Manfuacturers' History

Griswold History

Matthew Griswold and the Selden brothers started their business by manufacturing separable butt hinges and other articles of light hardware in 1865. They worked in a building know as the "Butt Factory." The building was on West 10th and Chestnut Streets, on the bank of the Erie Extension Canal. The closest I can get to the date they started making cookware is 1865.

The name was changed to the Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company in 1873.

The firm was reorganized in 1887, and the Griswold Manufacturing Company was chartered.

They added aluminum cookware to their line before the turn of the century. Records show that the first aluminum piece (a tea kettle) was made in approximately 1893.

The firm moved onto the corners of 12th and Raspberry Streets in 1903.

Griswold Mfg. Co. started enameling some items in the 1920’s and within 10 years had branched into some electric cooking items.

The Griswold Manufacturing Company was sold in 1946 to a syndicate of New York City investors. By 1947, all members of the Griswold family had left the company.

In March of 1957, McGraw Edison of Chicago, Illinois purchased Griswold, ending the 81 years that the Griswold family owned the company. On October 7, 1957, it was announced that the Housewares Division and the Griswold name and trademarks were to be sold to a competitor, the Wagner Manufacturing Company of Sidney, Ohio.

On December 7, 1957, the plant in Erie, PA closed its doors.

The Wagner Manufacturing Company continued the Griswold name and trademark, but pieces made during that time period did not have the phrase "Erie, Pa." on them.

Wagner transferred all Griswold trademark rights to Textron Inc. (Randall Company) in January of 1959. Until 1969, cast iron cookware marketed with the Griswold trademark was manufactured in Sidney, Ohio by the Randall Company.

In August of 1969 General House wares Corp. acquired all rights to both the Griswold and Wagner trademarks.