So, I bought something in an online auction recently, and had an AMAZING grillfella, Todd, AKA
@WEBERNV pick it up for me. So I woke up early this morning, and hopped in the trusty Hyundai Tucson.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21691390_10156720594082907_12952015_n.jpg)
Here's the route map for today:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21641594_10156720450732907_1070109279_n.jpg)
Saw the sunrise over the desert:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21641286_10156720279617907_1538648635_n.jpg)[/url]
Drove past beautiful Walker Lake near Hawthorne, NV:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21698201_10156720281577907_274280669_n.jpg)
And I met Todd at a Dairy Queen parking lot in Fallon, NV at about 10:50am. We talked a bit, and found out that he too is a STL guy...as a matter of fact, he's from St. Charles County just like me...it is a super small world. Anyway, he couldn't have been nicer, and though he rejected my offer of a grill, I was glad to give him a six pack of local beer for his help. I cannot stress enough how amazing he was in all this, and just how awesome people in WKC are in general. He went above and beyond, and I'm truly grateful.
So, with that, I used the DQ restroom, ordered a burger, and headed back to Las Vegas...
Here's the sign on the edge of Fallon, NV, where I stopped to take this pic, and download a couple of podcasts for the trip back while I still had cell service:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21769922_10156720281567907_1118310769_n.jpg)
I ended taking a short detour over a slightly more scenic route...it added 9 miles to the trip, but I think it shaved off some time because there was NO ONE on these roads trough Fish Lake Valley, Dyer, and Lida, NV. Here's a pic near Lida Pass:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21767608_10156720279682907_1671957730_n.jpg)
And, after all that, I arrived home this afternoon, 11 hours and 50 minutes later!
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21697828_10156720279692907_84801061_n.jpg)
I got my find out of the car, and though super tired, I did a quick 15 minute cleanup with a sponge, and 0000 steel wool. My lovely wife took some pictures...
Here's the new member of the family! Meet the 1975-6 Copper Mist Imperial Sequoia!
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21697981_10156720450787907_1294223704_n.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/21691275_10156720450672907_1549192991_n.jpg)
Just for comparison, here's a pic from the ad:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/17/Sequoia.jpg)
So...my plans for now include SLEEP. Then this week I'll take time cleaning the bowl and lid a bit more thoroughly. So, my biggest concern is preserving the wood finish. I'll post some more close up pics later this week, and I'd appreciate any suggestions about restoration and care of this gem of a Sequoia!
That is a deeeeeeep fade. Congrats!
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Welcome to the Wooden Performer Club !!!!
That one looks fabulous!!!!
Niiiice. A Fred Flintstone Performer!
Sounds like a grueling but really beautiful drive.
One question. Why is the bottom shelf upside down?
That's a heckuva road trip. Sounds like a cool adventure though, and definitely a great reward. Congrats!
Ha...I have a feeling the bottom shelf has always been that way...I didn't notice...I'll fix it.
Good driving. Congrates.
Nice pickup. Drive from WI was prohibitive but the price was sure right. Was the cast iron with it worthy of restoring?
Yes it's vintage griswold. "Erie" on back.
Nice! That should be a nice griddle when restored.
Great teamwork! Beautiful Copper and cart!
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Bravo! You must enjoy being on the open road picking up kettles. Please take some measurements for us and put them in the "Sequoia open source" thread in the mods subforum. The Red kettle near your wall looks neglected and sad.
Did you get your collection from an old Weber catalogue, because it sure looks like it! Beautiful grills!
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Well worth the drive duder.
Dam what a find!!
Gorgeous collection.
Nice making memories like that. That feeling of anticipation when your about 15 minutes out on a pick-up and can't wait to see it for the first time in person...
Awesome score for sure
That looks great.👍 Nice find.
Congrats, and nice collection!
Wow that looks amazing! Very distinct fade on that lid. Congrats on the addition to the collection.
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Looks awesome!!! Congrats on getting it.
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@crowderjd Thanks for the kind words! I am glad to see you and you're cargo made it home safely. It was my pleasure to help you out, and I look forward to seeing how that beauty cleans up! Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything else for the great northern part of the state!
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Very cool.
@pbe gummi bear, I'll get those measurements done sometime this week. Just an FYI, that red in the back serves as a firepit...I know it is shocking...it was bought to be used for some parts and had a completely rusted out one touch system...since then, the ash pan completed a 79 A code which has since moved on to a co-worker, and the lid went to another co-worker who had found a Weber bowl, but had no lid. I made a midget out of it, and since, it has happily roasted marshmallows and hot dogs for my kiddos.
Awesome fade!!!! Congrats, that's well worth the roadie.
WOW!!!
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It's the dedication like that makes your collection so boss!
Congratulations on a great find and great assist webernv!
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Totally worth the drive... congrats!
Congratulations Jason. You should compute your total mileage you have traveled picking up kettles. You might very well hold the all time total distance traveled record. Your failed attempt at the second Glenn Blue should be included in that also.
Wow. That is a really nice lineup you've put together the past few years. Great score! Congrats
Alright, so I did some more work on the Sequoia tonight...cleaned out the bowl, which was one of the easiest cleanups ever, and actually did a bit of hugging on it, as it was out of round. Then I removed the wheels, so I could flip over the bottom shelf. I flipped the bottom shelf and put it on the correct way, as seen below.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/18/21849269_10156723802732907_1961621805_n.jpg)
I'm pretty sure that this kettle had always been put together incorrectly, as the wood on the bottom side of the bottom shelf looks fantastic. I also unscrewed the door handles and straightened out the doors. Then it was on to the cast iron...good Lord was this thing caked with grease and gunk. I'm not done cleaning it yet, but at a stopping point for the night. Here's a pic of the bottom...anyone here know anything about cast iron who can date this? I'm pretty sure it is very old, but more detail would be great.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/18/21769658_10156723802702907_1126905632_n.jpg)
Finally, what do you all think about refinishing Sequoias? The wood is pretty dry, and even burnt on the top in a couple of places...pics will be forthcoming. I want to keep it as close to original as possible, but I also want to keep it preserved for the future. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated! I'll get some more closeup pics later this week, but I was trying to fix the basics today.
Congrats Jason. Glad to see it made its way to Vegas! That thing is in nice shape.
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Awesome! And I love the journey post @crowderjd
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Just an interesting update...the cast iron griddle that came with the Sequoia has been cleaned up. After furiously scrubbing away at baked grease for over a half hour, I finally decided to take the internet's advice and place it in the oven, and put it on the self cleaning cycle. It stunk up the house for three hours, but when I opened the oven in the morning, almost all the gunk was gone. I rinsed and dried it, then reseasoned with some vegetable oil.
After doing some research online, I found out this griddle was made pre-1920 by Griswold due to the slanted logo in the center, and the fact it just says "Erie" below, and not "Erie, PA, USA." It's amazing to think that something nearly a century old can look so good with just a little modern technology! The finish is much smoother than my Lodge skillets. Looking forward to putting this piece of American history to work soon! More on the Sequoia this weekend...
Before:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/20/21850401_10156729124982907_426300541_n.jpg)
After:
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/20/21903468_10156729115897907_256423146_n.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/20/21849256_10156729116162907_2121520096_n.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/09/20/21912628_10156729116057907_590682339_n.jpg)
That's a nice little bonus.
When ever I have to clean things (or drop pressfit bearings out of an old motorcycle engine...) in the oven I use the Genesis. It's not thermostatically controlled like some oven's self-cleaning setting and no odor in the house. Everythign just vaporizes up around 716 degrees.
I did a quick look and found different places where that griddle sold from $85 up to $200 in the last few years.
That's one helluva score! Congratulations!
HOLY GRAILS: 1960s Glen Blue 22 aka The Imperial, Brown Go Anywhere grill.
Sweet, love that Griswold!