Three little handles sitting in a row.
But to which series do the handles go?
One for the P Series,
One for the A
And one for the servers at your Buffet.
It's true... There are 3 handles designed by Corning for their cookware. OK, technically there are 4.
I mean, who could forget the cute little handle that fits on the Petite pans?
But lets focus on the cookware of at least 1 quart in size.
Most people are familiar with the P-Series handle (
P-10-HG) released with the original Corningware that hit the market in 1958. (
The lids may have changed from Fin style to Knob style in 1962, but the handle remained unchanged)
They are extremely prolific in just about every thrift store on the planet. My theory? During the time of the P series Corningware, more people were actually using them on the stove top. Even though Corning changed the shape of Corningware in 1972, requiring a different handle, Corning still had P series pieces in production. The P-4-B is an excellent example. It was still being produced well into the late 70's, which is why it's available in Spice O' Life, Country Festival, Wild Flower, Floral Bouquet. Heck, there is even a Christmas commemorative piece from 1978. Thus, the P Series handle was still in production well into the 70's, possibly the early 80's. That's A LOT of handles.
Then in 1972 Corning changed the shape of Corningware. It was more square, flatter on the bottom (
though not actually "flat ground" like the Electromatic skillets and Cookmates) and had tighter fitting lids with larger knobs on the top. But most importantly, as far as handles are concerned, they changed the width of the "lug" that the handle attaches to. Thus, a new style of handle was needed..... The A-10-HG.
This handle is actually narrower where it attaches to the base piece than it's predecessor had been. Thus, the handle was designed for the lug to extend beyond the end of the clamping mechanism, instead of it being completely covered as it had been in the P series pieces.
I can testify to the larger lug making it easier to handle Corningware when removing it from the oven. But I cannot say as to whether the detachable handle design is a good one. To me, it seems like there is more stress being put on a smaller area. However, as you can see, there is more bracing from the side of the piece, than there was with the original handle.
I only own 1 piece of A series Corningware, and it's an Electromatic skillet A-22. Thus I am not in the habit of moving my piece via the detachable handle.
Another thing that should be noted, is that not ALL of the A-Series "casseroles" are able to take a handle. You can attach one, but it is not stable. This has to do with a change made to the lugs. I am not sure when this change was made, but I have a feeling that it happened with the conversion from quarts to liters as a unit of measurement.
This is the back side of the original A-series lug.
This is the post-metric conversion lug. Note that there is no recessed area on the underside of the handle to keep the locking mechanism from slipping back and forth.
Now, let's discuss the lesser known handle. The P-201-HG. This handle should probably have been designated a B-10-HG, because it was available for the round Buffet Servers, Centura Cook n' Serve and Merry Mushroom Pieces, all of which are B series pieces (
this also includes the Spice O' Life round as well).
While, the Buffet/Centura/Corning Round line had the same sized lugs as the P series, the side of the pans are curved. Slight alterations were made to the connection mechanism and the supports. Thus, even though this detachable handle has the "P" designation, and will fit on P series pans, it's a slightly tight fit because it is better suited to the round pans. In fact, this handle works excellent on the round Saucemakers. (P-55, P-64 & P-65)
You can tell, when seen side by side, that the P-201-HG had the basic design from which they took the design for the A Series Handle (
A-10-HG).
While the A Series (
A-10-HG) is a little more tapered and has "cut-outs" for the lug to pass through and more bracing against the side of the saucepan, the P-201-HG is really designed much like the P-10-HG at the connection point.
The only real difference between the P-201-HG and the P-10-HG, aside from the clamping mechanism being enclosed instead of open, is the style of the actual bakelite handle. The P-201-HG has a smooth upscale feel that befit the Buffet Servers that it was designed to accompany.
There is one other thing about this P-201-HG that you should know. When it was originally released (
1964), you could get it in any color you chose.... As long as it was black. :-) But when the Centura round Cook n' Serve saucepans hit the market in 1966, Corning released the P-201-HG in White.
The White P-201-HG was designed to accompany most round versions of
"round" Corningware, even after the "Buffet Servers" were replaced by Centura
Cook n' Serve line and "Corningware Round" was released in Spice O' Life and Merry Mushroom through the 70s.
NOW, all that being said.......
I had heard rumors for years that the original P-10-HG and the A-10-HG came in white, but I had NEVER seen one in person, nor had I even seen a picture of one. That is until now. Below is the 601-H handle designed for the original Centura Saucepans designed by Jerry Wright to accompany the release of Centura Dinnerware.
It looks almost like the P-10-HG, but the supports are longer.
There is also a curve to the top of the connector...
This has to do with the design of the original Centura Saucepans (
the pan is made of the same material as Corning Ware, but the lids are made of Centura)
Note that the handle lugs are tipped up, curved on the top side and rounded on the bottom side. This is a departure from the flat topped lug used on Corning Ware.
This is more than likely where the rumor of a white P-10-HG started.
However, this handle will not fit the P-series, B-Series, A-Series nor any of the Centura "Cook n' Serve" line (
which are really just Buffet Servers (B-series) with fancy lids)
Where is your Corningware Detachable Handle??
~~
A-1.5-B with A-7-C lid sitting in an A-2-B with A-9-C lid.
A-1-B with A-7-C lid sitting on a second A-2-B with A-9-C lid sitting on an A-5-B with A-5-C lid.
M-10-GR Grill Pan (I need to find her an A-10-HG handle for this one)
This is actually a Cookmates Skillet (10 inch) with a P-12-C lid on the original P-12-ES Electromatic Hot Plate.
