Weber Kettle Club Forums

I'm looking to buy a kettle on craigslist. I don't go get it for another couple days (it's a long drive) so I want to make sure I'm not getting too badly ripped off.

I believe it's 22". The handle has a single screw. I tried to use the identify guide but couldn't find one where there is one screw, patent no., but no letter code and blank at the bottom of the upper vent. I don't know the configuration of the lower vents. I could get a new black one what I've agreed to pay for this, but its BLUE!

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8567/28699189105_d22ef20861_m.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8789/28666856156_676104ec8c_m.jpg)

I would see if they can send you some more pics.  Close up of the lid vent, a pic of the inside of the kettle, leg sockets, etc..  Sounds like you might be overpaying for this one if you can get a brand new grill for the same price.

If there is no letter code, it is pre 1979.

Near as I can tell, there is no letter stamp on the vent and the Patent number is right under WEBER. There are no markings near the vent handle. The handle on the top of the kettle has one point of attachment. I looked closer at the lid pic and there appears to be wood side handles too. That moves it closer to 1981.

Sure, I could get a copper one for the same price (we already have a black one) but this is BLUE. ;)



edited to change that there are wood handles which bumps it out of the '70's.

Sounds like a '78. I think that was the first year for the stamped weber vent. earlier it was engraved.

This is a zoomed image of the vent.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7474/28417924600_33eb38201a_o.jpg)

This is an interesting kettle. 1981 was the year Weber transitioned  from the MBH to wood handles on the bowl and from two rivet handles to single screw handles. This having a single screw wood handle would date it to at least 81, but then it should have a letter stamp.  The vent chart date does not have a vent shown like this one that has no "Arlington Heights, Ill" stamp at near the vent tab.  If anyone will know it will be @Craig or @56MPG.

This looks like a late 80s early 90s kettle. Nice looking one too!

I like a mystery! I guess when I get this baby home, I'll need to post lots of pics for expert evaluation. What confuddled me the most was that there was no date code and no "Arlington Heights, Ill". Seeing the wood handles helped me to guess years. Can't tell if it has the dial vents or the lever vents. I'm just hoping I can get the legs off to fit it into my car!

Might have been a lazy stamping job and the lower part of the vent didn't get hit right. Or maybe that portion of the stamping tool was down for repair. I'd have to see a better pic to be sure. My eyes can almost make out a letter...

Or quite possibly it has a replacement lid? Don't they leave those blank?

This is a very special kettle, notice the "R" with the circle around it, this stands for RARE... i think...LOL ??? ???

It actually stands for Rick.

My Circle R brand.

Thank you for finding it.

You can just send it back to me.






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Quote from: dazzo on August 01, 2016, 03:18:36 PM
It actually stands for Rick.

My Circle R brand.

Thank you for finding it.

You can just send it back to me.






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So happy you guys sorted that out...  I feel much better now..  lol

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Nice @dazzo, ROFL!!!


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(R) well that makes it so much easier knowing that stands for Rare. Or is that an instruction on how to do a steak? ;)

@atlanta, now your just sounding like you don't trust our judgement...LOL


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LOL If I didn't trust your judgement, varekai, I wouldn't have come here.

When it comes home, I'll have to post better pics. And then I'll be haunting the restoration pages so I can make it beautiful. And make BF jealous for telling me I couldn't use his kettle for smoking LOL

glad your up to some good hearted laughs, I hope you get your kettle and I hope you are able to make it look awesome!!! and Welcome to the club! be sure to post pics of your work, both the resto and anything you cook!

@Atalanta, also, if you have not yet done so, head over to "introduce yourself" and, you know, introduce yourself...

Nah! Don't trust Varekai, me, you can trust though.

All kidding aside. Any questions you have, we're more than happy to answer.

   Hey Atlanta I'm glad you got that grill I got tired of seeing it on CL if I remember correctly this grill was rescued from the city dump or junk yard. The lid handle scared me away looks like too much burn through

@Darko , yeah, your profile pic has TRUST ME allllll over it!....LOL

Quote from: Filibuster on August 02, 2016, 07:20:20 PM
   Hey Atlanta I'm glad you got that grill I got tired of seeing it on CL if I remember correctly this grill was rescued from the city dump or junk yard. The lid handle scared me away looks like too much burn through

Is this the same blue kettle that was at the Maryland landfill featured in this thread or is it another dump rescue.

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/save-old-blue-from-the-maryland-landfill/msg226424/#msg226424


(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu212/KingL68/13245320_1433813626636229_3938577879892848385_n_zpsdh9dhsat.jpg)

Hello Atalanta,
your Kettle have an replacement Vent. If it was from 1978 the Print Made in USA is Missing. So i think the Vent was an replacement and the kettle should be an early 90ś kettle.

BR
from germany

@Cellar2ful those are different kettles. They one @Atalanta is picking up has been listed on and off in PA for a long time.

I'll know Sat if it has the circle vents on the bottom or the ash sweeper (pardon me if I got the terms wrong, but you get the idea).

I too was a bit concerned about the rust at the lid handle. I'm hoping its not too severe and a little sanding and some paint helps.

I noticed in the first picture that there are some dings on the lid. I'd like to sand and paint to keep it from rusting through. Can anyone suggest a color of high-temp paint? Yeah, I know, blue. But has anyone used a blue? I'd rather not use a black.

https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9380668/00034
https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9380699/00034
https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9381492/00034

I'm not sure about which color to use but a couple tips/options on painting. 

Option 1) a lot of people don't like to use paint.  It is prone to turning black with heat so you're left in a similar position as when you started.  In the alternative, just clean and oil bare metal areas so they don't develop additional rust.

Option 2) if you decide to paint, there is no need to sand.  Use 4/0 steel wool to clean up the area really well and remove rust from the bare metal.  Mask the area around where you want to paint to avoid over-spray.  Paint your rust spot.  Let the paint dry and use a razor scraper to remove paint from the freshly painted porcelain leaving the paint on the previously bare metal.

Have you picked it up yet?

I go Saturday morning to pick it up.

I don't want to leave bare metal, it'll rust again and then I'll eventually have a hole.

Good luck with the pickup.

If you oil it occasionally it won't rust.

I'm not big on the idea of sanding or painting a kettle, but I know there are people here who have had success with it.  I just hit my damages spots with a little scrap of bacon while its warm to protect it from rust.  Works like a charm!

I didn't think a spot of oil would do it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Quote from: MikeRocksTheRed on August 04, 2016, 10:28:16 AM
I'm not big on the idea of sanding or painting a kettle, but I know there are people here who have had success with it.  I just hit my damages spots with a little scrap of bacon while its warm to protect it from rust.  Works like a charm!

Quote from: Neil_VT00 on August 04, 2016, 10:16:09 AM

If you oil it occasionally it won't rust.

Great advice.  Once I clean all the bare metal areas of rust with #0000 steel wool, I use a Q tip to apply olive oil to the areas. Really seals and protects the bare metal, retarding any further rust issues. Have not had any rust reappear but here in California the weather Gods are pretty kind to kettles.

I saw in Online Finds that you picked it up. What's the verdict, is there a date stamp in the vent?

Let's see some pics.


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Picked it up this morning. It's pretty. Better shape than I thought. The inside is dirty, but it's not full of rust. It also has the ash sweeper so that makes it a more modern unit. Pics forthcoming.

GOOD JOB, Congrats...Cant wait to see it!

It was too dark to take any pix just now. BF wanted to see it (he hadn't seen it yet. The Made in USA and ILL bits were too faint for the pic the seller posted. It has the letter N so I know it's a 1991. Next time we grill on BF's, we'll see what year his is.

@Atalanta , SO?  Whats going on with your new find?  Inquiring minds wanna know....

Been a little too hot this weekend to do any work on it. Next weekend looks more promising.

@Atalanta , Sounds as though you may live near me, all last week was nice, maybe 85... this weekend, A HUNDRED!!  totally sucks, I'm even going to go into work today for awhile just to escape the heat.

Nope, opposite coast from you. Though the weather pattern here sounds more like what you'd find in Florida than PA.

@atalanta, PA huh, my dad was from connelsville.


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