This article will cover: Who made Favorite Piqua Ware?
Company background
Company
Favorite Stove and Range Co. (successor to W.C. Davis & Co.,)
Founder
Willian King Boal
Operational dates
The foundry produced ironware between 1889-1935.
However, the company ramped up and focused on hollowware
between 1916-1935
Located
The foundry was located in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio.
Cookware line
The favorite Stove and Range Co. manufactured a full line of
hollowware.
This included: skillets, griddles, Dutch Ovens, kettles, Scotch bowls,
gem pans and waffle irons
Cookware Brands
The company had several lines of branded cookware which included Favorite Piqua Ware, Miami, Puritan (for Sears Roebuck)
Who made Favorite Piqua Ware?The Favorite Piqua Ware vintage cast iron is often in great shape and still usable even on modern stoves, including induction.
So who made Favorite Piqua Ware? Favorite Piqua was manufactured by the Favorite Stove & Range Co.
The predecessor to the Favorite Stove & Range Co. The W.C. Davis & Co.,
W.C. Davis & Co
W.C. Davis and Co. and Anchor Iron Works.
The company focused on the manufacture of ironware.
They also had interests in another foundry called Anchor Iron Works, located in Cincinnati.
Like many foundries, W.C. Davis & Co. did not focus on any one product.
Instead, they manufactured a wide range of metalware.
W.C. Davis and Co. and Anchor Iron Works together manufactured a wide range of metalware. W.C. Davis manufactured metal coffins called the Fisk’s Metallic Burial Case under license.
W.C. Davis Hollowware
Look for W.C. Davis Co., made cast iron.
Although you can still find W.C. Davis cast iron, it is much harder to find.
If you have a piece of cast iron made by the company, you have a real piece of history.
However, W.C. Davis & Co. cast iron can still be found occasionally for sale.
Pots and skillets may have a distinctive single pouring spout instead of the double pouring spouts standard today. And keep an eye out for kettles that occasionally come up for sale.
Renamed to Great Western Stove works
Restructuring
The W.C. Davis & Co was renamed Great Western Stove Works.
And underwent a series of ongoing restructuring efforts.
Davis also sold his interest in Anchor Iron Works to
Chamberlain & Co. Iron and the casket business to Martin Hale Crane and J.R. Barnes in 1853.
The Great Western Stove Works to Favorite Stove Works
William Boal takes control.
After the retirement of William Davis in 1880, a partner named William Boal had a controlling financial interest renames the company from Great Western Stove Works to Favorite Stove Works.
The rise of the Favorite Stove & Range Co
The move from Cincinnati to Piqua
Boal moved from Cincinnati to Piqua and formed the
Favorite Stove and Range Company on the 1st of July, 1888.
By 1889 the foundry become operational and began
production
The growth of Favorite Stove & Range Co.
The Favorite Stove & Range Co. became the largest manufacturer in Piqua.
The city also became affectionately known as the Favorite City.
Scaling
Even by today’s standard, the company’s foundry was on a massive scale.
The foundry was located on ten acres of land.
It also employed 550 to 600 people when the foundry became established.
Favorite Stove and Range had such an impact on the area.
That several other companies adopted Favorite in their company name.
New leadership and expansion of manufacturing hollowware
In 1916 Willian King Boal passed on. And the son of Willian Stanhope Boal took over his father’s interests.
It was Stanhope Boal who ramps up cast iron hollow ware production.
The fall of Favorite Stove and Range
Labor Strikes
In 1919 a labor strike hit the firm. During this strike, workers demanded an extra 25 percent increase in wages.
The strikes lasted for eleven days.
Management turnover
Stanhope Boal remained president until 1923.
For the next five years, the company had three other presidents. Willian C. Katker became the final president for Favorite Stove & Range Co. in 1928.
The Great Depression
Sales declined in the 1930s because of the Great Depression.
Unfortunately, Favorite Stove & Range were not alone, and most foundries during this time struggled.
The passing of Willian Stanhope Boal
On December 17th, 1933, Willian S. Boal dies.
Favorite Stove & Range Co. liquidates
In 1935 the company liquidated. And patents, trademarks, and tools were sold to Foster Stove Company of Ironton, Ohio.
And Chicago Hardware Foundry bought the patterns and machinery.
Post WW2 and the drop in demand
After restructuring, Katker renamed the company to Favorite Manufacturing Company.
However, the company operated on a much smaller scale.
They produced coal and wood ranges, gas cooking stoves, and hollowware. But molding was outsourced to the Champion Foundry Company, also located in Piqua.
Production stops
In 1958 the company stopped operation due to the post WW2 decline in demand.
We know W.C. Davis & Co. produced skillets, so it is not unreasonable to think Favorite Stove and Range did as well.
It’s also impossible to give an accurate date of manufactured cast iron by looking at the logos. And what logos are older. But if we look at the style and font used on the cookware, we can estimate what logos are older. But without evidence, collectors usually date all of Favorite Piqua Ware between 1916-1935.
Identify and date your Favorite Stove & Range cast iron.
Block Favorite Piqua Ware
Circa: 1916-1934
Favorite Piqua Ware the best to cook in
Made between
1916-1935
Favorite Piqua Ware smile
Manufactured from
1916-1934
Stylized Favorite Piqua Ware in block writing
Circa:1916-1934
Sunrise logo, Favorite Piqua Ware, Favorite Stoves and Ranges
Made around
1916-1935
Favorite = Piqua Ware
Manufactured around
1916-1935
Vertical diamond Miami
Circa 1916-1935
Favorite Piqua Ware smiley with vertical diamond Miami
Made between
1916-1935
Puritan logo (private label for Sears Roebuck)
Made from
1916-1934