Swans Down Cake Pan
Many years ago my mother got this Swans Down tube cake pan as a free premium with the purchase of a bag of flour. She always used this pan when she made a particular sponge cake… so since that cake is my favorite and I have always had a special interest in this particular pan, she gave it to me after I got married. As you can see from the photographs, the pan has two side panels that cleverly slide up and down, and the words “Swans Down Cake Pan Pat. Dec. 18-23″ and 
“E. Katzinger Co. Chicago Licensed Mfrs.” are stamped on both side panels. Inside the pan on the bottom are the words “Swans Down Cake Flour Makes Better Cakes.” This pan came from the Katzinger Company, a company that made pans for bakeries in the early twentieth century and eventually became the Ekco Products Company we know today. The pan I have is 8 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches and it is in very good condition. The interior of the pan is bright and shiny and I still use this pan whenever I bake a sponge cake because the sliding side panels make it so easy to slip a knife inside to loosen the cake. When you slide the side panels up after the cake has baked and 
been taken out of the oven, it also helps the cake to cool more quickly than a conventional tube cake pan. I have always enjoyed having this pan and using it partly because it is old, but also because it is constructed in such a unique way. However, I did not realize that it also had a small monetary value. Recently I came across a similar pan at a kitchen collectibles auction. The pan for sale was like mine except that it was smaller and was a simpler version without the sliding side panels. It also had quite a bit of rust, so I was extremely surprised to see it sell for seventy-five dollars. I won’t be trying to sell mine any time soon, though!
Written by Shirley | Filed Under Antiques & Simple Treasures, Personal
Comments
Comment by ellen b:
This is the first time I’ve seen anything like that cake pan. Would like to have a piece of the sponge cake you make in it! :)
Enjoy…
Comment by jodi:
What a beautiful cake pan. I’ve never seen one with side panels like that.
Comment by Susan:
What a very special item to have and especially that you still use it.
Susan - Penless Writer
Comment by Lana G!:
Love the cake pan! That is something you would see on the Antique Road Show and they would tell you its worth a mint!
Enjoy!
Comment by LadySnow:
I have never seen anything like that. Thank you for sharing. :)
Comment by Marci:
What a neat pan. I love older things, especially things you can use.
Comment by Rose mary:
What a great old cake pan. I’ve never seen one like it! Not many of us bake in a $75 pan!
Comment by Kelli:
What a special treasure! I’ll bet your mother’s sponge cake is delicious! Thank you for joining in for Show and Tell!
Kelli
Comment by Pam:
What a unique treasure to own. I love it! So the company became Ecko? Thanks for the history lesson!
Comment by Tim H. Royal:
I bought this Swans Down cake pan in Portland, Or. in 1993 and have used it for every cake since then. I was attracted to the obvious step up in technology for cake pans because of the sliding panels. I used it for a long time before I realized I could slide a knife in the bottom to help release the cake. I am rather slow witted sometimes. My attraction to vintage baking pans is because of the obvious care and love that went into the handling and keeping of baking pans, all the countless cakes and loaves made by caring hands. My kitchen in my home is a vintage 1920’s kitchen, hardly changed in 90 years, I love it. My pans look like they came with the house. Thank you. Tim.
Comment by Deborah:
I was searching for the possible of my own swans down pan and it is exactly like yours. And now I know what is worth I will hang onto it. Thanks for the info. Deborah
Comment by Trina:
My mom and I just aquired the Swans Down Cake Flour bakeware dish that you referred to. The one you got from our mom. Ours is not dented anywhere and looks to be in great shape. I was wondering if you had any idea of the antique, collectible value? Thanks for your time. May God bless you and yours this day and throughout the holiday season.
Comment by Shirley:
Trina, I’ve seen prices all over the place. It really depends on where the item is being sold, I think… but I have seen others recently selling in the above-$70 range. That is for no rust or dents and with the side vents.
Comment by Ginny:
I have one too (from my mother), and just pulled it out of the oven to cool.
While I would never sell it, my children are not as nostalgic as I, or at least, not yet. I’ll let them know that it’s worth something.
I’m convinced that this pan makes exceptional cakes.
Comment by Frank:
I have the same pan. Not in as good a shape but I took it out and cleaned it up real good and I am going to make a root beer cake for 4th of July party. Thanks for reminding me that I had it.
Please leave a comment!