I try to keep my vintage (and newer) small kitchen appliances working. I acquired a 60's West Bend teflon Electric Griddle. I normally use a newer (80's?) griddle, but I believe I used it once to cook sausage for a crowd on two or three griddles. I have loaned the newer one to my neighbor, knowing I had the backup. I tried to make pancakes this morning and the first one stuck hard to the surface. I then rubbed a little oil on the rest of the surface. I was surprised that the oil rubbed in rather than beading up like it would do on the 80's griddle. However, the next test pancake stuck as badly (worse, actually). I gave up and cooked the pancakes on a cast iron skillet without issues except the inconvenience.

The West Bend griddle is quite old. Cast into the back is text indicating that the cord must be attached to a wall socket! The surface is smooth and black. I know it is Teflon because I found one (and only one) reference to this griddle and it included a picture of the original manual cover that says Teflon.

Before I give up and throw this griddle in the trash, is there some treatment or caution that I am supposed to use to help pancakes not stick? I almost always make my pancakes very simply; recently with commercial mix using just water, and before with Bisquick using milk. I admit that today I added a little milk to the Pancake commercial mix, but again, it didn't stick on the cast iron pan.