These Rare Waffle Irons Might Just Be The Holy Grail Of Retro Cooking Tools

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If the Arthurian legends are to be believed, it was the pure and virtuous Sir Galahad who found the holy grail. Some antique collectors would disagree, happily sidestepping a poky old chalice if it meant getting their hands on some authentic Griswold waffle irons, also known as "spinners." It's worth checking your attic for any rare, retro cooking tools, and if the aforementioned gadget is lurking among the boxes and bric-a-brac, you've got what quite a few enthusiasts regard as the true holy grail of vintage kitchen collectibles. But what makes Griswold cast iron so special?

Aficionados insist it's a combination of the Erie, Pennsylvania-based company's history and the excellent design and quality of Griswold's cast iron cookware, which started production in 1865. However, less than 100 years later, the Erie site closed, and the Griswold label was sold to rival manufacturer Wagner in 1957. Then, General Housewares snapped up both brands in 1969.

Both Griswold and Wagner's cookwares were good quality, but many argue the latter company couldn't beat Griswold's craftsmanship and attention to detail, from its lightweight feel to the completely smoothed edges and distinctive, more ornate handles. Some collectors have suggested that so many retro Griswold products, including the spinners, are in such good condition today because their owners paid a little extra for them. As one Redditor neatly quipped: "You'd take better care of a Ferrari than a KIA."

The Griswold company manufactured a huge variety of cast products, including the Iron Mountain range, which doesn't carry the Griswold name. So it's no surprise to learn there are many kinds of Griswold waffle irons for collectors to swoon over, with varying patterns, such as the heart and star (which earned a pleased holy grail designation by not one, but at least two antique-hunters on Facebook), and six types of hinges: ball, acorn, button, scissor, finger, and CLOWS. Despite the prolific output, some kinds have become rarer than others. There are retro Griswold waffle irons that have high and low frames to accommodate different types of stovetops, while those with CLOW stamped across the center were part of a collaboration between Griswold and a Seattle flour company. We're up for using our waffle iron for all sorts of dishes, but if we had one of those highly prized models, maybe not!

Handily, there's a lot of information stamped onto Griswold's waffle irons that can help date and authenticate them, as well as confirm whether each component actually belongs together. Many enthusiasts turn to Sidney Hollow Ware's "The Book of Griswold & Wagner", dubbed "the blue book," to learn more about their cast iron cookware. And, since the company's constant innovation led to lots of technical changes, even if you have a genuine Griswold waffle iron, it could have been assembled from separate production periods. Ultimately, though, if you treasure your waffle iron as much as Julia Child loved her stalwart Foley fork, who really cares?