Q: We bought this cast iron piece at a flea market in Vermont. None of the “old-timers” can tell us what it is.

A: This is a four-plate flop griddle. On January 25, 1881, Silas C. Schofield of Freeport, Illinois, was granted a patent for his “cake-griddle” with two or more hinged pans. He claimed it made it possible to cook several pancakes and have them all done at once. Batter was poured into the round molds to cook, then flopped onto the flat griddle to cook the other side. Value, less than $125.