[1] The architect Joseph Altenbach started construction of the Wagner manufacturing complex in 1890.

He was a friend of the family head Mathias Wagner, and was responsible for many of the major buildings in Sidney during that period.

[1] The company said in its early advertisements: We do not strive to manufacture hollow ware as cheaply as possible, but as good as it can be made.

[3] Wagner grew into a major manufacturer of cast iron and aluminum products, selling in the US and Europe.

In addition to cookware it manufactured furnace grates, feed troughs, rubbish burners, kettles, and chemists' mortars.

[3] Brand names included Wagner Ware, National, Long Life, Wardway and Ward's Cast Iron.

Textron sold the Wagner and Griswold lines to General Housewares Corporation (GHC) in 1969.

After being allowed to fall into receivership, in 2000 the Wagner and Griswold trademarks were bought by the American Culinary Corporation of Willoughby, Ohio.