Hi Robin, Just saw your posting and responses and wanted to add some info. American Brass & Iorn as noted used recycled iron in their foundry for years. This iron included old auto engines, transmission and differential cases, etc. that of course previously had oil in them. Todays American foundry practices do not use those types of reclaimed metals to manufacture food processing materials such as cast iron cookware to my knowledge. This is a hot and sensitive issue and current question and concern about imported cast iron especially from China. If your pan were mine I would be cautious of its use until the material content could be confirmed. AB&I also used different logos on the bottom of their pans. Most if not all pans were marked with the American Cookware logo. I had a pan and have seen others with a covered wagon on the bottom, and have seen boats and ships, all depicting americana. Your pan is unusual because of its size, large pans are hard to find. I also agree and disagree with the link to Old Jack's seasoning recipe and cleaning technique. I deal in cast iron on ebay and clean 200 or so pieces a year using the electrolysis method, fast, easy, efficient, and no posinous chemicals used. For more info on cast iron and use and cleaning I recommend the Wagner and Griswold Society or the Griswold and Cast Iron Cookware Association websites. Both sites have open forums and can be used by non members.

I don't do tile for a living but I do have just such a tub, which I tiled around four years ago. I did not use any sheet metal (don't see the purpose), but I did use tar paper behind the cement board. I think stuck it to the (minimal) tub flange with something... a bit of roofing cement, maybe? I can't remember anymore. I used Hardiebacker instead of Durock for the tile substrate. I chamfered the back bottom edges of the Hardiebacker so that the inside faces of the backer could be a bit closer to the tub deck (since the flange is too thick to be pinched between backer and studs). I filled the gap between Hardiebacker and tub deck with clear siliconized latex caulk and let that caulk dry completely before proceeding with the tile work. After setting and grouting the tile, the vertical corners and the joint between tile and tub were caulked with sanded, color-matched caulk from the grout manufacturer. After a few days' curing time, the grout was sealed with Miracle 511. Four years later, the installation still looks great. If you caulk the space between the Durok / tile and the tub itself, how does the moisture get back to the tub? Grout and Durock / Hardiebacker are both moisture-permeable. They are "waterproof" in the sense that water doesn't hurt them, but they are not waterproof in the way that a fish tank is waterproof.

Thanks everyone. You all have good ideas here. I suggested to my husband that we call the manufacturer, but he doesn't want ANYTHING to do with them anymore. He is afraid that they'll send some unqualified person out to do the job, they'll mess up the counter, and our kitchen won't be finished for another 6 weeks while we wait for the new counter to come and be installed... we've done this whole kitchen ourselves and it's taken 10 months because my husband is very anal and very thorough... I think with your suggestions, we can hopefully get this sink out ourselves without damaging the counter. But I might call and try to talk to Whirlpool or Menards anyhow... the easiest thing would be for us to get this out ourselves and return it to Menards... but maybe not the smartest thing. We'll have to think this over. I'm 5 months pregnant and we need to get this kitchen DONE so we can redo the laundry room before baby comes. I will also put tape all over the outside of the enamel so as it continues to pop off, hopefully the tape will prevent it from flying and injuring someone. I didn't consider further breakage of the enamel - that was a good point. And leather gloves for all. I do know one thing for sure: the replacement sink will be Kohler. *sigh* I'll keep you all posted. I appreciate all your insights and tips.

Thank you My3dogs (this is my first post here so I am not sure if you will know I am replying to you.....the last time I looked at GardenWeb it was not part of Houzz...) I ADORE the Danby marble in my original post picture with the vintage sink. And I am not a 100% sold on Quartz/Quartzite but my concern is we have soapstone now and I am not pleased with it. A guest comes over and sets a casserole dish down and then pulls it out and it scratches. My "hard on equipment" husband unloads the dishwasher and drags a dish by the edge and it dings. I did like a white granite and thought it may be more durable than the soapstone but then researched the quartz or caesar stone and it seems bulletproof. The 'carrera" caesar stones look very marblesque. But I do love the look and feel of marble and so many on this forum have said it is NOT that hard to care for. Another dilemma! I believe I will have my husband make me a ply wood counter as funkycamper suggests....to try out the sink. I also need to research the faucets and get the sink resurfaced if I do decide on it (and I think I will always be sad if I don't..)