The architect Joseph Altenbach started construction of the Wagner manufacturing complex in 1890. The Wagner Manufacturing Company was founded by the brothers Milton M. The original items are prized by collectors. The purchasers of the company in 1952 continued the brand, and Wagner products where rarely manufactured after 1998, the brands trademarks where sold and the purchasing company closed in 2008. Wagner was active between 18, and at one time dominated the cookware market, selling in Europe and the US. It made products for domestic use such as frying pans, casseroles, kettles and baking trays, and also made metal products other than cookware. The Wagner Manufacturing Company was a family-owned manufacturer of cast iron and aluminum products based in Sidney, Ohio, US. Magnalite, Wagner Ware, National, Long Life, Wardway and Ward's Cast Iron