commonly known as “Sears” department store.
Looking for a great piece of cast iron cookware then a Piqua Ware skillet could be just what you’re looking for
Favorite Piqua Ware cast iron tends to have smooth cooking surfaces like many of the manufactures at the time. However, a Favorite Piqua Ware skillet is likely cheaper than a Wagner or Griswold skillet.
Furthermore, a Favorite Piqua Ware skillet is great to cook with. There are some great bargains at a garage, Estate sales and auctions. Online stores are also a great option. Although you tend to pay internet prices you also have a wider choice to find a skillet that suits your needs.
Favorite Piqua Ware is fantastic vintage iron if you find a nice piece at a reasonable price I think it will do you do proud for many years after all these pieces are or nearing one hundred years old and they cook just as well today as they did all those years ago.
Happy cast iron hunting.
Why does my skillet look like brass?
Hi, Kevin thanks for the message.
There could be several reasons for this but if I was to guess without seeing your cast iron. I’d say your cookware is or was one plated with chrome or nickel. Favorite Stove and Range did plate some of their cast iron. Because of the age of these pans, plating is often worn off. However, there is a noticeable color difference between plated and bare cast iron. Sometimes plated cast iron appears bronze or copper.
Both chromium and nickel are used in modern stainless steel cookware today which helps rust prevention and to make the cookware nonreactive to acidic foods.
Regarding the #9 Dutch oven by Favorite Piqua Ware. Is that size rare or did they not make very many? I have searched and searched and have not yet found one. With my shape,brand ,or size.
Hi Robin,
The Favorite Stove and Range Company were pretty big players. They manufactured a wide range of cast iron hollowware including Dutch ovens. I guess your oven has a smiley logo on it.
Piqua Ware Dutch ovens are around but you’re more likely to come across Griswold and Wanger ovens. I often see number #8 and #9 for sale and occasionally they are sold with a trivet. The company also made enameled versions.
I’ve seen two different versions of the cover. One domed while the other looks similar to the dome but flatter and grooved. The latter design is more scarce. However, both styles of lids I know of are rounded.
If this doesn’t sound like your oven, you’re welcome to in send a picture and I’ll have a look over it.
Cheers for the message Robin
Could I send you a picture. It has a flat lid ,bail handle. Flat bottomed. In very good shape.#9.
Hi Robin
Feel free to send over a picture or two. If you’re on mobile just, type contact in the search bar. It should bring up the contact page.
I have a Favorite Piqua Ware #9 cast iron Dutch oven with handle and lid in very good condition. How do I find out how old it is and what it’s worth if I sell it? It has a flat lid and has a flat bottom.
Hi there Robin
Thanks for getting in contact.
I’d have a look on eBay to see the current asking prices. The sold listings on eBay is a good way to find out what people willing to pay. You can also compare the condition of your Dutch oven with other Piqua Ware Dutch ovens and to see if it has the correct lid.
Just keep in mind online asking prices are often higher than other selling methods. I’d say you’re looking at Circa 1916-1935.
Hope this helps with your decision