Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Kettle Forum => Topic started by: Blair on April 27, 2026, 03:32:36 PM

Title: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 27, 2026, 03:32:36 PM
What do I have?? I picked this 26" up for $20 bucks!  Was told early to mid 1960s.  Any help or info would be appreciated so much. 
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Jason on April 27, 2026, 04:38:47 PM
$20 for that is a score for sure, congrats!

Looks to be in very good condition too.

Thumbscrews = OLD
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Jason on April 27, 2026, 04:46:08 PM
Can't find it now, but there used to be a forum/page, on this site, that had all of the history and ways to determine exact age of most Weber Kettles. (I didn't look that hard  ;D )
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Cellar2ful on April 27, 2026, 09:32:54 PM
Welcome to the Forum Blair. Nice score. Your kettle is a 1964-1968 as it has thumbscrews, metal wheels and a wooden lid handle. In 1964 Weber changed the lid from a metal lid handle to a wood one. The last year that Weber used thumbscrews to secure the legs was 1968.

 You can find age information via the link below:

http://weberkettleclub.com/determine-age-of-old-grill/
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 04:11:16 AM
Quote from: Jason on April 27, 2026, 04:38:47 PM$20 for that is a score for sure, congrats!

Looks to be in very good condition too.

Thumbscrews = OLD

Thanks a lot!  I'd like to find new wheels for it and keep it original.  Sure that won't be easy
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 04:11:40 AM
Quote from: Cellar2ful on April 27, 2026, 09:32:54 PMWelcome to the Forum Blair. Nice score. Your kettle is a 1964-1968 as it has thumbscrews, metal wheels and a wooden lid handle. In 1964 Weber changed the lid from a metal lid handle to a wood one. The last year that Weber used thumbscrews to secure the legs was 1968.

 You can find age information via the link below:

http://weberkettleclub.com/determine-age-of-old-grill/

Thanks man!
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: ASpitzer on April 28, 2026, 05:25:16 AM
Great find! I would just clean it all up and you will have a great cooker. You will be surprised how well it will clean up inside and out. Check out some of the information on restoration/cleaning on the home page here.
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 08:52:23 AM
Quote from: ASpitzer on April 28, 2026, 05:25:16 AMGreat find! I would just clean it all up and you will have a great cooker. You will be surprised how well it will clean up inside and out. Check out some of the information on restoration/cleaning on the home page here.
I'll be checking that out!  Thanks a lot. 
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 09:23:21 AM
Welcome to the club, excellent find!!  Those wheels can be saved and are much better than any replacement you could find.  Also, be very careful with the thumb screws - give them some liquid wrench and turn them slowly and carefully in and out until they loosen.  May also help to heat them a little with a torch if they are stuck. 

Here's some wheels I did a few years back.  You'll find that it's really fun fixing a kettle up!

Cheers
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Tommie on April 28, 2026, 09:37:52 AM
Very nice!


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Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 11:14:09 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 09:23:21 AMWelcome to the club, excellent find!!  Those wheels can be saved and are much better than any replacement you could find.  Also, be very careful with the thumb screws - give them some liquid wrench and turn them slowly and carefully in and out until they loosen.  May also help to heat them a little with a torch if they are stuck. 

Here's some wheels I did a few years back.  You'll find that it's really fun fixing a kettle up!

Cheers
That looks good.  Is your process posted somewhere?
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: bgilbert44 on April 28, 2026, 11:20:40 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 09:23:21 AMWelcome to the club, excellent find!!  Those wheels can be saved and are much better than any replacement you could find.  Also, be very careful with the thumb screws - give them some liquid wrench and turn them slowly and carefully in and out until they loosen.  May also help to heat them a little with a torch if they are stuck. 

Here's some wheels I did a few years back.  You'll find that it's really fun fixing a kettle up!

Cheers
Bama, on the wheels, have you found a way to replace the missing rubber treads? I have a set of original wheels I'd like to restore but the treads are missing.
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 11:53:47 AM
Quote from: Blair on April 28, 2026, 11:14:09 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 09:23:21 AMWelcome to the club, excellent find!!  Those wheels can be saved and are much better than any replacement you could find.  Also, be very careful with the thumb screws - give them some liquid wrench and turn them slowly and carefully in and out until they loosen.  May also help to heat them a little with a torch if they are stuck. 

Here's some wheels I did a few years back.  You'll find that it's really fun fixing a kettle up!

Cheers
That looks good.  Is your process posted somewhere?
Man I was looking back through and only found my completed post.  There used to be a repository on this site with tons of tips and processes posted, but I just don't find it anymore.  No links that I can see.... Maybe someone else can assist.  This is the thread I did on the Statesman...

https://weberkettleclub.com/forums/index.php?topic=50483.0
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 11:54:37 AM
Quote from: bgilbert44 on April 28, 2026, 11:20:40 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on April 28, 2026, 09:23:21 AMWelcome to the club, excellent find!!  Those wheels can be saved and are much better than any replacement you could find.  Also, be very careful with the thumb screws - give them some liquid wrench and turn them slowly and carefully in and out until they loosen.  May also help to heat them a little with a torch if they are stuck. 

Here's some wheels I did a few years back.  You'll find that it's really fun fixing a kettle up!

Cheers
Bama, on the wheels, have you found a way to replace the missing rubber treads? I have a set of original wheels I'd like to restore but the treads are missing.
Luckily the wheels I've done had decent rubber.... I've not replaced any of the tires, but I understand that it can be done.
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Tommie on April 28, 2026, 11:57:13 AM
Might be of some use

https://weberkettleclub.com/restoring-original-weber-metal-wheels/


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Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 03:18:32 PM
Quote from: Tommie on April 28, 2026, 11:57:13 AMMight be of some use

https://weberkettleclub.com/restoring-original-weber-metal-wheels/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I actually just found this page earlier.  Already have got started on them!
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: MacEggs on April 28, 2026, 03:26:05 PM
Beautiful! Nice score.
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 28, 2026, 03:27:00 PM
Quote from: MacEggs on April 28, 2026, 03:26:05 PMBeautiful! Nice score.
Thanks man
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Babekyu on April 29, 2026, 03:26:35 AM
Wow, nice find!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Vintage?
Post by: Blair on April 30, 2026, 01:27:56 PM
Quote from: Babekyu on April 29, 2026, 03:26:35 AMWow, nice find!  Congrats!
Thanks!