Clear Pyrex 1915 - 1950:
Identify Casseroles & Baking Pans by Handles, Lids & Knobs 

The handles, lids and knobs of Pyrex casseroles and baking pans follow a clear evolution from 1915 to 1950.  It is possible to group these shapes into date ranges and establish the approximate age of these items by identifying the style of these features.  The peculiar pointed knob that is commonly associated with older Pyrex was in use from 1915 to 1948, so focusing on this aspect alone is an imprecise method of determining a casserole's age.

Initially, casseroles and baking pans had no handles at all.  Within the company, it was acknowledged that handles would have improved ease of use, but production costs were very high at the time and incorporating handles would have added an extra layer of complication, driving costs even higher.  From the consumer's perspective, Pyrex was already expensive and raising retail prices was simply out of the question.  But manufacturing efficiencies eventually would allow this design improvement to take place.

Casseroles (l-r): Scalloped handle 1926-1939, Plain tab handle 1939-1947, Sculptured handle 1947-1950.  Casseroles with no handles are from 1915-1926.

Model numbers are normally three digits and they can be difficult to find on very old Pyrex.  Some pieces have no numbers at all, but casseroles are often marked inconspicuously under the rim or on the edge.  Running a finger around the rim is the easiest way to locate these markings.  Casseroles that are a bit newer have a model number on the tab handle, while more modern ones are numbered on the bottom. 

Multiple model numbers can be found on some lids and casseroles, providing clues about which lids will fit the casserole, or which casseroles match a particular lid.  Shapes & sizes were standardized, and many tops and bottoms are interchangeable.

Round lid (foreground) with etched design, marked 623-C, fits a round 023 (1½ Qt).  The oval lids are engraved.  Large one marked 644-C, it goes with a shallow oval 044 (2 Qt).  Smaller oval lid marked 634-C-OR-643-C, so it fits two casseroles, a deep oval 034 (2 Qt), and a shallow oval 043 (1½ Qt).

The most popular casserole size during this time span was 1½ Qt, and with the exception of bean pots, every casserole shape could be obtained in this size.  Some shapes, like square casseroles, were available only in 1½ Qt.  Among the many different shapes, round casseroles were the most popular, and they were offered in the widest range of sizes, from 8 oz to 3 Qt.

Casseroles & Baking Pans Without Handles: 

From 1915 to 1926 casseroles were made without handles.  The original basic round casserole shape (100 to 104) disappeared earlier, about 1923.  "Standard" round casseroles and deep & shallow oval casseroles debuted in 1916.  Square casseroles did not appear until 1922.

At the time, model numbers followed a less systematic naming convention, from smallest to largest:

Round: 104, 103, 102, 101, 100.
Round Shallow: 112, 113.
Round Individual: 164.
Round Standard: 167, 168, 169, 170; with Victor cover: 267, 268, 269, 270.
Oval Shallow: 183, 184, 185; with Victor cover: 283, 284, 285.
Oval Standard: 193, 197, 194, 190; with Victor cover: 293, 297, 294, 290.
Square: 800.
Bean Pot: 502, 504, 506.

Round 1½ Qt casserole marked 168-268, with ordinary lid, numbered 168.  The casserole's model number indicates that two different lids will fit it.

Oval and round casseroles of this age have rims that rise above the level of the lid, or in other words, the lid rests entirely within the casserole's rim rather than on top of it.  Square casseroles are more modern in design and this lid sits on top of the casserole instead.  All lids were topped by a pointy knob.  The shape of the original round casserole lid was patented, and it was designed by William Churchill.  Victor covers and the square casserole lid were the work of William Hedges.

(Photo: Square 800 casserole, 1½ Qt.  Image from 1924-1925 booklet.)

Lids for oval and round Standard casseroles fall into two types: ordinary lids, and Victor covers which debuted in 1922.  Victor covers rest within the casserole rim as ordinary lids do, but they arch about one half inch higher, allowing for more space inside the dish.  An ordinary lid and a Victor cover are interchangeable on the same casserole.  Victor covers were produced for less than five years, and they only fit handle-less casseroles.

Round 1½ Qt casserole marked 168-268, with Victor cover, numbered 268.  Same casserole, different lid.  Victor cover knobs are a bit larger than usual.

Ordinary lids for oval and round Standard casseroles are denoted by a 100-series model number, and Victor covers carry a 200-series number.  This means that casseroles marked only with a 100-series number, e.g.: 197, might be older than 1922.  An oval or round Standard casserole marked with both a 100-series number and a 200-series number, e.g.: 197-297, cannot be older than 1922.
                 
Bean pots debuted during 1916 in 1 pt (502) & 1 Qt (504) sizes, and a 2 Qt (506) appeared about 1921.  They are exceptions among early casseroles since they always have handles.  Bean pot handles from this period are small with a half-moon shape, and their lids fit inside the rim of the pot, similar to round & oval casseroles from that time.  A 506 uses the same lid as a 167 casserole.

(Photo: Bean Pot, 504 or 506, with rounded half-moon handles.  Image from 1924-1925 booklet.)

Comparing a 268 Victor cover (left) and 168 ordinary lid (right).  They have the same diameter and rest on the same part of the casserole, within the rim.
        
The selection of open baking dishes included regular casseroles sold without lids as well as a distinct group of items designed specifically for this usage.  At times these were called pudding dishes, and they were available in a similar range of shapes and capacities as regular casseroles.  Mainly they were handle-free (463 to 467), but there is one exception, a 1½ Qt round pudding dish (450) came with small tab handles in the early 1920s.

(Photo: 450 pudding dish with handles.  Image from 1924-1925 booklet.)

Two sizes of round casserole developed handles in 1925: 627 (1 Qt) & 628 (1½ Qt), but the full selection of non-handled casseroles remained on the market during that year as well.  The 627 & 628 seem to be short-lived because an entirely new generation of handled casseroles launched in 1926, replacing all of the previous shapes.

(Photo: Round 1½ Qt casseroles, 023 on left and 628 on right.  The handles are similar, but not identical.)
                    
627s & 628s are comparable to 022s & 023s from the next generation, but there are distinctions too.  Knobs on 627 & 628 lids are slightly larger, and rounded rather than pointy.  Handles are also different, formed with a more complex type of mould.  There is a prominent bump on the underside of the handle that makes a secure finger-grip.

(Photo: 627 or 628 round casserole with handles.  Image from 1925 booklet.)

Baking pans without handles were manufactured for a much longer period, from 1915 to the late 1930s.  The category of baking pans includes loaf pans, round cake pans, square cake pans, and rectangular utility dishes.  Pie plates are excluded from this grouping since their shape and style has never been consistent with other baking pans.

Two-Piece/2-in-1 Oval Baking Dish: 

Available in just one size, this shallow oval covered dish first appeared around 1922.  It has a model number of 110, and it is quite distinct from the regular group of casseroles.  The uniquely shaped cover was designed to be useful as a separate baking dish, and it pre-dates the usual pie plate shaped utility lid by almost ten years.  The 110 was known by a few different names in brochures and advertisements, mainly variations on "2-in-1 Baking and Serving Dish" or "Two-Piece Covered Oval Baker".

Two-Piece/2-in-1 oval baking dish.  Top and bottom are numbered 110.

A 110 was stated to be 10", but including the substantial rim, the total length is 10½".  Its dimensions are comparable to a shallow oval 043, but even more shallow, with a useable depth of only one inch.  Both the dish and the lid have a capacity of 2½ cups.  Although the lid's handles seem to form a loop, there is actually a perfectly flat solid window-pane in the centre.  The 110 was available until 1938.  It was designed by William Hedges.

Casseroles, Scalloped Tab Handles: 

Oval and round casseroles with scalloped tab handles were made from 1926 to 1939.  With this grouping a more meaningful numbering convention was established, and it is relevant to practically all clear Pyrex casseroles manufactured from 1926 to the present.

In broad terms, lid numbers begin with "6" and casserole numbers begin with "0", but there is a more precise way to define the first digit.  Without lids, casseroles were offered as open baking dishes, so a "0" in the first digit pertains to an open baking dish, while a "6" means covered casserole. 

The second digit corresponds to the shape: 2 = round, 3 = deep oval, 4 = shallow oval, 5 = square, 7 = octagon, 8 = round utility lid, 9 = specialty shapes.

The last digit usually indicates capacity in quarts multiplied by two.  One exception is an oval 041 which holds only ¾ pt (12 oz), not ½ Qt.

The suffix "B" means bowl, and "C" means cover.

Oval 1 Qt marked 032-632-B, with 632-C lid.  The casserole's two model numbers mean that it could be purchased either with or without a lid.

(Photo:  Close-up of above.)   
              
Knob-top lids designed for this new shape resemble the previous style, and they also have a pointy top.  But for round and oval lids, one detail that distinguishes lids of this age from older ones is the fact that newer lids rest on top of the casserole, so for a secure fit, there is a ridge descending from the underside of the lid.  Victor covers were no longer made at this time.

Lids with a single knob were the only type of covers available until pie plate shaped utility lids emerged in 1931.  Initially, they were made for 1½ Qt round casseroles (683), and most of the other round sizes would follow, with 684 & 686 lids appearing by 1934, and 682s a few years after that.  Tab handles on flat-top utility lids also have a scalloped shape.

(Photo: Round casserole with utility lid.  Image from 1934-1935 calendar.)

Flat utility lids for oval casseroles have a wide rim rather than tab handles.  Two lid sizes fitting four different shallow & deep ovals were launched about 1936.  The small lid (602-613) fits 042 & 033 casseroles, and the large one (603-614) fits 043s & 034s.  Oval utility lids and shallow oval casseroles were dropped about 1938.

Oval utility lid (603-614) on 2 Qt deep oval (034), this combination is a 614 casserole.  The lid's rim is narrow at both ends and widest along the sides.

Bean pots transitioned to the new scalloped handle shape sometime during the late 1920s, but still followed their original numbering scheme: 504 (1 Qt), 506 (2 Qt).  Their new lids, sitting on top of the rim, are shared with other round casseroles, and a 504 takes a 621 lid, and a 506 uses a 622 lid.  The smallest bean pot, a 502 (14 oz), still had small rounded handles at this time, but its lid rests on top of the rim rather than within it, and it is smaller than the previous 502.

Octagonal casseroles debuted in 1930 with two sizes: 672 (1 Qt) & 673 (1½ Qt), plus a matching pie plate (279) in the shape of a decagon.  They were still available during 1933, but an exact ending date is not known.  Their elegant features are quite distinct from other casseroles of this period; the knob especially is more ornamental than practical.  The lid has a higher arch than usual, comparable to the lid that would be introduced in 1950 for round casseroles.

Octagonal 1½ Qt casserole marked 673-B, with 673-C lid.

Advertising emphasized the beauty and modernity of the new octagon shape.  These Pyrex items were designed to fit the popular trend in faceted geometric shapes that china and porcelain tableware experienced from the mid 1920s to the early 1930s.  Plates with six, eight, ten or twelve sides were the very latest fashion at the time.
            
Square 053/653 casseroles are another exception among this group, having rectangular tab handles rather than scalloped.  With an upturned angle, these thick handles are different from the plain rounded type on the next generation of round & oval casseroles.  Squares were discontinued during 1938. 

(Photo: Square 053 casserole with 653 lid.  Image from 1931 booklet.)
             
There are no baking pans with scalloped handles, and in general, items in this category remained handle-less throughout most of this period.  Around 1936 or 1937, loaf pans and rectangular utility dishes gained handles for the first time, matching the upturned rectangular tab handles on square casseroles.  These baking pans kept this shape up to about 1941 when their handles became flat and level.  Although 228 & 229 pie plates have handles that seem similar to scalloped casserole handles, they are not exactly the same and they are not the same age either.  Instead, they debuted in the 1940s.

(Photo: 212 loaf pan handle, upturned shape, similar to square casserole handles.)

Casseroles with Specialty Shapes: 

At least four Pyrex casseroles from the 1930s have particularly distinctive shapes.  They seem to be special items marketed by the manufacturers of metal casserole stands rather than by Corning directly.  They carry model numbers beginning with 09_ or 69_, and each one holds 1½ Qt.  All but one contradict the usual relationship between the model number's last digit and the casserole's capacity.  So an 097/697 does not hold 3½ Qt.

A 693 casserole is mainly round, but with fluted features on its perimeter that form eight small pointy corners.  Its scalloped handles are flat, not upturned like those of regular round casseroles.  The 693 lid is a flat-top utility lid, also with eight pointy corners, and its scoop-shaped handles are placed high on the sides rather than on the rim.  It mirrors the shape of the casserole and seems much higher than the usual pie plate shaped utility lid.

(Illustration: Outline of a 693 casserole.)

An 095 is essentially a round bowl with no handles.  Its sides widen sharply to form a prominent step that supports it on a metal stand, in the same way that the upper pan of a double-boiler is designed.  The bowl was equipped with a metal lid that matches the stand, so it seems there was no Pyrex lid made for it.  Around the top, it is embossed with a border of textured blocks and vertical ribbing that is moulded into the glass.  The bottom of an 095 is usually marked with: "Exclusively for Russakov Co. Chicago".

Embossed 096 casserole with 696 lid.

The other two specialty shapes, 096/696 & 097/697, are identical except for their embellishment.  Very few clear Pyrex casseroles have embossed decoration instead of engraving or etching, and the 696 & 697 are the most elaborate examples of this kind.  The raised design on the surface comes directly from the mould in which the casserole is formed.  The pattern on a 696 is a lattice with leafy ferns or acanthus, and a 697 combines roses and ribbons with ribbed borders. 

(Photo: Close-up of above.)

Aside from the lid, the basic shape of an 096 or 097 casserole is similar to the 123 casserole introduced in 1937.  696 & 697 lids are also embossed with a pattern, but otherwise they are exactly like a 623 lid, with the usual pointy-top knob.  The markings on some casseroles state: "Exclusively for Russakov Co. Chicago".  Exact dates are not known for either one, but the 696 was advertised during 1936.  It is not clear whether the 697 was offered at the same time.

Casserole & Custard Cups in a Matched Set:

A round casserole with a unique style was manufactured from 1937 to 1949, and it was designed specifically to harmonize with the newest shape in custard cups.  The 8 piece Matched Set included one 1½ Qt casserole (123) with a wide-rimmed utility lid (723), and six 5 oz thin-rimmed custard cups (445). 

The custard cups could be purchased separately, and in other boxed sets too, but the 123/723 casserole was available almost exclusively in the Matched Set.  In advertising, it was called a "Sweet and Low" casserole at times, but more often the term "Matched Set" was used, this name appearing on packaging too.

Round 1½ Qt casserole marked 123-723-B, with 723-C utility lid, plus 5 oz 445 custard cups.  This utility lid has a flat rim rather than tab handles.  The casserole has a lot in common with 096s & 097s of the mid 1930s.

The combined durability and delicate light weight of the thin custard cup was promoted in advertisements as an exciting achievement.  Previously, custard cups had been thick and bulky while the thin cups were better suited to gracious table service.  The pieces in the set were described as "handsomely chased" or "exquisitely chased" which is a reference to the three embossed bands circling the exterior.

Casseroles & Baking Pans, Plain Tab Handles: 

Round and deep oval casseroles adopted plain rounded tab handles in 1939, and this type remained until 1947.  These handles are level with the rim of the casserole rather than upturned.  Square 053/653 casseroles with upturned rectangular handles are from the previous generation, contemporary with scalloped handled casseroles.

At the start of this period the variety of casserole shapes had been scaled back to include only rounds and deep ovals, but deep oval casseroles disappeared around 1943.  The smallest round casserole, an 021/621, also was discontinued in the mid 1940s.

Round 1 Qt casserole marked 022-622-B, with 682-C utility lid.  A 622 lid with a pointy knob also would suit this casserole.

(Photo:  Close-up of above.)
          
Round utility lids also have plain tab handles, and this type of cover was promoted most frequently in advertising, but it was still possible to purchase a casserole with a knob-top lid as well.  Knobbed lids from this time frame have pointy tops and they are identical to the lids introduced in 1926 for use with scalloped handled casseroles.

Baking pans had tab handles from the late 1930s to 1947.  Round cake pans changed significantly about 1939, gaining rounded tab handles as well as another ¾" in depth.  Loaf pans and rectangular utility dishes from the late 1930s are the same style as square casseroles, but by the early 1940s the handles of these items became flat and rounded.  Square cake pans were not available between 1938 & 1947.

Casseroles & Baking Pans, Sculptured Tab Handles: 

A new design for round casseroles appeared in 1947, but it survived only until 1950.  This shape is defined by more elaborate sculptured tab handles which are wider than the previous ones and resemble two overlapping tabs.  When the new casserole was introduced it was still equipped with the same pointy knob-top lid, but an entirely new lid appeared in 1948.  The new knob is slim with a rounded top, and it is the first significant alteration to this feature since 1915.  Utility lids with sculptured tab handles also became available.

Round 2 Qt casserole marked 024, new knob-top lid, numbered 924.  Theoretically an older 624 pointy-top lid would be appropriate too.

(Photo:  Same 024 casserole as above, but with 984 utility lid.)
               
Some of the new knob-top lids and utility lids for this casserole style follow a slightly different naming convention, their numbers beginning with "9" rather than "6".  But lids starting with "6" also exist, and model numbers for casseroles begin with "0" as usual.

By the late 1940s backstamps began to abandon the concept of multiple model numbers that indicate open baking dish versus covered casserole.  In simplifying the numbers, it becomes clear that lid numbers begin with "6" (or "9") and casseroles start with "0", and the "B" and "C" suffixes essentially are redundant.

A new item in 1949 was a 987 or 687 roaster lid which fits an 026 casserole.  A roaster lid is considerably deeper than a regular utility lid, and it also can be inverted to become an extra baking dish.  Roaster lids usually have a capacity greater than 2 Qt.

Square cake pans were re-introduced in 1947 and they were the first item to appear with a sculptured tab handle.  The other baking pans would follow within a few months.  By the early 1950s, loaf pans had changed again to very wide and thick plain tab handles, keeping that shape until 1953.

Casseroles & Baking Pans, Rounded Full-Width Handles: 

Casseroles were thoroughly modernized in 1950, with a smooth round shape top to bottom and rounded full-width handles.  This familiar design has not changed significantly since its introduction and it still appears on store shelves today.  Three sizes have been available in opal Pyrex, specifically 022, 023 & 024, and an additional size, 080 (8 oz), is found only in opal Pyrex.

Round 1 Qt casserole marked 022, knob-top lid, numbered 622-C.  This style is fully rounded and quite different from the older boxy shapes. 

Compared to the previous styles, the new knob-top lid is higher and rounded, providing more space above the casserole, as Victor covers had done in the 1920s.  The top of the knob has a flat profile, allowing the lid to stand perfectly balanced while inverted. 

Utility lids are in the form of a flat-top dome.  Although they are not a very convincing pie plate, they do function as a shallow baking dish.  Roaster lids for 026 casseroles also were offered in this new style.  Utility lids and roaster lids were discontinued several years ago, and current casseroles are equipped with knob-top lids only.

Two round individually-sized casseroles with flat-top utility lids debuted in the late 1960s.  With small tab handles, they are quite different from the larger casserole sizes.  The 10 oz (300 ml) casserole is an 018 with a 680 lid, and the 20 oz (600 ml) is an 019 with a 681 lid.  The 018/680 was available up to the early 1980s, and the 019/681 was discontinued in early 1986. 

(Photo: 018/680 & 019/681 round individual casseroles.  Image from 1970 catalogue.)

Loaf pans were not updated until 1953, but the other baking pans adopted rounded full-width handles in 1950.  These shapes remained in production into the 1980s.  Each type of baking pan in this category was available in opal Pyrex as well.


Related Articles:

Compare basic & Standard round casseroles
Compare shallow & deep oval casseroles 
Extra Photos: Clear Pyrex (Older than 1950)
Extra Photos: Clear Pyrex (1950 and Newer)
1918 Pyrex Leaflet
1920 Leaflet: Pyrex ... For Gifts
1922 Pyrex Leaflet 
1924-1925 Pyrex Booklets: Part One, Part Two 
1927 Pyrex Booklet
1931 Pyrex Booklet: Part One, Part Two 
1934 Pyrex Calendar: Part One, Part Two 
1937 Advertisement: Pyrex & Flameware
1938 Pyrex Leaflet
1943 Pyrex Order Form
1946 Advertisement: Clear Pyrex Ware
1960 Pyrex Catalogue: Part One, Part Two
1968 Pyrex Leaflet: Part Two
Pyrex Model Numbers 
Which model numbers are duplicates?
Dates for Pyrex patterns/pieces: 1940s to 1950s, 1960s to 1980s
Pyrex Sculptured Ovenware
Tinted Clear Pyrex: Fireside, Cranberry, etc.
1972 Leaflet: Creative Glass by Corning

Sources:

Company literature, magazine advertisements, newspaper archives.