On Jan 24, 1:57 am, "jmcquown" > wrote:
> ntantiques wrote:
> > On Jan 23, 2:18 pm, "Chris Marksberry"
> > > wrote:
> >>> I was googling 'large granite ware roaster' that Wayne said, "I
> >>> still have a large granite ware roaster that I use for a lot of
> >>> things.
>
> >>> and I come up with this blogspot page with all the rfc postings.
> >>> Is this an rfc page?
>
> >>> I don't get it.
>
> >>> 'Anyway,' I was wondering because some refer to a 'granny speckled
> >>> roaster.' I've never heard it called that either. Or is large
> >>> granite and granny speckled the same item?
> >>> Thanks.
> >>> Dee Dee
>
> >> Here's a picture of Graniteware.
>
> >>http://www.goodmans.net/search.asp?t=m&m=97
>
> >> I believe Graniteware is a brand name, but the description is
> >> porcelain on steel cookware... it is the speckled-looking cookware.
>
> >> I have a small oval roaster that was my mother's, but sadly it had
> >> begun to rust and I can't locate a replacement.
>
> > Granite ware is a generic term for utilitarian items made of stamped
> > metal (as opposed to molded or cast iron) and coated with enamel. It
> > was available from many different manufacturers and made in many
> > different countries starting in the 19th century. It is still being
> > made, but the newer stuff I've seen doesn't compare in quality to the
> > old stuff. The older stuff was highly collected in the 1980's.
> > Color and pattern made some of it more desirable (and pricier), but
> > whether it was speckled, splotched, hombre, or solid, it was all
> > called Granite ware.
> > It was bread and butter for an antique dealer (snippage)
>
> We're not necessarily talking antique granite ware, granny-ware,
> splatterware... it's still made today. I'm sure the antiques are desireable
> and were great for antiques dealers in the day, but you can still buy the
> stuff.
>
> http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/sear...n.jsp?fresh=1&...
>
> http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?item...EGORY&iMainCat...
>
> You can still buy Fiestaware, too. The production was discontinued for a
> while (due to lead content, I think) but I found a number of bright new
> Fiestaware bowls and a pitcher a few years ago available for sale at (of all
> places) 'Cracker Barrel' a few years ago. I saw them and snapped them up.
>
> Not to disparage you in any way, but things which are "antique" are often
> still available today. And quite usable.
>
> Jill

All kinds of wonderful products from the past get "rediscovered" and
reproduced, but their quality seldom approaches the original. Fiesta
is one of the exceptions. Before lead became an issue, Fiesta had
become old hat & sales dwindled. It was was revived after it became a
hot hot hot retro collectible and has been very successful.
Fortunately for serious collectors, the new Fiesta is not available
in colors identical to the old stuff and is inexpensive enough to
actually use. Unlike Granite ware, the quality of the new Fiesta is
on a par with the old.

We weren't always a "throw-away" society - older Graniteware was made
to withstand years of heavy use. Because the steel was heavier and the
enamel coatings more thickly applied it was less prone to denting,
chipping, warping and rusting - and like good old cast iron, can last
beautifully for generations. The enamel on today's pieces is
generally very thin - probably sprayed on, where the old stuff was
actually individually dipped. New stuff is fine for a picnic set or a
canning pot (I use one), but not ideal for a roasting pan, where you
often want to cook long and slow.

Again, the original poster was trying to replicate her Mother's
roasting pan. She could buy one of the modern "look-alike" pans, but
I think she'll probably be disappointed with the results if she's been
cooking with an old one. On the other hand, if her Mom bought hers new
in the '70's, it probably won't matter.

Nancy T