Magnalite is a hot commodity, a made-in-America treasure. And particularly so, here in South Louisiana. During my tenure as a dealer in a beloved St. Francisville antique shop, I learned a few tricks of the trade. And one of them was you can't touch Magnalite. First, it was impossible to find. And second, if you did find it - Holy Cow! - it cost an arm and a leg. Always shocking, time and again folks stood in line for Magnalite. Once I caught on, I made a bee line for Momma's collection, finding the mother lode on the shelf.
Magnalite is what we grew up with, watching our mothers fry, broil, and bake in the historic cookware. Of course, we didn't know at the time that it was anything special - just pots and pans. But as it turned out, it is a magnificent, coveted treasure. Online research revealed that the Wagner Manufacturing Company based in Sidney, Ohio, first made WagnerWare Magnalite, which was better known by the latter name, in 1934. Apparently, the vessels by virtue of their casting, aluminum-magnesium alloy, provide even heating.
Not much in the kitchen, I honestly never gave much thought to it. But having inherited a set of Magnalite from my mother, I am reconsidering both Magnalite and the kitchen. Certainly if I have to be in the latter, I'm going to make good use of the former.
And Magnalite, a traditional bridal gift, was a mainstay here in Franklinton. I did not have to look beyond my files for confirmation. Long ago, I clipped a couple of columns written by renowned "Era-Leader" writer Moggie Bickham on the matter. Back in July of 1983, when I was a rising sophomore at Louisiana State University, she penned a column entitled "The Magnalite Tradition" which caught my eye. Therein, Ms. Moggie told of the summer season, one chock-a-block with bridal tea showers and apparently Magnalite. It must have been pretty pricey even then because Ms. Moggie described it, as follows:
"I have noticed that Magnalite is now the most popular hostess gift, whereas in my day an electric broom was the 'thing.' Actually, Magnalite is a great gift because if any bride went out and bought a whole set of Magnalite and her new husband got the bill, it would be a short marriage indeed! A silver punch bowl is cheaper."
But regrettably the Wagner Company has long since gone out of business. With Magnalite no longer being made, the mad rush for the cookware is explicable. Ms. Moggie continued her commentary, in another column entitled "Comments on the Saturday morning tea shower" in June of 1988:
"[I]t is a memorable morning for a bride. She goes away with a bounty of pretty and useful gifts, which almost always includes a set of magnalite or vacuum cleaner from the hostesses! These two are the most requested gifts of the bride, especially those who are practical-minded. I myself am a believer in a 'pretty' hostess gift of crystal, silver or china, but sometimes I am outvoted. I am not known for practicality either."
I'm with Ms. Moggie. Back in the summer of 1988, in my early twenties, I wasn't a fan of practicality either. With stars in my eyes, I was on the verge of becoming a bride, eloping with Rodney to Tahoe in late September. And my bridal shower didn't bring Magnalite or a vacuum cleaner. A very small affair, it produced a silver punch bowl - a gift from the hostesses. Ms. Moggie would have been pleased and proud especially since she had a proclivity for making punch for the Saturday morning tea showers. A talented writer, she wrote:
"I was always in charge of the 'punch', being talented at combining gingerale and fruit juices just so, and because I was lousy at any of the aforementioned duties [party food makers, flower arrangers, kitchen workers, and invitation senders]. Once I floated rose petals on top of the punch, which looked pretty, but didn't do much for the taste buds. Best to stick to fruit cocktail or strawberry floats."
In addition to making a delicious punch, Ms. Moggie also was a self-declared "expert at picking out the hostess gift…." I imagine she, also, would have selected the silver punch bowl, and not Magnalite. Her proclivity for pretty, not practical, certainly would have suited me best in 1988. And Ms. Moggie would have been proud that in the years since, I've made excellent use of the silver vessel, hosting a number of parties that featured punch - fruit, coffee, and sometimes something a bit stronger.
However, in the autumn of life, there is something to be said for practicality. As it turned out, the waffle maker gifted to Rodney and me by my best friend in law school, A. J. and his then wife Stacy, has been a lifesaver through the years. We continue to use it most every Saturday morning. So I definitely see good sense in Magnalite. And these days it has allure, especially for the younger set. I can say with certitude that my daughter and son-in-law will scoop up my Magnalite upon my leave-taking. It's like striking gold.
