Pots & Pans Used in the 1930s
The entire Plains region of the U.S. was scorched by a horrific drought throughout the 1930s. Coming on the heels of the Great Depression, these catastrophes might have been enough to convince people to leave the region forever, but families remained steadfast, relying upon their integrity, ingenuity and senses of humor to survive the decade. Housewives, already enduring daily hardships, regularly joked: "I scour my pots and pans by holding them up to keyholes for a thorough sandblasting," according to scientists at the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center. Discover the pots and pans they may have held up to that keyhole so long ago. Does this Spark an idea?
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Guardian Ware
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When the Century Metalcraft Corporation began making pots and pans in the mid-1930s, they approached the sale of their cookware in a unique way. A precursor to Tupperware, Guardian Ware was sold by independent salesman at hostess-sponsored parties, sealing deals by cooking delicious meals, using the company's heavy-duty hammered aluminum, waterless cookware. Guardian Ware was marketed as being almost bulletproof, a benefit that appealed to women in the '30s, who bought pots and pans once in a lifetime.
Revere Ware
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The Revere Ware Corporation pioneered the copper-bottom pot, introduced in the 1930s. What began as a division of the Revere Copper & Brass Company (it originated with famed silversmith Paul Revere), the company shifted its priorities from industrial products (pipes, tubes, sheets, etc.) to cookware early in the 1930s. Challenging heavy cast-iron pots for market share, Revere's signature stainless steel pots and pans were lightweight, stain- and scratch-resistant, yet aesthetics weren't ignored. Pot handles were designed to replicate the curve of a silversmith's hammer, an homage to Paul Revere.
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Griswold Manufacturing Company
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As the 1930s dawned, traditional cast-iron cookware reigned supreme. Griswold Manufacturing of Erie, PA had been the acknowledged producer of fine cast-iron cookware since 1865, relying on its tradition and reputation to sell cast-iron pots and pans. The company tried venturing into cast aluminum and enamel-coated cookware as the 1920s progressed, and even took a risk by making electric pots and pans in the 1930s, but internal squabbling and competition from other companies spelled the demise of the company by the mid-1950s.
Regal Ware Worldwide
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Launched in 1911, this pot and pan manufacturer emphasized workmanship, but solid construction wasn't the only innovation for which the company was known -- owners wrote an employee manifesto promising to treat employees with respect, thus Regal Ware became a popular place to work. The company introduced two stainless-steel saucepans when it opened its doors and by the 1930s, Regal Ware had become an enormously popular international brand. Today, a cookware museum exists in Wisconsin that showcases pots and pans produced by the company over time.
Teflon-Lined Pots and Pans
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Teflon was invented in the 1930s by the DuPont Corporation and applied to the interiors of pots and pans to keep food from sticking. Over time, concerns arose between the Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)-based coating and birth defects. According to a 2004 BBC article examining the future of Teflon, out-of-court settlements resulting from PFOA-contaminated water have been paid out, but DuPont continues to claim the coating is safe. That said, the coating is an important part of the history of pots and pans in the 1930s, so if you're a collector, you'll find plenty of these household artifacts in antique shops.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
