WKC Vent Guide

[MaxBobcat]

I saw the vent guide for the first time yesterday when Marty posted it, but I had a question.  I saw a black 22.5 inch Kettle with an H stamp on it, that also had the Patent Number on there.  So from 84-95 did they make some vents with and some without the patent number or what?  Anybody know?  Thanks.

[Craig]

The patent number (for the leg sockets) were first put on the lid vents in 1971 (or late 1970 since the patent was issued on 11/10/70). I hope thy helps.

[MartyG]

I'm trying to determine when if ever they took the pat. # off the vent. I have a ton of vent photos at home and will go through them later tonight. I'll update the cheat-sheet accordingly.

[MartyG]

OK - somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the Pat. # was removed when they went to the two-letter date code in 1994. (EH) Before that, from '79 (starting with A) - '93 (ending with P) All the single letter coded vents had the pat. # below the Weber name.

I'll make the changes and post a new version soon.

[G$]

I can tell you EO (1995)  has a PAT NUMBER and EE (1999) Does not.

I am wondering if the change was made when ILL became IL.

[MartyG]

Now we're getting close! The EH, EO and ER coded vents did have the pat.#, but EI onward did not. I can also confirm that's when the dropped an L from  ILL. So anything with a letter or two through 1996 had the pat.#, and anything after that did not.

I think...

And for those keeping score, we still need a D!

A - 1979
B - 1980
C - 1981
D - 1982 - MISSING
E - 1983
F - 1984
G - 1985
H - 1986
J - 1987
K - 1988
L - 1989
M - 1990
N - 1991
O - 1992
P - 1993
EH - 1994
EO - 1995
ER - 1996
EI - 1997
EZ - 1998
EE - 1999
DD - 2000
DA - 2001
DU - 2002
DT - 2003
DH - 2004
DO - 2005
DR - 2006
DI - 2007
DZ - 2008
DE - 2009
AD - 2010
AA - 2011
AU - 2012
AT - 2013

[pbe gummi bear]

Marty, thanks again for doing this. You also should put the new serial code on the current vent.

[MartyG]

YUP - It will be added. So I re-arranged my Flickr set to make sure I knew what I'm missing. Here's what I need to complete the puzzle:

D-code vent
EH-code vent (thought I had one but it's MIA)
1978 vent (Raised Weber name , pat.#, no letter code)

What you'll see is one of every vent style since time began. In order. In color. Insane!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32306142@N07/sets/72157633285304532/

Check your kettles and see if you can help fill in the few remaining blanks. You'll also notice some of the photos I have in the set are better than others. I could use a clean C-code vent, and a few others are fuzzy, but we're making progress!

[Craig]

I've got a 1978 kettle. I'll get a straight on pic. It's the angled one on the poster you made.


My '95 and my 2012 have the number ill check when I get home.

[MartyG]

Great - thanks Craig. I might just use the angled version again if I do a updated poster, but I want a straight-on shot for the record.

[Craig]

Correction! My 2012 OT(G) has no patent number....


1978 coming up after pizza cook..

[Craig]

Here's a shot of a 1978 vent. LMK if you would like a retake of either.


Just noticed the tab is bent a little...


Oh and I double checked my '95 it's got the patent number still.

[charred]

I've read that a solid triangle indicates '56-57. Mine has a Wood Dale vent, which in the chart is listed as 58-61/62.



 

[dengland]

I've read that a solid triangle indicates '56-57. Mine has a Wood Dale vent, which in the chart is listed as 58-61/62.



  :-

I wonder if it had a replacement lid in the past?

[charred]

Hmmm. Unfortunately, we'll never know.