Trying to figure out who made a particular pot or pan? Here are some starting points that might help you.
Stamps
When you have a piece of copper in front of you, the first thing to look for are stamps — words, numbers, logos, or symbols that were pressed into the copper. Stamps can help identify not only the maker of a pot, but the time period in which it was made.
Here are some of the different types of stamps you might find.
- The maker of the piece
- The store that sold it
- Numbers for the size of the pan or to identify it (and its lid) in a busy kitchen
- The name or initials of a former owner
My Stamps page has a more detailed explanation of this, and links to posts that list the ones I know.
Construction
You can sometimes estimate the age of a pan by looking at the techniques used to make it. From the 19th and into the 20th century, these techniques changed a great deal, and so understanding the approximate time window for the craftsmanship of your pans can help you date it.
Please see the Construction page to get started.