The "Cruso" brand was the premium private label of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. (HSB&Co.), a massive Chicago-based hardware wholesaler founded in 1855 that eventually evolved into modern-day True Value Hardware. Introduced around the turn of the 20th century, the Cruso line used a proud rooster logo and a name inspired by Robinson Crusoe to convey durability and self-reliance. Because HSB&Co. was a distributor rather than a manufacturer, they contracted out their cast iron production to legendary elite foundries like Wagner and Griswold. This arrangement resulted in beautifully cast, thin-walled, high-quality cookware that was produced in much lower quantities than standard mainline brands, making items featuring the detailed Cruso emblem highly prized and collectible trophies today.
