Pyrex Stamped JAJ

Q: A friend of mine has a huge set of china (at least, I think it’s china) marked “JAJ” over a crown and “Made in England.” Can you tell us the maker and possibly the history behind it?   A: Your friend has a set of Pyrex, not china, made by James A. Jobling, a […]

Knife Sharpener

Q: Can you shed some light on what this is and who the maker is? The blade section has 6 sides. Any idea what it may be worth, even though it’s in rough shape? A: This is a simple knife sharpener, part of a carving set that included a carving knife and meat fork. The […]

Universal Food Chopper

Q: This Universal grinder belonged to my mother. I’m 92 years old, so I know this grinder is very old. It’s heavy and is marked “Universal” and “L.F. & C., New Britain, Conn., USA.” What is it worth? A: The Universal food chopper was made by Landers, Frary & Clark. George Landers began making hardware […]

Griswold Skillet

Q: I have my mother-in-law’s old cast-iron skillet. It has this marking on the bottom. She would be 130 years old, so I think the skillet must be very old, too. Please tell me if it’s worth keeping. A: Your skillet was made by Griswold Manufacturing Co. of Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1865 Matthew Griswold and […]

Toledo Cooker Steamer

Q: A friend gave me this steamer, which is in good condition. Can you tell me how it was used, what it’s worth, or anything else about it? A: Charles E. Swartzbaugh founded Peerless Cooker Co. in Buffalo, New York, in 1884. He invented both a steam cooker and a “fireless cooker.” By the early […]

Gibson’s Cambria Oak Icebox

Q: I bought this old oak icebox at an antique store. There was no history with it. Can you tell me something about the maker? It has a metal plate on the front that says “Gibson’s Cambria.” A: Frank Gibson and John Lewis began manufacturing “ice refrigerators” in Greenville, Mich., in 1877. Gibson bought Belding-Hall […]

Cutting Edge

Geneva Cutlery Co. used this mark showing workers at a forge c.1934. The company began making scissors under the name Geneva Shears Co. about 1900. The company name was changed to Geneva Cutlery Co. in 1902, when it began making pocketknives and razors. The company was bought by the Edward Katzinger Co. of Chicago in […]

A Star!

Bless & Drake of Newark, New Jersey, used this star mark on sadirons, (an iron used to press clothes), about 1877.The word “sad” meant “heavy” or “solid.” Sadirons were heated by putting them on top of the stove or in front of a fire. Bless & Drake was in business from 1856 to 1927.

A Sweet Mark

This top-shaped mark can be found on chocolate molds made by Eppelsheimer & Co. of New York City. Eppelsheimer, the largest domestic manufacturer of chocolate molds, was in business from c.1880 to 1947. This trademark was registered in 1921.

Griswold Spider Mark

This raised spider and web mark was used on cast-iron cookware made by Griswold Manufacturing Company of Erie, Pennsylvania. The body of the spider is a skillet with the word “Erie” incised on it. The mark was used 1870-1905 on the No. 8 skillet and the Nos. 7, 8, and 9 teapots. A No. 8 […]