Last summer, I donated a cookout for 30 people (food and wine) to support some medical expenses for a local child in need. An acquaintance of mine won the auction with a very generous bid. A couple of months later, I loaded up my performer and another grill and went to his house to grill for the party. While I was unloading, I saw an older weber sitting by the side of his house - it had clearly been neglected for some time. After the cookout, I asked him if I could buy it, but instead he said "load it up, its yours". In asking about the grill I found out that he had bought it new in 1979, but was no longer using it as he now has a gas grill that is getting all the grilling action. Here are the pictures of the grill as I found it:
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/21825c4b56f38b6fd451096533c625342ab8da9.jpg)
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/2172561b19fecb8bda9153785af398f18c0f6f1.jpg)
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/ab435e59b478fe3db116d4a815cb7d8658577a7.jpg)
I have had the grill for about 5 months now and have spent some time and $ ordering new wheels, grill and charcoal grates, new handle (thanks Brian), a new tool holder, and a new cover. I have also spent some time with steel wool scrubbing off rust, oxidation, and the stains left by the trees the grill sat under. My intent with the resto was to clean it up while still preserving some of the pantina associated with the grill (in reality, I did not want to spend the time to do a full restoration, so this is how I justify it). Here are some "after" pics:
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/833156bafdbed81b2524b4f3f87b4305313f7c4.jpg)
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/88e155bbf6b8d616baee6924308b62d24fe2fd0.jpg)
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/8d5252ab7df50b6cd8c1868e0658b5d4e073bdc.jpg)
The plan is to take it to his house when he is not home, and put it out on the deck with the new cover on it so that he can "discover" it. I am pretty certain that deep down inside it was hard for him to let his grill go and it was very kind of him to do so. I know it will be a very pleasant surprise to get it back, and am hopeful that he will start using it again as it should be.
The spirit of WKC is written in every word you just wrote Winz. I'm sure I'm not the only one inspired by your generosity. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Marty
Awesome work. You really brought it back to life and it looks great. I think it has another 20 years in it easily! Your friend is gonna be really happy to have it back. Kudos to you!
Yup, what they said!
Thank you.
Nice, man. Good job on the clean up and very cool of you to give it back. I wish I could see his face when he finds it!
That's an excellent story. Thanks for the effort
I'm a believer in karma.
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I remember that original post and "A" code rescue. Now that it's coming back full circle - simply awesome! Well done Winz...
good stuff there brother!
Nice job !
That's pretty nice, Winz! Great looking restore and an uber generous act. You have to keep us posted on his reaction and reintroduction to his newly restored cooker. I too recall the original rescue post. That's a beauty of an MBH blackbird.
Just awesome! Thanks for sharing a great story. Can't wait for the follow up.
Nice clean up, he will be surprised to see it back!!!
Very cool! ;)
Super job! That's a great story.
Well done Winz. Would love to hear how your friend's reunion goes.
Yep, this is super cool. You did a great job too!
Mission accomplished! Dropped it off yesterday along with a bag of Kingsford and a spare weber chimney I had laying around.
Rick (the owner) came into my wine shop tonight to buy me a beer. He said that he had, in fact, missed the grill and was starting to look around at estate sales in order to pick up another one. I did not have the heart to tell him that I am pretty sure I beat him to all the estate sales looking for Webers in the area... He is a Harley rider and so I felt it my duty to give him some education on the grill (year, unique features, etc) and to let him know that vintage Webers are like vintage Harleys - a nice piece of American history. He could relate.
Turns out his 23 y/o daughter, a budding griller herself, read him the riot act for giving it away in the first place. I think she is happier than him that it is back and in good shape. Hopefully she will be the one cooking on it for the next 20 years.
Good on you Winz, paying it forward feels great for both parties. Everybody winz (couldn't resist). This club and stories like Winz's never cease to amaze and often reminds me there are plenty of good folks out there.
That's good stuff, Winz. Thank you.
Good going Winz! I'm glad to hear he's happy to have it back.