You may have read that I met Stu today. Stu and I completed a three grill trade across three state lines. He ended up with an avocado 18 and I ultimately ended up with his old Ranch Kettle. It is a project but I was very excited to get it....I had a chance to meet Stu and he couldn't have been any nicer of a guy. A real asset to our community. He wasn't a murderer which was great....
As you all know about Grandpa, the 50 year old 26" I got earlier this summer that was a little rough around the edges but had that awesome vintage look. Well, now there is great grandpa, a very close relative to grandpa, and will be held in the same respect. Stu agreed to part with this piece of history and I have been entrusted with it, I will take very good care of it....I would guess this rancher is from the early 60's, it has the thumbscrews.
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0006.jpg)
Of course Lucy and Phoebe had to check out the new addition...
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0002.jpg)
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0007.jpg)
Here is grandpa and great grandpa together....
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0011.jpg)
As I'm sure you can guess the wife was thrilled to see this show up here. But I guarantee everyone will be excited on the Fourth of July. I can't tell you how much I love these super old grills, they are a real piece of Americana. I love speculating on what this grill has seen and where it has been....
Brian
Very cool Brian. You certainly have one of the best collection of REAL oldies here. So whats up with those new shoes on the Ranch? Have you already done them or did you get it like that? Also, what are your plans for GREAT GRANDPA????
VERY cool Brian...
Quote from: Jeff on December 01, 2012, 07:22:11 PM
Very cool Brian. You certainly have one of the best collection of REAL oldies here. So whats up with those new shoes on the Ranch? Have you already done them or did you get it like that? Also, what are your plans for GREAT GRANDPA????
Stu had already done the rehab on the wheels. I'm not sure what to do...I could just leave it alone and cook on it. If I wanted to paint it I'm not sure I could get the high temp paint to hold up....
Brian
oh so sweet
what was the total trade?
Very nice, Brian. The ranch is a blast to use.
WOW!!! Thats a badass looking Ranch! I'd love to know how it looked when it was red. If thats what it was originally. Can't wait to see what the site looks like in the months to come with 6 decades of Weber in the flesh! Stu and Brian, I've gots to know.....whats your secret(s) on perfecting the whitewalls on the wheels. I'm struggling with my 18's wheels. The blue tape method didnt quite take.
Craig
OMG! It's Will Robinson's Rat-Rod! Just curious, what's it like to lift off that lid? Do you need a partner? Does it hit you in the gut? (Envisioning try to explain that crescent-shaped burn mark to the Doctor...) And what is the weight of the lid?
Zav-that looks right at home. I like the "well used" look. It was originally painted and didnt look as cool as it does now.
Husker-I carefully covered the rubber with tape then spray painted the entire wheel black. Afterwards, I used a circular paper cut-out to cover the black area (exposing the whitewall) and sprayed that with white. A little touch up was needed but thats was all. Im sure there are better ways but this worked. If you remember the tread had peeled off the rim on one wheel so I used black silicone caulk to fill the void. Not perfect but better than replacing those wheels.
That Sir, is breath taking! time to get some oven mits :o :o and maybe a heat resistant apron!
Zav-forgot to mention that shortly after we parted, my wife called to make sure I wasnt murdered ;D
It's great to see those two old codgers reunited! If you get all of the old black spray paint off of it I think the red spray should hold up. It's rated to five hundred and I doubt that whole grill will ever see that. Just make sure the fire doesn't touch the bowl and don't replace the lid when the fire is raging. Super score and front page material when it's done. :D
I think I have a reason to hate you! Just call me Lampe!
If anyone is gonna bring another 50 years to this grill, its gonna be you.
Nice grill Brian.. When do we eat? 8)
Quote from: husker_red on December 01, 2012, 09:27:51 PM
WOW!!! Thats a badass looking Ranch! I'd love to know how it looked when it was red. If thats what it was originally. Can't wait to see what the site looks like in the months to come with 6 decades of Weber in the flesh! Stu and Brian, I've gots to know.....whats your secret(s) on perfecting the whitewalls on the wheels. I'm struggling with my 18's wheels. The blue tape method didnt quite take.
Craig
Husker, if you send me the wheels I can fix them up for you....I fixed some for landgraft, ask him how they looked....email me an we can discuss...
Brian
Quote from: Golly on December 01, 2012, 08:43:12 PM
oh so sweet
what was the total trade?
We traded the avocado 18 that I was able to get from Indiana ( for those of you in Australia that's the next state over from where I am) it came with the 18 shishkabob ring. I then took it to Wisconsin, (for those of you still in Australia that's the next state over in a different direction from where I am) and fifty bucks for Great Grandpa. We traded a few handles for some cast iron stuff too...
Brian
Trade sounds like a win for both of you
It's great to see the WK Clubbers networking
Quote from: Heyjude on December 02, 2012, 09:46:52 AM
I think I have a reason to hate you! Just call me Lampe!
If anyone is gonna bring another 50 years to this grill, its gonna be you.
Nice grill Brian.. When do we eat? 8)
Anytime, come on by and we can cook!
Brian
Quote from: Hogsy on December 02, 2012, 10:34:54 AM
Trade sounds like a win for both of you
It's great to see the WK Clubbers networking
I had a chance to get a hold of that avocado for G because I knew he would want it, just like those gasser parts for you. I knew you could use them and I had a chance to get my hands on them.....to me that's what this whole site is about...
Brian
Quote from: MartyG on December 02, 2012, 03:41:30 AM
OMG! It's Will Robinson's Rat-Rod! Just curious, what's it like to lift off that lid? Do you need a partner? Does it hit you in the gut? (Envisioning try to explain that crescent-shaped burn mark to the Doctor...) And what is the weight of the lid?
Believe it or not, it's not too heavy, it's just right. You need to use both handles for sure. I am cooking some chicken legs right now for the game and the handles are not too hot and it really isn't too bad to deal with. I'll post pics later...
Brian
I almost say leave Great Grandpa as is, like his son Grandpa. Two ol' guys that have earned their battle scars and could tell some serious 'war' stories. A really cool picture would be of the two Grandpas in the middle with a bunch of newer wood handle and plastic handle kettles through the years surrounding them as if they were being told a story.
Craig
I really like the way it looks now. It screams 'old and used' like a Weber should. I'm envious of both of your collections.
I could have told you Stu wasn't a murderer. I met him at his place and drove home with a car load of Webers that he was liquidating. Great guy. Wish he lived closer.
The WSM I got from him was cleaned up, repaired, and has been on permanent loan to a buddy who was in desperate need of a pit and didn't have the coin to buy one.
My wife thought he was a murderer not me, I knew he was okay...
Brian
Quote from: zavod44 on December 03, 2012, 09:28:03 AM
My wife thought he was a murderer not me, I knew he was okay...
Brian
Re-reading the thread I see that now.
And since he has posted, post-meet-up, it's obvious you're not a murderer either.
Which is good to know.
Brian.
That grill is so impressive that your fire hydrant fell over in shock.
I have that old fire hydrant, I haven't figured out what to do with it yet.....
Brian
That's easy, paint it Green and Yellow, call your dog over, snap a pic and send to your good buddy over on the other forum
Quote from: Eastex on December 04, 2012, 06:56:03 PM
That's easy, paint it Green and Yellow, call your dog over, snap a pic and send to your good buddy over on the other forum
Bahaha! ;D
Quote from: zavod44 on December 04, 2012, 04:59:27 PM
I have that old fire hydrant, I haven't figured out what to do with it yet.....
Brian
Put it in the kitchen, that's where I keep my stoplight...... 8)
QuoteI have that old fire hydrant, I haven't figured out what to do with it yet.....
Uh.. I have no response for that...
If anyone needs a fire hydrant and is in the area I'm willing to talk. Oh and it's heavier than hell...
Brian
Quote from: zavod44 on December 05, 2012, 03:27:59 PM
If anyone needs a fire hydrant and is in the area I'm willing to talk. Oh and it's heavier than hell...
Brian
LOL! To funny. But if yourdog did business on it, my blind Wiener dog would find it! ;D
I got girl dogs...they go anywhere,
Brian
Here is a little cook I did just to get great grandpa back into the action....Did some chicken legs for the Bears game, then they blew it in overtime...at least I had some grilling fun..
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0017.jpg)
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0020.jpg)
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0023.jpg)
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0025.jpg)
(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z276/zavod112/DSCN0027.jpg)
We'll see what we can do in the weeks to come.
Oh and I did also want to mention, that AJ has to throw out the fact that Cali so soooo nice this time of year. As you can see it is still pretty nice here...
Brian
That thing looks like fun. You have an awesome collection Brian. What are your plans for it now?
Its actually nicer there than here I think we got like 20 inches of rain over thae last week..
But I am still wearing shorts... 8)
Mid 80's here, supposed to get cold tho down to like the low 70's brrrrr ;D
Looks awesome Brian...and yes, that grill looks fun to cook on.
I noticed you had a pan underneath for ashes that drop down. I'm assuming this grill never came with any sort of pan for that right?
Yea no ash pan was a little weird, I put a little thing so there was no fires...., or at least the dogs wouldn't eat any hot coals....which these two dummies might. Ah and AJ, I do love wearing shorts....I do miss that a little. Was 35 here this morning
Brian
That kettle is so cool! It looks like an alien space ship lol.
Nice looking Ranch and wings! Does the modern Ranch grate fit the old style or is it just like the old vs. new 26.75's where grate fitting is concerned?
Craig
That is a really cool old grill, Brian. Congrats!
Nice cook! how does the grate sit? are there 4 tabs like the normal sized kettles?
Looks like you could use the lid to a 18" for the ash catcher. Just awesome.
I'm not sure how long it would be before I got up the nerve but sooner or later I'd have to throw a whole hog on that dude.
VERY cool Brian...
Oh and by the way Brian...GO SEAHAWKS !!!!!!
I hear ya, if I had it I'd have to go whole gator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZhnpAhYmb0&sns=em (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZhnpAhYmb0&sns=em)
Im thinkin an 18" lid would be too small. I thought the base to a Weber fire pit would work good for an ash pan. Im sure you could fashion some clips to the legs to hold it in place. Take some measurements if you want to give it a shot. I have an extra base.
Okay or the record I'm not going whole hog, or whole gator. That's too much for me. I'll go whole turkey, maybe three of them. As for the ash pan I like that idea Stu. How big is the fire pit bottom? I'll measure. I can just use the clips like on the new ash pans. Is it heavy? Would the enew clips hold it? We can toss that part in on a trade ;)
Brian