Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Idahawk on May 22, 2013, 12:51:15 PM
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The Happy Cooker company or Unarco Home Products as it was known was located in Paris Illinois in the 70's. their primary business was stainless steel kitchen items . They added a porcelain enamel plant right next door in the late 70's and were looking to grow the business , when someone came up with the idea of a BBQ . They began to produce a kettle style porcelain enameled BBQ that looked very much like a weber , it was also more affordable and they managed to land a deal to supply Sears, which got Webers attention .Unarco was careful not to straight up just copy Weber , they changed the leg sockets , the lid , vent sizes and other small details but ultimately their design was to close to Webers and a patent infringement lawsuit arose forcing them to cease production immediately . Naturally Weber won and my source seems to remember it was a case of The Happy Cooker being told to not do it again or Weber would if fact prosecute , Anarco agreed and in the early 80' s Unarco relocated to Louisiana never to produce another BBQ . The old Anarco plant in Paris is a super fund cleanup site and many of the employees are gone or relocated to Louisiana when the company did leaving behind a grill with a short and checkered past as a copy cat . My sources include the Paris chamber of commerce , the editor in chief of the Paris area newspaper for over 40 years as well as the current owners of Anarco which is the Franke Company. After 40 plus years memories are vague at best and some folks I spoke with still think that Weber was somehow involved with the Happy Cooker but that was never the case.
As far as The Happy Cooker goes if you have one , well they only lasted a hand full of years my source wasn't sure of the dates only that it was late 70's and by the early 80's Anarco was gone. He said if you could find the date that they relocated you would find the final year or production , he did not know the first year of production exactly . For me it makes them a great part of a Weber collection because in fact Weber was involved , just not in the way many people thought . I for one ( sorry AJ ) will be hanging to on mine because its in such great condition and now has a story. I have an e- mail sent to the former VP of The Happy Cooker division which I hope can shed some light on dating these for future reference .
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/23/huqy6u7a.jpg)
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Interesting story Idahawk...answered lots of questions I "previously" had!
Thanks
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Here's a brand new black on in the box still near the Detroit area. Don't find these too often NIB.
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/app/3815992465.html
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Id be really interested in that .
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Great info. Does this mean that the Sears kettle wasn't made by Weber? Or did Weber start making the Sears version after Happy Cooker was out of the picture?
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You could be right , after Weber eliminated the competition they could have approached Sears with an economy grill , I'm hoping to speak with the VP I mentioned , I'll add that to the questions I have already .
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That's some interesting info!
My full sized UDS has a Happy Cooker domed lid on it. 1buckie sent it to me in 2011. All the way from California! :D 8)
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Interesting Detective work, Idahawk! They hold a place in the Weber saga as the original knock-off.
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Could you ask your source about the one touch system. I have had a suspicion that the Happy Cooker might have developed something like it before Weber. I base that on an old Happy Cooker I have with a one touch system that seems to pre date Weber's introduction of the one touch. Mind you, this is just wild speculation. It would be interesting what sources close to the Happy Cooker might say.
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The worst part of the Happy Hooker saga is how rare they are becoming because I give every one I find to the local scrapper, they just keep disappearing......
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The worst part of the Happy Hooker saga is how rare they are becoming because I give every one I find to the local scrapper, they just keep disappearing......
I suppose handles for mine are out of the question then.:)
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Could you ask your source about the one touch system. I have had a suspicion that the Happy Cooker might have developed something like it before Weber. I base that on an old Happy Cooker I have with a one touch system that seems to pre date Weber's introduction of the one touch. Mind you, this is just wild speculation. It would be interesting what sources close to the Happy Cooker might say.
Do you have a photo ?
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I will take a couple and post.
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The worst part of the Happy Hooker saga is how rare they are becoming because I give every one I find to the local scrapper, they just keep disappearing......
Happy Cookers are the wiseguys that disappeared after the Lufthansa Heist to your Bobby De Nero then.... 8)
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Ida,
You pretty much answered what I had suspected for a long time.
I believe the HC had some great traits to it. Sorry to those who think it belongs int he back of a scrap truck. Its part of history.. And unfortunately that sweet red one continues to elude me. 8)
I can;t wait to see what Reilly has in the way of a possible OT design from them.
My only regret si that I didn't know about these in 79.
8)
And thanks to Ida for all his hard work with the research..
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For the record, I'm not a proponent of having Happy Cookers whacked. The internal ash system intrigues me. I need to go see if that one on the next street is still there.
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The internal grate is perfect for using a kettle as a smoker. Helps to control air and temps.
8)
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The internal grate is perfect for using a kettle as a smoker. Helps to control air and temps.
8)
Have I seen or read where guys use those in WSMs ?
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The internal grate is perfect for using a kettle as a smoker. Helps to control air and temps.
8)
Have I seen or read where guys use those in WSMs ?
I think you could but it's probably better to use on the Kettle where the vents are below the charcoal. On the wsm the vents are at the edge of the charcoal ring so ash clogging risk would be minimal.
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Hey Idahawk, do you have any details pics (inside as well) you could post of your red one?
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Yeah, the ash pan is not really gonna do much in a WSM due to vent location. I will see what mine looks like in the bowl and report back.
AJ 8)
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I'll be using the internal ash pan on my WSM Mutt this weekend. Super excited to find out the results... I'll let you know how it works out.
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I live 2 miles from the "NIB" Happy Cooker that Jeff posted. I am not much of a collector so I am not willing to dish out $65. If anyone wants it I can pick it up for them.
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I'd take it if you would get for me ?
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If Jeff grabs it today I can get it from him and get it to Chicago on the 15th. If that helps at all.
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oh I wasn't posting that I wanted it, just in case someone else wanted it since its NIB
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Sorry too many Jeff's. I was referring to lightning boldt Jeff.
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LB Jeff is hooking it up for me ,thanks !
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I'll be using the internal ash pan on my WSM Mutt this weekend. Super excited to find out the results... I'll let you know how it works out.
I've got 5 racks of ribs (3 baby back, 2 St. Louis style) on the WSM Mutt right now (4lbs of wings to join them later)... this internal ash pan from the Happy Cooker is helping keep the temps down tremendously! The WSM usually runs hot & fast on me, even w/ all of the BBK vents closed. I've got two wide open for the past 1 1/2 hours, and it's holding steady at 250*. Hell, yes!
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I'll be using the internal ash pan on my WSM Mutt this weekend. Super excited to find out the results... I'll let you know how it works out.
I've got 5 racks of ribs (3 baby back, 2 St. Louis style) on the WSM Mutt right now (4lbs of wings to join them later)... this internal ash pan from the Happy Cooker is helping keep the temps down tremendously! The WSM usually runs hot & fast on me, even w/ all of the BBK vents closed. I've got two wide open for the past 1 1/2 hours, and it's holding steady at 250*. Hell, yes!
Nice ! I heard about this a few years back , just never found a HC with the pan to try it with , thanks for posting , enjoy for meal
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Well now I'm gonna need to find one of those pans for my WSM
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Got this tid bit of info today
Dave,
I sent you an email but had put a 1 instead of an I in the address.
Anyway, below is a reply to my friend John who transferred with UNR (Unarco) to Louisiana in the 80’s.
Brenda
From: john [mailto:bethb@suddenlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 9:03 PM
To: info@parisilchamber.com
Subject: Re: Happy Cooker question
Dear Brenda,
We're doing alright. Stopped to see you in early May but the office was closed. We were there for Ethan's graduation from ISU.
To answer your question, the Happy Cooker was made by UNR right there in Paris in the Simington Plant. We bought the plant from Eagle Pitcher to porcelainize sinks. When that product didn't pan out we developed the Happy Cooker.
Years later as a result of Chapter XI, UNR sold the equipment and tooling to Weber who moved it. Don't know where.
Hope this helps.
John
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Brenda Buckley - Executive Director" <info@parisilchamber.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:54:36 -0500
To: <bethb@suddenlink.net>
ReplyTo: <info@parisilchamber.com>
Cc: <1dahawk8@gmail.com>
Subject: Happy Cooker question
Dear John & Beth,
First of all, how are you two? I am still working and Buck is now retired. I think I am getting to the place in my life where I would just like to sit for a while with no responsibilities. We will see how soon that happens!
I have an inquiry from Dave Hart. He wants to know about the Happy Cooker. He wants to know if Unarco made the Happy Cooker or if Weber made the Happy Cooker. (Something like that.) I told him I didn’t know, but I would see if I could get someone to answer his question.
He and some friends are having a discussion about it and just want to know what is right. His phone # is 208-610-2$&? .
If you can help him out, I would appreciate it.
Thanks John
Brenda C. Buckley
Executive Director
Paris Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
105 N. Central Ave.
Paris, IL 61944
217-465-4179
217-465-4170 fax
email-info@parisilchamber.com
www.parisilchamber.com
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UNR sold the equipment and tooling to Weber who moved it. Don't know where.
To a landfill, would be my guess!
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Or Weber used the machinery , that equipment can't be cheap. I guess will have to find an old Weber employee to tell us that part of the story someday .
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Before I came to these boards last week I actually found a Happy Cooker on CL up in Denver for sale but the seller was calling it a Weber. I was confused by the hinged lid and the plastic handles and posted it to another board asking if anyone knew what kind of kettle it was. No one answered it and was left wondering...
Being on this board for less than a week, I now know what kind of kettle it was but also more of the back story. Man interesting stuff and I appreciate you guys on the board sharing this information with us noobs.
Thanks again!
Nick
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Or Weber used the machinery , that equipment can't be cheap. I guess will have to find an old Weber employee to tell us that part of the story someday .
Yep presses and bead rollers would be especially useful for Weber.
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Just an update on the date range for the happy cooker , it looks like the first trademark is 1979 and it was killed in 1988 a period of 9 years , it's safe to assume if you have a HC of any kind it's from this 9 year period, but there's no way to date these grills , unless you score a NIB and it's dated on the packaging .
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Just an update on the date range for the happy cooker , it looks like the first trademark is 1979 and it was killed in 1988 a period of 9 years , it's safe to assume if you have a HC of any kind it's from this 9 year period, but there's no way to date these grills , unless you score a NIB and it's dated on the packaging .
Nice.
Sounds like we should put together a nice happy cooker knowledge page.
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Move it over to off topic , as to not upset the natives lol. My plan is to eventually find all the model names and numbers for reference , since this knowledge doesn't exist at the present time . I think we've found all the accessories now , just need to figure out the grills
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Wow.... interesting read. Thanks to Idahawk et al...I love this stuff!
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Interesting read. I have family that lives in Paris, IL too. I'll have to ask them if they know anything about the plant. I never did see pictures posted of their OT setup; did I miss them?
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I know this is an old thread, but found this in an old Crain's Business paper & it belongs here (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/7d87ecb9c1133a41b6458456273ab623.jpg)
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Thanks for posting this. The HC is part of history..
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That's an awesome read! Thanks for sharing that!
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I had a brown one in the mid 80's that was a gift. We cooked the crap out of it. I left it with my roomate when I moved and he cooked it through. Wish I still had it. I never realized it wasn't a Weber until I discovered that here. Was a great grill.
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@brewtownbeatdown
Is there a date on the article?
It says HC was released in Jan. 1977, but makes no actual mention of how long ago it was from this publication......
Interesting because it says Weber will likely surpass 1 million units in whatever year this was.....
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@brewtownbeatdown
Is there a date on the article?
It says HC was released in Jan. 1977, but makes no actual mention of how long ago it was from this publication......
Interesting because it says Weber will likely surpass 1 million units in whatever year this was.....
Ask & you shall receive(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/c15cc23555caa4145030ca40c4bbc88a.jpg)
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So, going by this.....there were / are the larger portion of 1 million 3-wheelers from Weber out there....just from that year alone.....get with it folks !!!!!
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Great find @brewtownbeatdown.
I like the line, "Weber Stevens is apparently unconcerned with the new rival." So "unconcerned" that they sued and got the product taken off of the market.
Interesting that the vent covers were stainless left over from sink production. I guess the cut out for the drain makes a good vent cover.
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Speaking of Idahawk. I just peeped his profile and it doesn't look like he's been around since February which isn't like him. I hope all is well.
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Interesting article. Does anyone know how many happy cookers were actually sold before they were shut down? Curious how close they actually got to Weber sales.
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Grate story. Never ran across one. Would be cool tho...
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Speaking of Idahawk. I just peeped his profile and it doesn't look like he's been around since February which isn't like him. I hope all is well.
Calling @Idahawk 8)
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Thanks for posting.
W-S continues to protect itself with lawsuits:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160505/NEWS05/160509876/weber-grills-maker-sues-competitor-in-three-legged-case
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All companies do that.
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Of course.
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Thanks for posting.
W-S continues to protect itself with lawsuits:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160505/NEWS05/160509876/weber-grills-maker-sues-competitor-in-three-legged-case
So, no one is allowed to produce a 3 legged kettle shaped grill except Weber? WTF? Who invented the 4 legged table we all sit at, and were there lawsuits involved? Jeezus.
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You're missing the point. Companies have trademarks and they need to protect them. A few years ago the Ferrari formula one team wanted to call their car the F150 to celebrate Italy's 150th anniversary. Ford sued because of the F150 name of the pick up truck. Ferrari had to change the name. Not that anyone was going to confuse a pick up truck with a F1 race car... but...intellectual property etc.
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If I was Weber I would have sued the shit out of them too....it's a complete rip off of a Weber. That's what Patents are for.....I'm not saying that they didn't have good ideas, or that the Weber is the be all end all, I'm just saying that this produce is a rip off of something Weber has a Patent on...
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It would be really cool to see a product lineup of the Happy Cooker over the short period they were in business. I've had a couple black HC's that ended up as donors for UDS projects.
The hinged lid design is just too awesome for Weber!
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2468.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2467.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2464.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2470.jpg)
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I'd like to cook on one for a while to see how they run.
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The hinged lid design is quite funny if you think about it. (I don't trust mine to stay on.)
In a turnabout, Weber made the lid bale.
Hmm, did they copy the HC? I think they did.
George Stephens impresses me as a man that used things and ideas that were around him.
Its poetic justice.. I mean Weber probably lost a few bucks during the HC days.. Just a few..
The Weber was and is one of the highest priced grills on the market. Its worth the money but people always like to save a buck when possible..
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Speaking of Idahawk. I just peeped his profile and it doesn't look like he's been around since February which isn't like him. I hope all is well.
We are wondering the same thing, Dave simply decided one day he was done with the site. Not much of an explanation as to why.
We sent e-mails and asked what what up with no response. It was an odd ordeal for sure.
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Someone posted this link on the Facebook site - Weber Kettle Fans. It is a schematic from Weber's website for a Sears Economy Kettle. Appears Weber at one time produced a "Happy Cooker" clone for Sears. It included an internal ash pan just like the Happy Cooker.
https://www.weber.com/US/en/help/schematics/browse.aspx?model=1343
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/06/21/1343.th.jpg)
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internal ash pan conspicuously missing from the list- the only thing i was interested in seeing. :)
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I went looking down the parts list too, realized the internal ash pan wasn't mentioned, scrolled back up and that's when I realized the itemized list numbers jump from 10 to 12 skipping the ash catcher!
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I went looking down the parts list too, realized the internal ash pan wasn't mentioned, scrolled back up and that's when I realized the itemized list numbers jump from 10 to 12 skipping the ash catcher!
Fake news. Insert some alternative facts and voila.......Happy Cookers never existed? Idahawk got shipped back to Mexico for being an illegal bbq dude and is currently tunneling under what he thinks is a new wall but is instead a massive cache of early 80's Happy Cookers buried near the border. Stay tuned to Fox News for shmupdated updates.
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Someone posted this link on the Facebook site - Weber Kettle Fans. It is a schematic from Weber's website for a Sears Economy Kettle. Appears Weber at one time produced a "Happy Cooker" clone for Sears. It included an internal ash pan just like the Happy Cooker.
https://www.weber.com/US/en/help/schematics/browse.aspx?model=1343
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/06/21/1343.th.jpg)
Yup! Yours truly!
I went looking down the parts list too, realized the internal ash pan wasn't mentioned, scrolled back up and that's when I realized the itemized list numbers jump from 10 to 12 skipping the ash catcher!
internal ash pan conspicuously missing from the list- the only thing i was interested in seeing. :)
It must have been @ 2007-08 when I got my first Cajun Bandit Kettle Conversion and I called Weber CS about the internal ash pan for the Sears Economy Kettle. I was told then they were long out of stock, that's the reason the ash pan isn't listed (part# & description) Only items available are listed - note this? 14 63016 Damper kit, 22.5" Bar-B-Kettle & Smokey Mountain Cooker ??
I'll have to dig through my hoard, but I have 3 internal ash pans and one is a bit different design that was a Sears Economy than the other 2 which came from HC's/
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Fake news. Insert some alternative facts and voila.......Happy Cookers never existed? Idahawk got shipped back to Mexico for being an illegal bbq dude and is currently tunneling under what he thinks is a new wall but is instead a massive cache of early 80's Happy Cookers buried near the border. Stay tuned to Fox News for shmupdated updates.
Absolutely. "Coast To Coast AM" confirms it too. With the utter gravity of this situation one thing is obvious: more covfefe is clearly required.
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Wow, Coast to Coast would love to investigate this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170622/089591224e79920ada7d6d18db967d0b.jpg)
The internal ash pan mystery deepens!
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@MrHoss @Lightning @jcnaz LMAO!!!
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This is a pan that came out of a Weber Economy Kettle. It was sacrificed for a drum smoker. It has a flat base and the bowl sides are smooth.
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1166.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1165.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1164.jpg)
This pan is from a basic black Happy Cooker, my teammate has the lid on a drum.
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_5761.jpg)
Happy Cooker with "Exclusive Hinged Lid" internal ash pan
Before
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_1739.jpg)
After RRR
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2463.jpg)
The HC pans don't have a flat base and there are wave like channels on the bowl.
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So did Weber come out with it first or did HC ?
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(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20001_zps96ji7oiq.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20003_zpsyjcnjyud.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20002_zpsnrwvp9kh.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20004_zpsc8cvpe3e.jpg)
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(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20001_zps96ji7oiq.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20003_zpsyjcnjyud.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20002_zpsnrwvp9kh.jpg)
(http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w493/HellFireGrill/Happy%20Cooker/elegant%20fare%20HC%202016-11-20%20004_zpsc8cvpe3e.jpg)
Grate piece of HC literature. Everything I've found, so far, has been in black/white or illustrated in color.
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The A code smokey Joe I found a decade ago had an internal ash pan.
but it was before we knew what it was. i threw it away :(
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Oddly enough I found it in Weber's book "Elegant Fare" in a paper pocket/recipe card holder, on a CL deal. When I asked the little ol'lady if she still has the happy cooker. She said she just sold it a few days ago, after hauling it with her for 35 years and only useing it and the book once. Followed by "it was the ugliest damn puke green you ever saw in your life but my husband loved it".
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I don't know about you, but as a HC collector, that woulda been a gut punch to me🤢. Right place, wrong time!!!
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I'm not really a collector but if the timing was right it'd be in my garage too.
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It would be really cool to see a product lineup of the Happy Cooker over the short period they were in business.
[emoji848]Good idea[emoji362]
Can use this thread for a line-up. Your later model "Hinged Lid" model starts it off:
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_2468.jpg)
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Gas Picnic
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/06c87452c38d69bdd1963e30002e1c81.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/fab3edddfd889eab95bebc1606a43af1.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/34ee3b98895251d6710ff915558b8b4d.jpg)
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No idea what the model name is, but it's HC's equivalent of the JumboJoe. Has an orange peel finish that's actually orange.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/4ff2bd2316ff4435fd9998d8cb9cb227.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/240f4141f15f22402a69196c31cb3904.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170714/d485b244ae3908fff673fb5f90012d31.jpg)
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Question for you gurus. I'm at various houses everyday for my job. Today, at a customers house, I spotted what I thought was a happy cooker. I didn't get a picture but it was a 22 black, missing leg kit but had leg sockets, I opened it and nothing inside. It had 3 vent on bottom and the lid vent had a small tab. The handle had the classic plastic happy cooker look but to my surprise it said char broil?? The kettle looked very old and no rust so I assume it was a porcelain finish. What was I looking at?
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Charbroil did make porcelain kettles with a plastic handle that was almost identical to HC (same supplier?). Small, flimsy plastic wheels. Never seen with three bowl dampers. Usually only two dampers & the bowl's stepped for the grates to sit on.
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It may have only had 2 dampers on the bowl. I only fondled it for a second. I didn't want them to catch me checking out their old grill and having to explain my unnatural interest in old grills.
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Yellow 18"
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/136e74895193e79d843b36ddb475856f.jpg)
Has faint black speckling in the finish (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/9dc21d6fcefc014e1641598f7d9e3462.jpg)
Lighter shade compared to Weber (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/a8da38886393f3ca5edc9af813b919d4.jpg)
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Yellow 18"
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/136e74895193e79d843b36ddb475856f.jpg)
Has faint black speckling in the finish (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/9dc21d6fcefc014e1641598f7d9e3462.jpg)
Lighter shade compared to Weber (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170716/a8da38886393f3ca5edc9af813b919d4.jpg)
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Thanks for sharing! Does the HC turn color like the Weber?
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Thanks for sharing! Does the HC turn color like the Weber?
It darkens a little, but never goes reddish/orange like Weber.
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Duo Smoker
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170718/a3c1325cbabb805d45aafea433bf8e4c.jpg)
Legs don't actually "adjust". Comes with a short & long set that you swap out.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170718/6b4a180d00e22782f5ff438ec043d1fb.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170718/dc7496c5d119033c64a4716964d719a1.jpg)
No bottom damper(s). The grate strap extends 3/8" over bowl lip, so the lid doesn't sit tight, to allow for air intake.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170718/07d122b582c7cbd9bd4476870a0b12d2.jpg)
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I was at a yard sale a few years ago that had a green happy cooker for sale. I passed on it at the time because I viewed it as a knockoff. I think today I'd probably buy it. The green was sort of a British green, similar to the green kettles being produced by Weber today.
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You could be right , after Weber eliminated the competition they could have approached Sears with an economy grill , ... .
That could explain what I have: A 22 inch kettle that has all the features and dimensions of an early 1980s Weber, including the dished aluminum ash catcher, the three bottom vents with large tabs, three aluminum legs in classical Weber sockets, a side-mounted wooden cutting board, etc. black color, but not a single marking of the manufacturer on anything (I have looked hard). Black plastic handle on top of the lid and one on the side but handles had a different shape than what I have seen on Happy Cookers and mine did not have that unique internal pan characteristic of HC. The lid is not hinged and does not have a spot welded hook on the inside surface of the lid to hang it off the side I bought this in about 1981-1982 (definitely not older than 1980), possibly from Sears, since there was one very nearby my house then.
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Someone posted this link on the Facebook site - Weber Kettle Fans. It is a schematic from Weber's website for a Sears Economy Kettle. Appears Weber at one time produced a "Happy Cooker" clone for Sears. It included an internal ash pan just like the Happy Cooker.
Bingo...this must be what I have, although mine did not have an internal ash pan. I'm sort of happy again....I was afraid I had some cheap, imported, patent-violating bastardized creation from some long gone fly-by-night company.
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Just picked this one up for $15. I'll clean it up and see how she looks.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=91018)
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Grate score!!! Glad this went to a WKC member. So, is this a hinged lid model (missing the hinge though)? Couldn’t tell for sure from your FB post.
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Believe so but it is missing the hinge. I'll post more when I clean it up. So far the bowl and ash catcher look solid. Top handle is a little bent.
Grate score!!! Glad this went to a WKC member. So, is this a hinged lid model (missing the hinge though)? Couldn’t tell for sure from your FB post.
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Just an update on the date range for the happy cooker , it looks like the first trademark is 1979 and it was killed in 1988 a period of 9 years , it's safe to assume if you have a HC of any kind it's from this 9 year period, but there's no way to date these grills , unless you score a NIB and it's dated on the packaging .
Nice.
Sounds like we should put together a nice happy cooker knowledge page.
Troy, that would be so cool. since I have been a member here I have found some nice older kettles and sent them to happy homes, My Remuda is about 5 Weber kettles of 3 sizes and then I SCORED A HAPPY COOKER FOR FREE
I actually offered it up and had interest, but I did 2 low and slow cooks on it
I was hooked, that internal ash pan is the shiznit for controlling airflow. Such as the Weber is a lucky design, I think that internal ash pan with the multiple holes is a fluke. Those things cook so excellent.
I cannot say if there is a patent on that ash tray, it not someone needs to start stamping them out for Weber kettles, once you do a BBQ cook with one you will be hooked.
Sorry for the hijack, yes a page on the front end about Happy Cookers would be so cool.
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I'm from Essex, UK and happened to be searching the Web for a cooking grid for my BBQ when I chanced across your Forum and the Happy Cooker thread. Since there sees still to be some interest in Happy Cooker BBQ's, I thought you might be interested in my experience with them (it).
I've had the 22.5 inch version since I bought it new in December 1982 in Debenhams Department store in Oxford Street, London. It cost £60 then which, at today's rate is about $80. It has lived outside all its life and has been used on average 2-3 times a week in the Summer and occasionally in the Winter. It remains in excellent condition and the only things I've had to replace to date were the charcoal grid and cooking grid, both once. They are nearing being renewed again, hence me searching the Web.
The quality of the BBQ (or "Smoker" as the handbook calls it) speaks for itself. In the UK, it is unheard of in this day and age for similar equipment to last more than a few years before it rusts and fall apart. Strangely, I enjoy looking at it every day and will never get rid of it. If any of the main parts give up I will do my best to make or find something to replace it. Currently there is no danger of that and I feel certain it will see me out.
I have attached a photo of the original hand book and the cooker itself (which I'm about fire up shortly).
Thanks for allowing me to post this and I hope it is of interest to some of you.
Regards
Keith
[attachment deleted by admin]
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I'm from Essex, UK and happened to be searching the Web for a cooking grid for my BBQ when I chanced across your Forum and the Happy Cooker thread. Since there sees still to be some interest in Happy Cooker BBQ's, I thought you might be interested in my experience with them (it).
I've had the 22.5 inch version since I bought it new in December 1982 in Debenhams Department store in Oxford Street, London. It cost £60 then which, at today's rate is about $80. It has lived outside all its life and has been used on average 2-3 times a week in the Summer and occasionally in the Winter. It remains in excellent condition and the only things I've had to replace to date were the charcoal grid and cooking grid, both once. They are nearing being renewed again, hence me searching the Web.
The quality of the BBQ (or "Smoker" as the handbook calls it) speaks for itself. In the UK, it is unheard of in this day and age for similar equipment to last more than a few years before it rusts and fall apart. Strangely, I enjoy looking at it every day and will never get rid of it. If any of the main parts give up I will do my best to make or find something to replace it. Currently there is no danger of that and I feel certain it will see me out.
I have attached a photo of the original hand book and the cooker itself (which I'm about fire up shortly).
Thanks for allowing me to post this and I hope it is of interest to some of you.
Regards
Keith
Welcome to the club Keith. Nice to have another HC guy in the mix. That’s a nice looking kettle in grate shape. Up til a year ago, an orange HC was a myth amongst us. Yours now makes 5 confirmed. I grabbed the mistreated twin to yours a little bit ago & hope to get ‘er looking close to as nice as yours. Was the control knob originally black & would you mind posting pics of all the pages to the owner’s guide? I like the fact that they say “painted” for the orange, but it’s definitely porcelain.
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I just replied to brewtownbeatdown's post and included several photos but when I clicked "post" the whole thing just disappeared. There were 7 photos, could this have been the problem.
Keith
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Wish I had a definitive answer for you. Using the web browser to post pics requires a photo site from what I understand. I’ve always used Tapatalk app to add photos, so I’ve never had an issue when posting pics.
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Thanks for that brewtownbeatdown and for the welcome. I'll have another go at posting the pics you were after.
The control knob is indeed a wooden ball painted black black but most of the colour has worn off now. I can also confirm the orange lid is porcelain (or enamel as we call it over here), as is the bottom half of the kettle but that is black.
Attached are photos of the 5 remaining pages of the Guide, plus one of the control knob.
Regards
Keith
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Apologies but I included the wrong photo of the knob in the last post. The correct one is attached.
Keith
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Finally finished restoring mine. Thanks @Keith UK for the info/pics.
Found ‘er looking like this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/410a66fefe9dca2484a7044e1ae98136.jpg)
Got ‘er looking like this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/4588d4c6e8f1a05da80de4377e1cd80b.jpg)
My [emoji521][emoji521][emoji521] family:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/a67d96d503dc6cb1bf585ee904093738.jpg)
The control knob is indeed a wooden ball painted black black but most of the colour has worn off now.
After sanding the weathered knob, I couldn’t bring myself to paint it black, so:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/bf8aa7b9446a582132b83f98a22e7c23.jpg)
My brown HC pedestal came from the factory that way, so I feel ok going that route.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/6e11a6a5326b1081baad01ca081261da.jpg)
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Very nice restore, worthy of any collection
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Wow! Nicely done! Love those oranges.
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There's a grill for sale near me that's advertised as "weber style grill". Can anyone identify if this is a Happy Cooker? Or what other brand it may be?
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/d/weber-style-kettle-charcoal/6727482538.html
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There's a grill for sale near me that's advertised as "weber style grill". Can anyone identify if this is a Happy Cooker? Or what other brand it may be?
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/d/weber-style-kettle-charcoal/6727482538.html
Definitely a Happy cooker with the coveted internal ash pan go get her quick @nvandyke
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‘Tis a Weber with a Happy Cooker, or Sears IAC. Could be a Sears kettle(?). HC’s wood handles were only double rivet, not single screw (as pictured). HC’s aluminum dampers were stamped flat with small tabs only. Wheels woulda been rubber tread if it were a wood handled HC.
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Can anyone identify if this is a Happy Cooker? Or what other brand it may be?
Looking at the IAC, I’m pretty positive that it’s a Sears kettle. The IAC is smooth, whereas the HC pan had “waves” in ‘em.
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Happy cookers have 3 side strap's to hold the grates
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Yep! I am 100% sure it is a Sears kettle. brewtownbeatdown is correct on all accounts. TexasOnion is also correct with 3 grate straps instead of 4 on Weber kettles except another version of Weber made for Sears economy kettle without any grate straps and no IAC. HC lid vent, I think is SS and not aluminum like Weber. They are smaller in diameter and duel tabbed. Double rivet HC wood handle shape is different too.
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Finally finished restoring mine. Thanks @Keith UK for the info/pics.
Found ‘er looking like this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/410a66fefe9dca2484a7044e1ae98136.jpg)
Got ‘er looking like this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/4588d4c6e8f1a05da80de4377e1cd80b.jpg)
My [emoji521][emoji521][emoji521] family:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/a67d96d503dc6cb1bf585ee904093738.jpg)
What a great job! I'm jealous, how did you do it? It's better than new.
Keith
The control knob is indeed a wooden ball painted black black but most of the colour has worn off now.
After sanding the weathered knob, I couldn’t bring myself to paint it black, so:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/bf8aa7b9446a582132b83f98a22e7c23.jpg)
My brown HC pedestal came from the factory that way, so I feel ok going that route.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181022/6e11a6a5326b1081baad01ca081261da.jpg)
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Another version of the Happy Cooker. This is how i got it and the start of cleaning it
(https://i.imgur.com/yY6IuJPl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M9WWLlel.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VcVHiq0l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jb98L3Rl.jpg)
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Another version of the Happy Cooker. This is how i got it and the start of cleaning it
(https://i.imgur.com/yY6IuJPl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M9WWLlel.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VcVHiq0l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jb98L3Rl.jpg)
That should clean up nicely. It looks like someone got carried away with the black spray paint (white wheels & pedestal “settings” decal painted over)[emoji22].
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What a great job! I'm jealous, how did you do it? It's better than new.
Keith
Thank you. I’m the jealous one. You’ve had yours since it was new and put all the miles on it.
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I know this is an old thread but I did not want to open a new one. Is this a happy cooker as well? Is or was for sale in the area.
https://www.letgo.com/en-us/i/bbq-grill_f4db8b75-96d4-47ae-ae27-628a2593da8e
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I know this is an old thread but I did not want to open a new one. Is this a happy cooker as well? Is or was for sale in the area.
https://www.letgo.com/en-us/i/bbq-grill_f4db8b75-96d4-47ae-ae27-628a2593da8e
Yes, that it is a charcoal Happy Cooker with a hinged lid. Looks to be in really good condition and the price is good too.