Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Troy on December 18, 2013, 11:45:16 AM

Title: how old is "vintage"
Post by: Troy on December 18, 2013, 11:45:16 AM
I'm curious - how old does a grill need to be in order to be labeled "vintage"?
Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: MaxBobcat on December 18, 2013, 12:25:30 PM
Of course this is subjective, but for me it would be 25 or 30 years. 
Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: Bman on December 18, 2013, 12:42:05 PM
Quote from: Troy on December 18, 2013, 11:45:16 AM
I'm curious - how old does a grill need to be in order to be labeled "vintage"?

According to the thread Marty started on the topic, he's going 35 years and Pre-Dated kettles.

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/vintage-vs-old/msg75153/#msg75153
Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: MartyG on December 18, 2013, 12:54:41 PM
Thanks for digging up that thread Bman. I don't think we ever reached a consensus. In terms of "periods", the pre-plastic handle era seems to be a cut-off for many with respect to "old" vs. "new". You could argue the switch to wood top handles was a significant date in Weber history. Wood Dale vs. Palatine. Palatine vs. Arlington Heights. Made in USA vs. Designed in Palatine IL USA. There are too many debatable points. For me, "vintage" is anything up to plastic handles. Then again, an original SS Performer could be argued as "vintage". IMHO - adding a wood handle gives any of the plastic-handled grills a "vintage" look, and in my book that's as good a line in the ash as any. A nice wood-handled MT is as nice as it gets. Vintage or not.
Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: Jocool on December 18, 2013, 03:56:11 PM
A 'vintage' car is anything over 30 years. I would use that as the cutoff for Webers too.

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Title: how old is "vintage"
Post by: Craig on December 18, 2013, 07:49:58 PM
My personal scale is anything pre 1981 which is when Weber eliminated the metal handles permanently. But I can see 1979 being the beginning of the "non vintage" as that is when the date codes started. There have been so many turning points. I guess to me anything with metal handles gives it a vintage look. It was the last design element of the original 1952 buoy kettle to be eliminated from 22 and 26 kettles and it's been over 30 years since the last metal handles were made.
Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: zavod44 on December 19, 2013, 04:59:31 AM
Quote from: MaxBobcat on December 18, 2013, 12:25:30 PM
Of course this is subjective, but for me it would be 25 or 30 years.


That means something from the 90s is almost vintage.....

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Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: MaxBobcat on December 19, 2013, 05:43:13 AM
Quote from: zavod44 on December 19, 2013, 04:59:31 AM
Quote from: MaxBobcat on December 18, 2013, 12:25:30 PM
Of course this is subjective, but for me it would be 25 or 30 years.


That means something from the 90s is almost vintage.....

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

If 25-30 years is good enough for most States and some car clubs to consider a car a "classic" or "antique", then I consider it good enough to call a grill "vintage".   


Title: Re: how old is "vintage"
Post by: Craig on December 22, 2013, 12:30:04 PM
Quote from: Craig on December 18, 2013, 07:49:58 PM
My personal scale is anything pre 1981 which is when Weber eliminated the metal handles permanently. But I can see 1979 being the beginning of the "non vintage" as that is when the date codes started. There have been so many turning points. I guess to me anything with metal handles gives it a vintage look. It was the last design element of the original 1952 buoy kettle to be eliminated from 22 and 26 kettles and it's been over 30 years since the last metal handles were made.


I forgot I also need to add that the double rivet wood handles changed to single screw in mid-late 1981 shortly after the metal bowl handles were eliminated in late 1980, so personally I would lump double rivet woodies (bowl or lid) in the same vintage category. That's just my own mental measuring stick for vintage cutoff but means nothing in the grand scheme of things.