" The Happy Cooker " The Truth

[Eastex]

Well now I'm gonna need to find one of those pans for my WSM


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[Idahawk]

Got this tid bit of info today


Dave,
I sent you an email but had put a 1 instead of an I in the address.
Anyway, below is a reply to my friend John who transferred with UNR (Unarco) to Louisiana in the 80’s.
Brenda
 
From: john [mailto:bethb@suddenlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 9:03 PM
To: info@parisilchamber.com
Subject: Re: Happy Cooker question
 
Dear Brenda,

We're doing alright. Stopped to see you in early May but the office was closed. We were there for Ethan's graduation from ISU.

To answer your question, the Happy Cooker was made by UNR right there in Paris in the Simington Plant. We bought the plant from Eagle Pitcher to porcelainize sinks. When that product didn't pan out we developed the Happy Cooker.

Years later as a result of Chapter XI, UNR sold the equipment and tooling to Weber who moved it. Don't know where.

Hope this helps.

John
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Brenda Buckley - Executive Director" <info@parisilchamber.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:54:36 -0500
To: <bethb@suddenlink.net>
ReplyTo: <info@parisilchamber.com>
Cc: <1dahawk8@gmail.com>
Subject: Happy Cooker question
 
Dear John & Beth,
 
First of all, how are you two?  I am still working and Buck is now retired.  I think I am getting to the place in my life where I would just like to sit for a while with no responsibilities.  We will see how soon that happens!
 
I have an inquiry from Dave Hart.  He wants to know about the Happy Cooker.  He wants to know if Unarco made the Happy Cooker or if Weber made the Happy Cooker.  (Something like that.)  I told him I didn’t know, but I would see if I could get someone to answer his question.
 
He and some friends are having a discussion about it and just want to know what is right.  His phone # is 208-610-2$&? .
 
If you can help him out, I would appreciate it.
 
Thanks John
 
Brenda C. Buckley
Executive Director
Paris Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
105 N. Central Ave.
Paris, IL 61944
217-465-4179
217-465-4170 fax
email-info@parisilchamber.com
www.parisilchamber.com
 
 

[addicted-to-smoke]

UNR sold the equipment and tooling to Weber who moved it. Don't know where.

To a landfill, would be my guess!

[Idahawk]

Or Weber used the machinery , that equipment can't be cheap. I guess will have to find an old Weber employee to tell us that part of the story someday .

[DaGoomba]

Before I came to these boards last week I actually found a Happy Cooker on CL up in Denver for sale but the seller was calling it a Weber. I was confused by the hinged lid and the plastic handles and posted it to another board asking if anyone knew what kind of kettle it was. No one answered it and was left wondering...

Being on this board for less than a week, I now know what kind of kettle it was but also more of the back story. Man interesting stuff and I appreciate you guys on the board sharing this information with us noobs.

Thanks again!
Nick

[pbe gummi bear]

Or Weber used the machinery , that equipment can't be cheap. I guess will have to find an old Weber employee to tell us that part of the story someday .

Yep presses and bead rollers would be especially useful for Weber.

[Idahawk]

Just an update on the date range for the happy cooker , it looks like the first trademark is 1979 and it was killed in 1988 a period of 9 years , it's safe to assume if you have a HC of any kind it's from this 9 year period, but there's no way to date these grills , unless you score a NIB and it's dated on the packaging .

[Troy]

Just an update on the date range for the happy cooker , it looks like the first trademark is 1979 and it was killed in 1988 a period of 9 years , it's safe to assume if you have a HC of any kind it's from this 9 year period, but there's no way to date these grills , unless you score a NIB and it's dated on the packaging .

Nice.

Sounds like we should put together a nice happy cooker knowledge page.

[Idahawk]

Move it over to off topic , as to not upset the natives lol. My plan is to eventually find all the model names and numbers for reference , since this knowledge doesn't exist at the present time . I think we've found all the accessories now , just need to figure out the grills

[charred]

Wow.... interesting read. Thanks to Idahawk et al...I love this stuff!

[CurtP]

Interesting read.  I have family that lives in Paris, IL too.  I'll have to ask them if they know anything about the plant.  I never did see pictures posted of their OT setup; did I miss them?

[brewtownbeatdown]

I know this is an old thread, but found this in an old Crain's Business paper & it belongs here


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[Heyjude]

Thanks for posting this.  The HC is part of history..

[Craig]

That's an awesome read! Thanks for sharing that!

[ClubChapin]

I had a brown one in the mid 80's that was a gift.  We cooked the crap out of it.  I left it with my roomate when I moved and he cooked it through.  Wish I still had it.  I never realized it wasn't a Weber until I discovered that here.  Was a great grill.