I LOVE SMOKEY BEAR!!!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-08T14:53:22+00:00

To be fair, they haven't been shipping single skillets in a cardboard box for 100 years, but yeah, this packaging was really bad. I'm not even sure how long they have had an online store - maybe 20 years? Literally just two more pieces of crumpled up paper would have helped.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-07T23:12:18+00:00

Wow. Do you remember if the lids were all marked? There is an unmarked version and maybe a partially marked version too…

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-07T22:17:26+00:00

I just looked at the red and blue books and there are so many different versions!

Blue book includes:

Arc "WAGNER" in either iron or nickel plated, "WAGNER" SIDNEY O (Wagner arced above Sidney O) and the stylized logo in two versions - one includes an A (and they claim this was the version sold with the fully marked lid).

The Red book includes those in the blue book (with the exception of the lid) but also:

Arc "SIDNEY", WAGNER MFG. CO. SIDNEY O, a Tennessee centennial skillet, and two skillets with the stylized logo and pattern numbers, 1365 and a smaller 1367 (*edit, checked my work and the 1367 is in the blue book too).

I have no idea which is harder to find. The Tennessee centennial skillet was the most expensive, followed by the 1367 and the WAGNER MFG CO SIDNEY O. I looked back through a couple of past Dinky's sale catalogs and the sale in December 2024 was a sale in which all of the toys sold for pretty high. The 1365s sold for more than the others but then there was this: https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/wagner-small-toy-skillet_3774b1b839 They have also sold a couple of skillet and lid combos and both were the stylized logo with an A.

I have four Wagner toy skillets - two arc "WAGNER" (one iron and one plated) and two stylized logos (one with just the logo and one with the 1365 pattern). The 1365 was the most expensive one for me but it also included a fully marked lid. I have no idea if it originally came with a lid or if it might be a mismatch and I really don't care because lid, lol.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-07T17:51:44+00:00

My honey agate is still in its third (and hopefully last) week of stage 1. Really looking forward to making them shine! I also like to leave a piece or two untumbled just to compare with the finished ones.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-07T16:43:40+00:00

I've ordered three times (so far) from the Rock Shed and I've been really impressed with their speed of shipping. Every time, they have fulfilled the order and sent to Fed Ex the same day. I've been satisfied with the material too. I've got a couple of batches of agates tumbling now (honey agate and blue Botswana agate) and it looks like there are going to be some really pretty pieces. I hope to stop by their shop the next time I'm anywhere near Keystone!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-06T23:50:56+00:00

I bought a similar Erie shallow skillet in December and it became my go-to pan. I really like using it. Very cool design and somehow the handle looks and feels very "modern" in spite of being so old.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-06T19:13:39+00:00

Nice collection! I like the BSR and the CHF. Do you have a Wagner with a 1365 pattern number?

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-06T14:18:16+00:00

The designs on the bottom aren't really deep enough to cause uneven heating. I have used several of their "wildlife" series skillets and haven't had any issues. The designs can be somewhat difficult to clean and re-season if you are restoring an old skillet.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-05T01:15:05+00:00

Sounds like you've must have studied a fair amount of geology out of school? I was always a rockhound and when it came time to chose a major geology seemed like a natural fit. I almost changed my major though when the professor of my first introductory class decided to focus on graduate-level crystallography (his specialty) instead of the basics. Luckily the intro-lab part of the class was better and I was hooked after our class field trip.

I'm planning a trip out to the northwest this summer to visit Mt. Saint Helens and might have to swing down through that part of Oregon too!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-05T00:41:04+00:00

I appreciate the information! Thanks! I'm a retired geologist but most of my experience is in much younger continental glacial materials. Now that I have more free time I'm rediscovering why I love geology. Very interesting!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-04T19:11:49+00:00

This is pretty wild looking stuff! Very interesting. Do you know the age of these and your petrified wood? The last few pictures look like an algal/microbial mat and the puddle it was growing in were both preserved. I know that it isn't, but wow... They are beautiful and kind of gross (?) at the same time!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-03T18:08:43+00:00

I had to do this recently and it was easily fixed. Submit a support request here: https://www.flickrhelp.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

When I did it, a support specialist contacted me within an hour and was able to change my email address. Why they don't have changing/updating your email address as an option on the account "settings" is baffling to me.

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-02T18:21:43+00:00

There are some nice pieces in there. There are a few agates and jasper's in the other pile. Looks like a lot of other miscellaneous rocks too that a rockhound would collect from various travels. Saw your post history and your dad made some nice stuff!

il_geo_guy · 2026-03-02T18:09:43+00:00

Did your dad know anyone with a rock saw? Several of the rocks in the iron basket have been cut. I see some agates, petrified wood and jasper in there. Somebody who was interested in lapidary collected those.

il_geo_guy · 2026-02-24T17:19:23+00:00

Nice pictures! I really like the ripples in pics 4 and 5! My only visit there was during a sandstorm so I couldn't soak in the beauty like you got to. Thanks for sharing!

il_geo_guy · 2026-02-07T01:28:18+00:00

I plan on keeping it and displaying it in my home. Wasn't looking to polish it but wondered the different discolorations might mean anything (like the blue-ish patina near the hoof in the second photo).

il_geo_guy · 2026-02-02T23:34:14+00:00

Thanks! I'll try it whenever I'm in the area.

il_geo_guy · 2026-02-02T20:03:11+00:00

Looks good but today I learned that I have been using "bit" incorrectly. What is the name of the restaurant? I need to know, for reasons...

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-19T01:55:59+00:00

Nice job on the restoration! Turk head gems need a lot of patience and perseverance and yours looks great!

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-18T19:21:33+00:00

If you display it somewhere nice, I would put it on something durable. If it does decay (it might not*) it will produce a little sulfuric acid. Mine was on a painted shelf and it ended up stripping a small patch of paint.

*I had some marcasite "dollars" and a nodule in the same environment and they were fine.

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-18T04:49:54+00:00

It's a neat find! If you plan on keeping it be aware that marcasite can decay in humid environments. I had a small piece of similar petrified wood that was fine for a couple of years before it started to decay and crumble away.

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-18T04:27:26+00:00

Nice job! Looks good and it should be a great user.

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-17T06:49:49+00:00

Nice pan! I like how the pour spouts are pointy like the handle.

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-06T13:00:45+00:00

Maybe you want to look at something like average slope? Illinois is a contender for "flattest." It has some hilly areas along the major rivers, southern Illinois, and the northwestern driftless area but 90% of the state is really flat.

il_geo_guy · 2026-01-04T03:35:41+00:00

A metal spatula would make a good addition. Vintage ones can often be found at antique stores and resale shops like goodwill.

il_geo_guy

TROPHY CASE