Corning Ware Marks and Mayhem - General Dating of Corning Ware Back Stamps

I think it's time to touch on the dates associated with certain marks.  I have avoided this subject, primarily because with Corning Ware, it is not an exact science.  The Hub Machine began forming Corning Ware at the Martinsburg plant in 1961, but there were other plants producing Corning Ware as well.  Greencastle and Main Plant, just to name a couple.  These plants did not necessarily receive new molds for new shapes at the same time, nor would they changed their stamp format at the same time....  So all dates given have a little wiggle room.

1958-1959 - Embossed Bottom Stamp

1959 - Embossed Bottom with stylized flame Stamp (7 inch skillet, 9 inch skillet, 2 1/2 quart Saucepan)

1960-1961ish - Blurry Blue Ink Stamp (may or may not have Pyroceram printed)

1961-1966 - Basic Model Number with stylized flame Stamp

 1966-1969 - the Cornflower makes it's appearance in the bottom stamp

1969-1972 - "for Range & Microwave" Stamp (with or without small Cornflower)

1972-1979 - Hologram Stamp (VERY hard to see unless tilted to the right angle in the right light)

1979-1985/86 - Block Stamp

The Block Stamp first appeared on the Designer Casseroles (DC-Series) in 1977, but moved to square Corning Ware in 1979/80. 

This mark would be revisited for the later Microwave Plus line in the early 90s and remained with the MR-Series until they were discontinued.

1985 - 1999 - 2nd Embossed Stamp (Block mark was still used on Roasting Pans until 1987)

For traditional square Corning Ware, this mark was under the Handle Lug, except for Petites, which were embossed on the bottom, but with measurement in milliliters.

For French White/Classic Black and Casual Elegance, it is located on the bottom.

There are myriad small modifications such as "for Range and Microwave" mark having or not having the cornflower... For a while in the mid 70s, this "cornflower stamp" was reused on Teapots and Percolators, but Hologram stamps were never used on either of these pieces.   Colors of ink changed several times as well.

Hope this helps to narrow down the dates of some of your pieces.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Corning Ware Microwave Browners and Micromates Booklets - Scanned

After all the information I have posted regarding Electromatic Skillets and Table Ranges, I figured it was time for some scanned documentation regarding the other pieces that receive the most questions. 

The Microwave Browning Skillets and Grills......



and the "Micromates" (which is just Corning's later brand name for Microwave Browning Skillets)



Though I have posted links in the past, that point to the preheating times, hopefully these booklets will answer any questions about Usage (Do's and Don't's) and Cleaning along with the preheating times of various models.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Corning Ware Electromatic Dutch Oven and Skillet Booklet - Scanned

Most collectors are familiar with the Electromatic Skillet (P-12-ES heater base & P-22-B dish) and the short lived P-53 Self-Timing Saucepan (only available in 1963).  There was another Electromatic cooking vessel, however.

In the mid to late 60s Corning decided to "up the ante", as it were.  They took the 4 quart Sauce Pot (P-84) and ground the bottom flat, paired it with the P-12-ES heater base and a P-34-R wire rack (borrowed from the P-34 Dutch Oven), then sold it as the Electromatic Dutch Oven (P-86).

Because the bottom of the Dutch Oven is narrower than the Skillet, it slides back and forth between the black handles that corral the Skillet and keep it firmly in place.   Thus, the Dutch  Oven came with a special chrome "fence" (P-12-F) that wedged around the handles of the heater base to keep the Dutch Oven from sliding off.

The Dutch Oven was also available, paired with the skillet dish, in a complete set.  (P-12-ES, P-22-B, P-86-B with a single P-12-C cover, a P-34-R rack and the P-12-F Fence ).  Below is the booklet that was included with these Electromatic Sets.




As far as available patterns?  I know they came in Cornflower because I have both pieces.  There appears to have been a P-86 (but no P-22) made in the Limited Edition Platinum Filigree pattern as well.  They may have been available in All White, but that has not been confirmed yet.  It should be noted that the Cookmates (which are white) were released in 1966.  The Cookmates pieces work just as well on the P-12-ES Electromatic Heater base as they do on the "Counter that Cooks", for which they were originally made.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Corning Ware Electromatics 1963 Booklet - Scanned

The Corning Ware Eectromatics Use & Care booklet from 1963(ish). 


This is a slightly later publication, as it includes the Immersible Warming Tray (P-54), which was not released until a little later.  The Skillet (P-12-ES base with P-22 skillet) and the 10 cup Percolator (P-23-EP/P-13-EP) were released in 1962.  Sadly, there is no mention of the P-49 Dual Temperature version of the Immersible platter.

Enjoy!

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Rival Crock Pot with Corning Ware Booklet - Scanned

So, I have had this as a gigantic 89 MB .tiff file for about a year.  WAY to large to do much of anything with.  But I finally found a converter that I could live with (meaning it was free)..... So now it is a mere 3.8 MB .pdf file.

Apparently, these Rival Crock Pots (with Corning Ware A-3 insert) were only made in 3 patterns.  Forever Yours (above), Shadow Iris (below)

and Country Cornflower.

(photo courtesy of Aiden)

Since Forever Yours was available from 1990-1993 and Shadow Iris was in production from 1985-1995 and Country Cornflower was produced from 1988 to 1993, the pattern overlap occurs between 1990-1993.. Thus I am assuming, since no other patterns seem to exist, that this is the time frame of the Crock Pot's production.

I continue to hope that I will run across a White or Beige one, but to date, I still haven't.



Happy Crock Pot Cookery!

Where is your Corning Ware (Crock Pot)??
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E-1310 Electromatic Table Range Booklet - Scanned

Compliments of Trent, in Idaho. A scanned copy of the E-1310 Electromatic Table Range booklet.

Thanks Trent!

The PDF embedding from Google Drive is not the best method of sharing information (it does strange things to PDF documents) but I thought it would be nice if people could at least peruse the document before deciding to download it....  You may download the PDF --> here <--  so you can view it in Adobe or other PDF viewer. (Which makes it look MUCH more normal)



Where is your Corning Ware??
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Flower Power!! Take 2 - Floral Bouquet (2nd Edition) Begins to Go Mainstream

In 1969, Corning released the Floral Bouquet Limited Edition Gift line.

Due to it's popularity, Corning decided to continue producing the pattern in 1970, though in a slightly modified form.  This, to us collectors, has become known as 2nd edition Floral Bouquet...  Though at the time, it was still called "Floral Bouquet", just like the Limited Gift line had been.

The modifications were fairly simple... First, the special ceramic knob lids used on the Gift line were replaced with the standard clear glass Pyrex lids.  Secondly, the pattern was altered by using a solid yellow background instead of a linen looking texture and the flowers were accented with blue and avocado colors to make them stand out more. Thirdly, the line was expanded slightly by the addition of a 10 inch skillet and a 1 quart saucepan.

This version of Floral Bouquet would remain in production until mid 1971, when the 3rd edition of Floral Bouquet would be released.

P-12-ES and P-22-B Electromatic Skillet set with P-12-C lid

Note the flat ground bottom....

P-10-B skillet with P-10-C lid

P-2 1/2-B Saucepan with P-9-C lid

P-1 3/4-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1 1/2-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid.

Though there is a percolator to match this set, it wasn't released until 1971.  The percolators for Floral Bouquet (2nd & 3rd editions) are exactly the same.  All 9/10 cup percolators have a significant amount of yellow in the background of the front medallion (for the pattern does not wrap around like Renaissance does).  These include the P-149 stove top and the P-80-EP & E-1210 Electromatics.

P-149

 P-80-EP

All the 6 cup percolators, however, have a small single patch of yellow between 2 of the flowers.  As far as I can tell, there were only two 6 cup models produced.  The P-146 Stove Top and the P-6-EP electromatic.

P-146

P-6-EP

No matter when the percolator was produced (1971-1974) it is the size, not the edition, that determined the pattern.  For this reason, I usually leave them out of the "Editions" list... Aside from the Original Gift line P-119, they all look the same.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Holy Grail Achieved - P-53 Self-Timing Saucepan Completed

After many years of searching, it has come to pass.   One of my Holy Grail pieces has been realized.  Granted, I have multiple "Holy Grail" pieces.  From the P-116 Fall/Autumn Leaves Percolator to the P-48 Sectional Platter, but this was the 1 piece that I seriously thought I would never get my hands on.   I have only seen 1 other piece over the years, which happens to be on Flickr.  In fact, that particular piece on Flickr is how I discovered the existence of said piece in the first place, about 5 years ago.   It has been a long slow process bringing everything together again piece by piece.

I'm speaking of the P-53 Self Timing Saucepan.  I obtained the heater base first, then found a flat ground "P-4" at the Good Will some 9 months later.   Now, I hold the final piece in my obsessive hands after a year of searching..... (and help from a friend) 

The completed Self Timing Saucepan...   Heater Base, Flat Ground dish (which would later be dubbed the P-4) and the "double boiler" insert with the lid.

Not having the original booklet or recipe box that accompanied the Self Timing Saucepan (more things to hunt down evidently), I have no idea if these pieces were originally packaged together, or if the double boiler insert was an add-on option. 

The bottom is the same piece that would become the P-4 in 1966, but for the Self-Timing Saucepan (1963) is was ground smooth and flat, like the Electromatic skillets (P-22 & A-22) and the Cookmates.  Also, like most of the Electromatic skillets, it has no model # printed or embossed upon it.

The insert is the biggest mystery in all this....

Unlike the bottom dish, it isn't flat ground, it is also significantly shallower than the bottom dish; only holding about 1 quart instead of 1 1/2 quarts.

The upper rim is wide, like that of the P-17 double boiler insert for the P-2 1/2-B.

I wish I could give more information than this but, like the base dish, it has no model number. This makes me believe that it was part of the whole set that was sold as the "P-53" with no individual part numbers.  Which, on some level, is odd, since the skillets ARE model numbered differently than the Heater Base Unit  (being P-22-B and A-22-B Skillets or P-86 Dutch Oven).  And while the numbers were not printed on these pieces, they were used for replacement orders.

Since these inserts seem to be so much more rare than the flat ground "P-4" pieces, I am beginning to wonder if maybe there was a "Regular" model (Heater Base and the "P-4" with lid) and a "Deluxe" model, that included the insert as well (P-53-D?).  Alas, I have never seen one in it's original box, nor have I seen any other literature on this piece other than the "Recipe Box" that accompanied the Self-Timing Saucepan. (Which can be viewed at Blue Cornflower.com)

Where is your Corning Ware??
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South of the Border with Corning Ware - Chipotle Pulled Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Sort of a one dish meal....  At least from the Corning Ware perspective.  You still have to use a blender and possibly the Kitchen Aid mixer (unless you are pulling the chicken by hand, with 2 forks)  

Please feel free, if you prefer your chicken on he hotter side, to add as many Chipotles in adobo, as you would like to the puree.  The recipe is written on he mild/medium side of hot.

I use an A-5-B, but you can use the P-84-B if you like, just be careful not to let it stew over during the chicken boiling phase.

Chipotle Pulled Chicken

Chicken Preparation:
1 small Onion, quartered
2 Cloves of Garlic, crushed
4 springs of Cilantro
2 tsp Salt
Juice of 1 lime, plus the rind
3 lbs Boneless-Skinless Chicken Breasts

Chipotle Sauce:
28 oz can of Diced Tomatoes
Juice of 1 Lime
1 Chipotle Pepper in Adobo sauce, diced (that is 1 pepper from the can, not the whole can)
1-2 TB of the Adobo sauce from the can.

3 TB Olive oil
3/4 cup Onion, finely minced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
15 oz can Tomato Sauce
1 cup Chicken Stock
1 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
1 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

To Finish:
6 TB Cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime

Corning Ware 5 quart Sauce pot (A-5-B) or 4 quart Sauce pot (P-84-B)

Place 3 quarts of water in a large A-5-B sauce pot, then add Onion, Garlic, Cilantro and Lime Juice along with the Lime rind.

Bring to a boil over medium-high flame, then add the Chicken Breasts.

Reduce the flame and simmer until chicken is cooked through - about 20-25 minutes.

Fit your Kitchen Aid with the paddle attachment.

Remove the chicken breasts from the A-5 with tongs, and place in the Kitchen Aid work bowl.

Discard onions, garlic, lime hulls and cilantro, then wash the the A-5 sauce pot and set aside for the moment.

Combine diced Tomatoes, Lime Juice, chopped Chipotle and Adobo in the jar of your blender.

Puree until smooth and set aside.

By now, the chicken should be just cool enough, so place the work bowl on the base and turn the mixer on to medium-low.....

The paddle will shred the chicken for you. (neat trick that I learned)

Place the A-5 back on the stove over medium flame and add the Olive oil.

When hot add the minced Onion and saute until soft, then add the minced Garlic and saute an additional minute.
 

Add the Chipotle mixture from the blender, along with the Tomato Sauce, Chicken Stock, Oregano and Salt.

Reduce the flame to low and simmer for 35-45 minutes to thicken it.

Add the pulled chicken, stirring to combine.

Simmer an additional 15 -25 minutes to ensure the chicken is only moist, not wet. (like Carnitas)

Remove from heat and let cool slightly before finishing with more Cilantro and, of course, more Lime juice.

Serve with corn Tortillas and shredded Cabbage or, like I did, in large Butter Lettuce Leaves.

Garnish with Lime wedges, Sour Cream, Avocado and grated queso Asadero or shredded queso Oaxaca, along with more chopped Cilantro.

Store any unused portion in a sealed container for up to 4 days.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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