Getting Started Collecting BSR Cast Iron Cookware

[@stevennolan2675]

It's amazing how quickly you can learn about cast iron watching folks like you and others on these KZbin videos, Thanks!!!

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome.

[@RickHunter811]

Great info. I started collecting and restoring cast iron about 5 years ago. You did an incredible job on this video.

[@castIroncookware]

Thank you, I appreciate that so much.

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome

[@donnawatkins8542]

Started watching your videos yesterday. I cannot stop watching. Thank you for these videos. I checked my cast iron skillet (the only one I have) it is a Red Mountain Series #8. I was so happy! It is a daily user for my cornbread and biscuits. Thanks again

[@castIroncookware]

Awesome! Red Mountain is my favorite.

[@whomcnem8812]

I just picked up one of those at a flea market for $2 !

[@koshergrillboss1355]

Glad to know I was not the only one that tries to make corn cob stick by putting two corn stick pans together, like you shared in this video.

[@castIroncookware]

It works good you just have to get the timing right. You can't really tell by looking at it when it's done. 18 to 20 minutes at 500 degrees is about right.

[@lyndabaxter9943]

Great information here Stephen!! Thanks for sharing. I just started collecting, this was very helpful!

[@castIroncookware]

Lynda Baxter you are so very welcome. I hope to add more videos as time goes.

[@lyndabaxter9943]

I'll look forward to that! You have a wonderful collection! I live in Canada, I haven't seen many BSR up here and bought both I saw! Our stories sound the same. I've done exactly what you did... I went to all the thrift stores, antique stores, yard sales etc... only to find out I was just a tad late! I started telling everyone, and the antique stores that I was after CI. Well, they now collect for me and I check with them weekly to see what they found. My collection is growing. My passion is restoring them, displaying them and of course, cooking in them! I joined the CI cooking group in October and it's been a game changer for my cooking. I love being in the kitchen now!! I have 2 BSR pans, thanks to you I know now they are the Century Series, and number 8 and number 5. I'll be on the hunt and let you now if I find anymore. They are great looking skillets!

[@randallj5683]

My mom passed away in 2014 my dad moved to independent living last month . I have been cleaning their house. that they have lived in since 1963. I found a BSR no10 in the back of a cupboard. . Thanks for helping me identify it . Thanks again dude. It will always be in my family. It is awesome.

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome

[@castironchaos]

A nice video featuring my favorite vintage cast iron brand. A couple of notes about Red Mountain: the #14 actually did not have the pronounced ridge on the bottom of the handle. It was so large, they were unable to make it with the ridge; so a 14 Red Mountain would have a handle with a much less pronounced ridge on the underside. When the DISA machinery began producing skillets, they continued using some of the Red Mountain molds for a few years. This gave a number of #12 and #14 skillets that had the single size number of 12 or 14, and the ridge underneath the handle -- but they were Century series pans. Also, there were the "handwritten" Red Mountain pans, which are believed to be the very first generation or series of skillets produced.

[@castIroncookware]

Great info. Your comments are greatly appreciated. I have just recently acquired a RM #14 and did notice that the ridge is not pronounced like the smaller pieces. BSR is my favorite as well. There is a lot of history to be pieced together about them. I can't wait until my set is complete.

[@larrywallace3637]

Good Video! BSR is pretty common in Kansas. I have been fortunate to find size 14, 2 size 12's, numerous size 8's, 7's, 6's, and 3's. I have kept the Red Mountain series but the Century series size 8's I give away to family and friends. I even have 2 fish fryers and 2 dutch ovens. 1 D.O. is pre-1960's. Fun stuff!

[@castIroncookware]

Awesome! I don't have a fish fryer at the moment but I am looking for one. Hopefully on my next hunt I'll run across one. You really never know what to expect when you're out looking sometimes you get surprised.

[@timrose6152]

I picked up a bar 5 and unmarked Wagner 5 today cuz of you , thanks...lol

[@timrose6152]

That was bsr.. oops

[@randrowe9660]

Stephen, I will send a picture of the griddle. I really appreciate your helping. I went on my first look for cast iron today...after watching your videos. I was happily surprised that I could name most of what I found including a BSR Dutch Oven for 24 dollars...will go back with money next time! I forgot to check it for spin but since it would be in my oven don't know why it matters? Thanks so much...really cool to know a little about cast iron! Rand

[@forrestdaniels6382]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial on BS&R pans. I have a #8 Century pan that wobbles on my glass top stove. Maybe just toss it out?

[@brandonsantillan9073]

It would still make a great oven pan

[@jeffnix3307]

I recently found one that my mom had. She passed away in 2009. Thanks for the information. It is stamped 8 N.

[@craigw4410]

Got hooked on your hunting in the wild videos and ready for the next one! Silly question, I've heard always heat a cast iron skillet slowly on the stove but have also heard it is OK to put a room temp skillet in a scalding hot oven (for pizzas, etc). If so, is that because the oven heats the skillet evenly and the stove does not? I assume that's it. Thanks

[@castIroncookware]

That is correct.

[@daleswier8429]

Have you done a video showing how to identify BSR Dutch ovens yet? I’ve recently picked up a couple of BSR skillets and have seen a few Dutch ovens that made me think they may be BSR units, but I’m uncertain about identifying them. Thanks for all your informative content.

[@castIroncookware]

I haven't yet but hopefully I will get a chance to make another video on BSR and include more tops and pieces. That was one of my first videos and for some reason one of my most watched even though the quality was kind of poor.

[@randydean888]

Thanks for the information! I found a small skillet in my parent's attic in Oklahoma. It's origin has been forever a mystery. Turns out, it's a BSR Red Mnt 3S.

[@castIroncookware]

That is awesome!

[@boogermeats]

Nice collection. I especially liked the big (100 w?) Fender amp. I have a Lodge cactus cornbread pan but none of the corn ear pans. I think the cactus pan doesn't cook evenly but it's cool.

[@castIroncookware]

I do not have one of those Cactus pans but they are cool. I have a Fender Stratocaster Ultra from 1996 and it pairs great with the amplifier. I don't get to play as much as I would like to lately. Usually just on Sunday morning church.

[@rhughes1795]

@Booger Meat ...Don't dry out, you'll get all salty and crusty LoL!!

[@johncassell-f3o]

A great place to find cast iron is your local scrap iron place just found a 10" chicken fryer, a 10 " regular skillet and another 10" skillet plus a lid that will fit either of the skillets. I paid .30 cents per pound and it only cost me 6.00 dollars for all. Happy hunting.

[@monkeywrench5942]

I found two bsr at a goodwill here in ohio. A century chicken fryer and a 5B Red mountain. Those skillets led me to your videos

[@Logiconfire]

Informative video and a nice collection.

[@207crafts]

I have a skillet with an 8 on the handle on top. Also, 10 1/2 inch skillet on the bottom. Does have swirl marks inside. Any ideas?

[@castIroncookware]

That one sounds like an unmarked Wagner.

[@koshergrillboss1355]

Started My Collecting with Lodge but now BSR and Martin have started showing up on my wall. My first griswold has its place too.

[@castIroncookware]

Awesome!

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

Thanks for the video, I bought two BSR corn bread stick pans I believe to be the red mountain series. They have the larger numbers & letters on the back of them, one is a 7A other is 7B with the handles, my wife calls the bottle opener handles, ha! I also already had a BSR 10.5 or so in. skillet with tell tell handle & large 8 & GN on the bottom. What is your opinion? This video is great for referencing back to for BSR CI. I also enjoy the videos when you go on the hunt for CI.

[@castIroncookware]

+Mike Jones I really like the bottle opener handles description. It sounds to me like you have some really good pieces there. I believe the GN is the mold number. If 8 GN is all that is on the bottom then you have a Red Mountain. I'm going to do another hunting cast iron cookware in the wild video this Saturday and should be posting it next Thursday only 20th. I'm glad that you enjoy my videos. Thank you for the encouragement and tell your wife thank you for the bottle openers term because I will be using it a lot now.

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

Well... It looks like I finally have a BSR Red Mountain Series skillet! That is all it had on the bottom & I'm stoked! My wife laughed about her bottle opener description & said, " WELL... That's what it looks like". I cain't argue with that. 😃 Looking forward to watching your new video. Thanks again, Steven.

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

I mean Stephen. Sorry, misspelled your name. Keep those videos coming.

[@castIroncookware]

Not a problem

[@diannareedrealtor]

Hi! Birmingham Stone and Range Cornstick pan with markings 7S 26 - no other markings - how old is it? It is a sentimental piece from my grandmother

[@castIroncookware]

The size of the letters are really important for dating. Red Mountain series with the larger letters ran from the 1930's up until 1950. The century series with the smaller letters ran from the 1950s all the way up until 1991.

[@fishyboney]

I got a cast iron skillet from a Flea Market. It has No.7 1/8 inch mark on the base. It also hase a “+” next to the inch mark. What does that sign mean. Any indications ??

[@castIroncookware]

It sounds as though you have a Birmingham Stove and Range Century series piece. That little mark is is a quality control mark. Put there as part of the process of identifying a problem mold.

[@robbyritter4245]

Being from the south myself I find more BS&R and Lodge cast iron than anything else. It's kinda rare to run across a piece of Wagner or Griswold because they're both northern companies.

[@castIroncookware]

That's true. It's getting kind of hard to even find Martin here in north Alabama and the Martin foundry was not too far away. I chalk that up to more and more people getting into collecting.

[@randrowe9660]

Stephen, how can I tell if I have a BSR griddle? markings?

[@castIroncookware]

BSR griddles are a little tricky to identify. I've not owned one until just a few months ago because I didn't know how to recognize them. The only way I was able to recognize them is by comparing them to a known piece. I currently have three and I had to have help with identifying all three of them. If you can take some pictures, top and bottom including handles. I will be glad to compare them to the ones that I have to help you identify them. If you have something different maybe I can help you figure that out as well. My email address is [e-mail]

[@alanabraham3129]

My ex-wife bought me a cast iron skillet which turned out to be a Birmingham Cast Iron Skillet 6 5/8 IN No. 3 (it also has a 1H-3 cast below the 6 5/8 IN.) do you know what that stands for or means?

[@weswalker1208]

The way that it was easy for me to remember BSR corn stick pans it's something that I've never heard anybody else mention. The handle on the right you look at it looks like a bee for Birmingham the one on the left is a backwards b

[@castIroncookware]

Yes, that is a good way to remember it.

[@waterfront4me]

FANTASTIC VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome and thank you for watching.

[@markvail2147]

Hi,I found a #3 and #5 century series today at a flea market.I got both for $11. Do you have any idea why BSR is so commonly found all over the country? Were they sold by sears robucks or some other catalog store?

[@randrowe9660]

Stephen...Do you know how long Martin from Florence, Alabama was in business? Just wondering if I will find any in SC or Tennessee where my daughter settled. Thanks for any info. Also...which FB did you just start?

[@castIroncookware]

Martin was in business from 1917-1953. You can find more around the Tenn/Al line area and it spreads out from there. The Group is called Cast Iron Cookware but I made a mistake and changed the status too many times and got it locked to secret for 28 days. I am waiting on a reply from Facebook and hope they will give me a pass but if not it will be about 26 more days before it will publish.

[@KYR_TRASHCAN]

I just acquired a bsr grill from 1954 I believe anyway to find more information on it?

[@castIroncookware]

The sportsman grills are really nice. There are quite a few generations of those.

[@katherinereece]

I just go to my Mom's. Daddy worked for BSR for almost 20 years.

[@smokefire_southern_eats]

Love what you do, Do what you love! Jesus is our BEST friend! Did you shop at trade days at Tannehill?! My wife and I did alot back about 10 yrs ago. Glad I found your channel!

[@90JoeVandal]

I have a BSR Red Mountain #5 (or so I think) but the number is on the top of the handle. There's nothing stamped on the bottom. Is there a time when BSR marked their pans that way? Thanks for the video.

[@castIroncookware]

I don't think so but there are always surprises when it comes to cast iron. If you can send me a picture, I might be able to help you identify it. You are welcome to email it to me or better yet we have just started a Facebook group called cast iron cookware. That would be a good place to post and share especially if it is unique. I will drop a link to the group in the description of this video. here is a link to the group facebook.com/groups/2143323549278008/?ref=group_header

[@90JoeVandal]

@@castIroncookware Thanks for the quick reply. I'll email you pictures shortly. I just got into cast iron collecting and I don't even know why! I'm not much of a cook. But now I sneak out at lunch at work and run to a thrift shop or two looking for skillets! Haha!

[@castIroncookware]

@@90JoeVandal It is a little addicting but really enjoyable. looking forward to seeing the pics.

[@captainnibby]

I THINK I have a BSR that came with my house in the oven drawer. Only point of confusion that no one seems to talk about is that it has a "1" stamped in the underside of the handle, but the markings on the pan itself are the exact same as any BSR No. 5 century I've seen. I noticed that some of yours have a number stamped on the under side of the handle and some don't... why is that?

[@castIroncookware]

That is most likely a mold mark or even possibly a shift mark. Occasionally you will also see a very small number inside the hangar hole the may have the same purpose.

[@captainnibby]

That's exactly where it's stamped, yes. Mystery solved! Thank you very much!

[@karenmckinney6461]

Enjoyed the video great information thanks for sharing

[@castIroncookware]

Thank you so very much.

[@rhondaward4688]

I have a cast iron skillet with a 5. on the bottom and another with a 4 on top of the handle. I would love to have help identifying them. I have identified most of mine as BSR, but not sure on these two.

[@castIroncookware]

If you can come you are welcome to send some pictures to my email and I will do what I can to help you identify them. My email address is [e-mail]

[@rhondaward4688]

@@castIroncookware, thanks so much. I just sent you an email with the pictures.

[@75SakoHunter]

Why wasn’t “USA” stamped on the back of the Century series? Thought that was some kind of trade requirement after the late 60’s??

[@castIroncookware]

The Century Series started in 1950 and a good many of them did not have the Made In USA on them. It was in the late 1960's when it became widespread.

[@mrsseasea]

I love my BSR....i have a chicken fryer century , and it has a “screw” head on the bottom, might be a “reject”?

[@castIroncookware]

I have learned that the screw is an inspection mark to help to identify suspect molds. They would put a screw in a mold and then look at the finished piece to determine weather or no to repair, take out of service or look at another mold. Any rejects were thrown back in the melting pot. I love BSR

[@72pinebarron]

Nicely done!! Thank you sir!!

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome.

[@thejasonbischoff]

Probably every region had its own cast iron makers back in the day.

[@castIroncookware]

That is true. of course, you had a few makers that really grew to be quite large. At the height of production, Birmingham Stove and Range was one of the largest.

[@mrsseasea]

this is a great information video, thank you.

[@castIroncookware]

You are so very welcome.

[@bridgescwr6136]

Thank you for sharing. I have a sauce pan with lid from my mother in law who was from Randolph county Ga. Do you know much about the sauce pans? The lid(#2) is a perfect match to the pan.

[@castIroncookware]

I know a little bit. I've only had a few myself.

[@bridgescwr6136]

@@castIroncookware please share a bit as I only know of my mother in law. Why a few and what did you learn from the worst of your experiences, please?

[@castIroncookware]

@@bridgescwr6136 I suppose my worst experience is finding a piece, getting excited about it, stripping it down and finding out that its cracked. there might be more of them but just not so many around here.

[@bridgescwr6136]

@@castIroncookware I appreciate you. My #2 is still in service, it's pitted and not cracked or bowed. Thanks to you I've learned I do in deeded have BSR, all are lovingly being used(they are my mother-in-laws. My husband uses the 5J only!!! Please share your fondest experience please.

[@bridgescwr6136]

Has anyone info on the Lady Bess line or at least give some direction?

[@leroywyman2950]

Have you ever seen pans with a duck. Deer. Fish. And boyscout cymble embossed on bottom

[@castIroncookware]

Yes, Lodge made quite a few paces like that.

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

I bought a piece of cast iron today that was unknown to me but is a cool piece. It is a no 3 skillet with heat ring & has Obrien & Obrien Chicago, ill. on the bottom & nothing else & I found a 12 in. camp chef skillet with heat ring Lewis & Clark explorer or expedition corps there was no USA made mark I really wished I had took a pic of that one because I can't remember exactly what all was on the bottom, nice though, didn't buy it & it was actually light to be 12 in. It was like Griswold or Wagner. Have you run across these before?

[@castIroncookware]

Camp Chef is still available today to purchase new but the O'Brien piece is a little hard bit to pin down. There is not a whole lot of information out there on them. The #3's seem to go for some where around $25.00. I haven't ran across any myself. Mostly I've seen them on Iron Man Auction on Facebook

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

That is about the price, probably paid too much but it was in grade A shape & i thought that this would be the last one i would ever see, you know how it goes when you are hunting but with a US city name on it i had to get it, ha! Is it possible it could have been made @ US Chicago Foundry?

[@castIroncookware]

+Mike Jones I do believe that it was made in Chicago. I didn't think to mention that prices for cast iron online usually come with a $15 shipping cost so $25 online actually translates to 35 or 40. If I ran across one for $25 or so I would probably pick it up too. In good condition I believe that it would be worth having. Places with Foundry names on them or more desirable than the unmarked pieces.

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

I didn't think about the added cost of shipping if I had bought it online. Good point. Thanks. I do have it in a vinegar bath just to take some crust off the outside but the bones of it is great. someone took good care of it over the, century or so. That's what is neat about cast iron if it could only talk. ha!

[@castIroncookware]

+Mike Jones you may want to be a little careful with the vinegar though because vinegar can eat away at the iron as well. Usually when you're down to bare iron you want to only keep it in the vinegar bath for 30 minutes or less because vinegar is mainly used for eating away the rust which is essentially cast iron itself. A lie bath works great for organic material like seasoning and old oils and you can leave it in that indefinitely. The Easy-Off oven cleaner with the Yellow Cap is basically the same as a live bath you can spray the peice down really heavily and put it in a plastic bag and let it sit for days and that will take off all of the organic material. I have seen pieces get pitted by leaving them in a vinegar bath too long. I just want to give you a heads up on that one.

[@jameslenoir6199]

what about a 2 qt pot long handle bean pot red mountain serase. with lid

[@Southernsmile4u]

I have benjamin & medwin 10 1/2 do you know what the date would be on it?

[@castIroncookware]

+Southernsmile 4u I believe that Benjamin medwin were an Asian import from somewhere around the 80s. There's not a whole lot of information out there on these. Not however considered collectible but they can be good users. I think I had one on my episode 3 video and that's the only one I ever remember seeing.

[@Southernsmile4u]

Thank you love the videos ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@castIroncookware]

Your welcome

[@onenut58]

How about a video on bs&r lids

[@rileyhabermehl4194]

Great information

[@williambrown8372]

I have a BSR corn stick pan without any numbers or letters on it.

[@jessicastefanoff4304]

I just acquired a piece the handle looks like a Birmingham stove and range it's a square skillet the numbers that are stamped in it are recessed in and it has no number I was hoping you could help me identify this pan

[@castIroncookware]

check out hunting cast iron cookware in the wild episode-5 at the time Mark 24:20. There is a Birmingham Stove and Range Square skillet that I'm talking about. That might be what you have. let me know what you find.

[@Windyhillfarm71]

Great video, thank you

[@castIroncookware]

You're welcome.

[@mrsseasea]

have you ran across an very old one? i’m considering one one ebay...it’s a 10 it just a 10 on the bottom, it’s dead close to 3 inches and it’s even milled on the outer bottom......if you get a chance check it out and let me know y0ur thoughts. thank you.

[@donniepatterson531]

What about martin's out of florence

[@kennethwood713]

why do your century series not say made in USA if made 70s-80s

[@castIroncookware]

That's one of my older videos and got the dates off on it somewhat. The pieces that did not have Made in USA on them were made between the 1950s and 1960s. The Made in USA is from the late 1960s and up. lighter.

[@weswalker1208]

Found the video you did do the books

[@castIroncookware]

There is not a lot in the books about BSR. There is however a book put out by Jason Walker that is very helpful concerning BSR. I'm hoping that he will eventually get it in full public circulation. As soon as he makes it available, I will make sure that I share it on this channel. I will also make sure that everyone has a link to be able to purchase it.

[@weswalker1208]

@@castIroncookware Jason is amazing with this history.

[@arthurholmes2210]

I live in Alabama if you ever want to sell any let me know .

[@castIroncookware]

I'm really working hard toward buying back the ones that I have sold in the past. LOL. it's hard to sell.

[@arthurholmes2210]

@@castIroncookware i have a few thing you called rare wish i could send pictures .

[@whomcnem8812]

Don’t throw away that warped skillet. Throw away that glass stove and get a gas stove your wallet may not like it but you will .

[@castIroncookware]

Planning on a kitchen remodel at the moment. Definitely will be going to a gas system.