Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Cellar2ful on January 07, 2018, 08:21:59 PM
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Earlier this past week @Heyjude sends me a text with a link for a CL add listed as Free Scrap Metal. This is the cover photo from the add.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/00808_j139DoP689Z_1200x900.md.jpg)
In the text AJ asks me if it looks like a 26er.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/00r0r_bKhrpAF7j7u_1200x900.md.jpg)
Glancing at the photo, I text him back, no I only count 6 rods on the triangle.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/05/01515_hogztucutdB_1200x900.md.jpg)
Looking through the other pictures from the add, I enlarge one photo on my PC and then see that the spacing of the lid vent to the handle indeed is that of a 26" kettle.
I text AJ once again, confirming it is a 26er. He responds that he has sent a message to the seller. The next day, AJ lets me know the seller had responded but was not willing to let the kettle be picked up as a single item. All the metal would have to be taken along with the kettle. That pretty much killed any chance of it being saved as neither of us wanted to take on the task of picking up and then getting rid of all the other crap.
On Friday, AJ tells me he had once again sent a message to the seller, but received no response this time. The thought of seeing that 26er being crushed at a metal recycle place motivated me to try contacting the seller with a different approach. I dialed the number and to my surprise he answered. I identified myself by name and asked if he had some free metal listed on CL. He confirmed he did, complaining that all the responses he was getting were CL flakes that say they are coming then don't show up. I specifically ask about the Weber kettle, offering to buy it from him. My approach seemed to peak his interest as he asks "How much". I offer him $20, saying I really enjoy BBQing on Webers. Without hesitation he said "Sure, when do you want to pick it up"? He gives me his address and we arrange for a pick up on Saturday.
I drive to the address, which is inside an old private country club named Diablo Country Club. The club was established in 1914 and the property is at the base of Mt Diablo, a landmark that can be seen from almost anywhere in the Bay Area. The homes in this private enclave were all built around 1920-1930. They are estate homes with 2 to 3 acre parcels and have live in maid/caretaker guest quarters on each property. This is one of the neat things I have found with chasing kettles. I have lived in the Bay Area for 60+ years and had no idea this place existed. It is only 20 minutes form my house and would never have known about it if not for this obsession of collecting vintage Webers. I meet the seller at the address and he tells me the house was his childhood home. His parents had passed away and his brother and he were clearing out the property, preparing it to be sold. He was very happy to find out the kettle was actually going to be saved, restored and used as he had fond memories of his dad cooking on it for the family.
Here it is. It is a Pat Pending with really cool metal wheels that have rubber treads. No thumb screws.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05415.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC054143fca8dce223ffe17.md.jpg)
I spent about an hour today cleaning the exterior, scraping the interior bowl and reshaping the ash pan. The cooking and charcoal grate are not with the kettle as the seller gave them to his friend. He is attempting to get them back for me as he believes his friend has a smaller 22" kettle. I have named it "Diablo" in honor of it's roots. There is no rim rash, dents or porcelain damage. His father took really good care of this old flat top, storing it in his garage when not in use. All of the vents turn freely and all of the vent tabs are still intact. It is the first kettle I have sourced myself that has steel wheels.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05421.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05423.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05420.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05422.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/01/07/DSC05419.md.jpg)
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Damn! I’ll give you $60! Glad you saved it.
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Damn!!!! I'd love to find a red one if these for 20 in that condition
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Jim Grate save and score. Like your approach.
Congrats
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Nice save Jim. Had to keep looking at that second pic. Almost looked like a PK.
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Saving one (beautiful) kettle at a time... Super nice looking kettle. The flat top silhouette is a show stopper. 26 inches of show stopper.
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Wow, great find!!!
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Oh wow, congrats in that beauty!
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Congrats! Your perseverance resulted in an amazing score!
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Wow!
Would you ship to Germany??
:-)
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Man that’s a beauty. Well played, congratulations.
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Well done
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That’s incredible. Nice find.
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Nice save Jim. Had to keep looking at that second pic. Almost looked like a PK.
Incredible save!
Congratulations on a beautiful grill, great start on the restore too!
Looks like there were at least 4 grills in this pile, including the 26er, bet the old timer was pretty cool[emoji3]
Really glad this one got rescued, use it in good health, and enjoy the history every time you use it, RRR!
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WOW...Jim, what a great pick-up. Really really nice shape flattop. You're gonna love smoking on that big ol' boy.
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Incredible save.
Love those old flat tops.
That rivet in the vent looks great even before cleanup.
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.
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Great save! Would love to find an old black 26er.
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That's a great save of a wonderful kettle. Congrats.
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Awesome!!!
Honesty and being up front with a seller is what it takes some times.
Hoping you are able to source the grates.. .that would be the icing on the cake!!
Kudos and enjoy that PP 26er!!!
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Nice find [emoji106] Congrats
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DAYUM!! What a find that was! Congrats! [emoji106]
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Should have grabbed those other grills and flipped them. The large Charbroil is a classic and does a great job in the right user's hands. The smaller cast aluminum grill (the one with the upside down lid) has experienced a large resurgence with the popularity of steak cook-offs. Looks to be a mid 70's charbroil as well.
Robert
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Great story man. Love it.
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Great story and great save on a beautiful 26er kettle.
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Jim, Im so excited you were able to secure and save this old beauty of a grill.
Its not often something so rare seems to pop up and say, "Rescue Me"
Its an awesome story and one of the great things about this hobby is having a group of guys who all share the passion and collaborate on rescues.
On the same day, Jim sends me a text. "Free OTG near me" Crap, I got the wife and a load of groceries heading home.
After dropping them off I jump back int he truck and drive 10 miles to find this waiting for me.
and behind it is a small roll away tool box. Nothing fancy, but had been looking for one to use at work.
Hope that you get those grates and are able to cook a few steaks after so many years.
On to the next one...
(https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=2a81733c6a&view=fimg&th=160d66c5d31bb9a3&attid=0.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ--KjXrzqM4S46bMIqh8e9DdlRqrG4pyquXVSfoLQdiSsa682O1MX2YZsa5UGfmgxygPfejyAlA5QnG9MhHr0XxYoG8G-D4QyPVzuaMBopP76hKcVWwj8rUKro&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1515426066550&rm=160d66c5d31bb9a3&zw&atsh=1)
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Congrats Jim! Great story and a beautiful kettle!
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You guys cheated the crusher out of that one, its a beauty too.
Rescue of the year so far.
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@Craig - What year would you date this one at? Pat Pending lid vent, metal wheels, rubber treads, no thumbscrews.
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@Craig - What year would you date this one at? Pat Pending lid vent, metal wheels, rubber treads, no thumbscrews.
Early issue PAT PENDING October 1968 through September 1970. Plastic rims took over for 1971 model year.
HOLY GRAILS: 1950s era Black or Custom finish 18.5 or 22.5 Kettle, Brown Go Anywhere grill.
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Awesome grab! Glad you saved her
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Very well played Jim... if you need to sell your Chief to make room I would live to help you out.
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What happen to the PK/Charbroil? That is one hell of a grill too. Amazing flat top though. Matt is asking me to help him come up with a scheme to get it onto his new patio! LOL
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The 2 other grills were gone when I arrived to pick up the 26er Mike. Also all of the wrought iron furniture. The "seller" gave the furniture to a woman who had lost her home in the recent fires of Northern California.
Very well played Jim... if you need to sell your Chief to make room I would live to help you out.
"Misty" (what my wife named the Chief) will not be going anywhere soon Matt. It is one of the kettles my wife has claimed as hers, along with the Raiders NFL SJ.
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Incredible find and save Jim!! Wow!!
Congrats
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Looks like you missed an old PK in there!
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@Cellar2ful - Bummer on the PK, but still one hell of a score on the 26er!
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@Cellar2ful I know as we have previously discussed... can't blame me for throwing it out there though.
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UPDATE - For those that have seen and read this thread, the cooking and charcoal grates had been separated from this kettle prior to me acquiring it. Out of the blue on Friday, I received a text from the person who had them, asking if I was still interested in them. Today after 7 months of trying, I have been able to acquire and reunite the kettle I call "Diablo" with it's original grates. To secure the grates I had to purchase a packaged deal of the grates along with a Pat Pending Warrior he was looking to "get rid of". Interesting that the charcoal grate does not have the cross support welded bars that my Chief's charcoal grate has. It is definitely for a 26" though. Much bigger than a 22" charcoal grate.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/09/02/DSC06618.jpg)
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Reunited at last. Congrats Jim.
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Nice save! Enjoy.