Posted 2 years ago
kwqd
(1121 items)
This Oitomi tetsu nabe is about 9" square x 2" high and the handles protrude about an inch on each side. It weighs 4 lbs 9 ounces. It has raised leaves of some sort on the inside of the pot. Hard to see from my quick images but the larger cluster of leaves goes up the side of the pot. It is missing its handle, with which one end of the handle was inserted into the closed side and then the other end of the handle slid into the open side. Image of handle inset into image #4. Oitomi sent me a video of how the handle is installed and I uploaded it to YouTube:
https://youtube.com/shorts/JqIM6C5BZLY?feature=share
There is an Oitomi mark in Japanese recessed into the bottom and "JAPAN" has also been lightly stamped or etched into the bottom. It has two hollow handles. One of the handles is open on one side. Pretty odd arrangement and I have not been able to find anything similar. Oitomi identified that it was made by them, dated it and included a .mov showing how the handle worked.
"That is our authentic product, made by 5th generation Oitomi in 1950-1960.
And please see the attached file. You can see how to use that hundle.
We are very happy that you keep and use it with care."
It was in pretty rough shape, but cleaned up well. There is still a bit of rust and sticky food residue on it that I will get to in the next round of cleaning. I am still struggling to get some decent resolution images of the interior which shows the craftsmanship of the design elements.
I asked Oitomi if they had any replacement handles for this pan and they put a great deal of effort into finding the right mold to make a replacement handle but in the end could not find the right one. It is just too old. They did make and send me one but it did not fit, being for a bit smaller pan. They did not charge me for it. It was a very good experience. The folks at Oitomi are genuine craftsmen and I cannot recommend their work highly enough.
Thanks Kevin and dav2no1!
Thanks Vynil33rpm and fortapache!
Thanks vcal!
Thanks PhilDMorris, Jennifer and Alfie21!
Thanks jscott0363!
Updated images. I made a first pass at cleaning up this nabe. Still a ways to go but it is a lot better, already.
Finally got fairly good images of the mold work inside the pot. It still doesn't show that the leaves at the bottom of the image go up the side of the pot, but I give up on trying to get that in an image.
Kevin your collection of Japanese metal goods is extraordinary, as is your knowledge.
This is beautiful in the very understated, utilitarian way only Japan does, so subtly designed.
Thanks Karen! I am hoping I am right and that it is made by Oitomi so I can find out more about it. I've never seen another like it.
Thanks aura!
UPDATE!: I was able to confirm that this pan was made by Oitomi (they responded to my email) between 1950 and 1960 and Oitomi sent me a video showing how the slots in the handles were used to accept a larger metal handle. One end of the handle was inserted into the closed handle and the other end was slid into the open end of the other handle. Pretty cool! I uploaded the video to YouTube....
https://youtube.com/shorts/JqIM6C5BZLY?feature=share
Update! Oitomi I found the 70 year old mold for the pan. Still looking for the mold for the handle so they can make a replacement for me. At least with the pan mold, they will be sure they have the right handle mold.
I wonder if they will recast the pan, too?
An update on this pan. Oitomi did eventually find the original mold for this handle and cast a new one for me. We exchanged numerous emails as they searched for it.
Not sure how much stuff they had to move to find the mold. They first found the mold for the pan and cast a new one and then cast the handle when they found the mold for that.
It cost me a bit over $60 to get it cast and shipped to me. After all of their effort, I could not refuse! It is still probably on a container ship in the Pacific (actually guessing it went by air via DHL or Japan Post) and I have not received it yet. I will probably have to file it to get it to fit and then refinish it.
Their images suggest that it is not too different from the one in my post so I will probably not add new images, but wanted to communicate how proud they are of their work and history and how willing they are to assist their customers. A great experience.
Minor disaster! The handle Oitomi cast for me is too short, and is probably for a smaller version of my pan. It is just too short to fit.... They made a very serious effort to supply me with a handle but it was not meant to be. It is just too old and the original mold has not survived... They did not charge me for the work they did. They are a class act.