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Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 12:06:01 PM

Title: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 12:06:01 PM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/29/9c8125bf915fdf4ea22f3cb5fd70f0b9.jpg)


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 12:09:40 PM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/29/af920c33fa0e393ecb4409386c8e6c08.jpg)

This is a much nicer version of this pic


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: harris92 on December 29, 2015, 12:29:41 PM
The Great Pumpkin!

(http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/slieberman92/pig5_zpsdck127so.jpg) (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/slieberman92/media/pig5_zpsdck127so.jpg.html)
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: ramsfan on December 29, 2015, 12:56:32 PM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/29/9c8125bf915fdf4ea22f3cb5fd70f0b9.jpg)


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Is that a rotisserie accessory on those two Ranch Kettles?
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 01:23:38 PM
The rings look to have a place for a roti motor,  hard to say for sure . The rings also appear to be speckled ( like a custom ) but that could be lighting or something else.


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: ramsfan on December 29, 2015, 02:58:35 PM
I'm just wondering if that was an actual accessory that was available to the general public back then or if it was something George had custom made for his own use?
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: WNC on December 29, 2015, 03:24:05 PM
Too cool! What's the story with the second pic? Is that George crafting a ranch by hand?
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 03:53:51 PM

Too cool! What's the story with the second pic? Is that George crafting a ranch by hand?

No , I think it's just a promotional shot done by Weber or someone showing the spinning process , but the only copy of this photo I've seen was extremely pixelated and blurry so it was hard to even tell what he was doing.


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 03:57:02 PM

I'm just wondering if that was an actual accessory that was available to the general public back then or if it was something George had custom made for his own use?

I don't believe those rings were ever offered ? @harris @winz .


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Winz on December 29, 2015, 04:36:02 PM

I'm just wondering if that was an actual accessory that was available to the general public back then or if it was something George had custom made for his own use?

I don't believe those rings were ever offered ? @harris @Winz .


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I have never seen that ring for the Ranch, however, rotisserie was a big thing in 1953/54 when the Ranch was introduced.  Here is an ad from a 1954 Chicago newspaper:


(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/1io66663b4co6fx/1953%20Roterssery.png?dl=0)


Clearly, Weber was already offering a rotisserie unit for standard kettles.  The unit did not use a ring, but bolted on the rim of the kettle.  Given the size of the Ranch and the sheer weight of meat you could cook on a skewer, I would speculate that he had the rings made for better support of the rotisserie and use of a stout bar.  Probably not an accessory that sold much however given the large circumference of the ring, and the low sales volume of the Ranch.  It would be a pain in the butt to ship to any dealer outside of metro Chicago.


Cool pic!
 
Winz
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: harris92 on December 29, 2015, 04:40:25 PM
@Idahawk  @ramsfan  @Winz

Yes,  Weber Bros Metal Works did offer one for the ranch.  Idahawk mentioned it looked a little different (speckled).  It was made
of stainless steel.  The official name was Weber Stainless Steel Smoke Hood.  12" tall with self rotating spit. Right hand side of the pic.  Now that would be a find!!   :)

(http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/slieberman92/Weber_zpskvcyogc4.png) (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/slieberman92/media/Weber_zpskvcyogc4.png.html)
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: MacEggs on December 29, 2015, 04:54:43 PM
Great thread, @Idahawk !  Love the enhanced pic.

@Winz , that ad is fantastic!

This line says it all:

Unlike ordinary grills, it has both cover and draft dampers - the secret to flavor control in all grilled foods.
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 29, 2015, 05:22:48 PM

@Idahawk  @ramsfan  @Winz

Yes,  Weber Bros Metal Works did offer one for the ranch.  Idahawk mentioned it looked a little different (speckled).  It was made
of stainless steel.  The official name was Weber Stainless Steel Smoke Hood.  12" tall with self rotating spit. Right hand side of the pic.  Now that would be a find!!   :)

(http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/slieberman92/Weber_zpskvcyogc4.png) (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/slieberman92/media/Weber_zpskvcyogc4.png.html)

Very cool ,thanks for clearing that up !

Now not to change the topic but the JB-300 ? It's called a Brazier , no lid offered with it ? I had no idea Weber built such a grill but I do know they were up against Big Boy just starting out and Big Boy offered a couple brazier models .



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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Winz on December 29, 2015, 06:06:12 PM
@harris92 @Idahawk


From the 1966 catalog:


(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/8rn1gs1f6fqe129/66%20roti.png?dl=0)


If you ordered SH-12 with a RA-23, you would have a rotisserie hood and an electric spit for you Ranch Kettle!  I gotta believe they are still out there.


Winz
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: SixZeroFour on December 29, 2015, 06:10:49 PM
Really great finds, thanks for sharing Ida.

Almost looks like a country club of some sort in the first shot? or shuffleboard club? Very cool

Any leads on the backstory?


Edit: and I wonder if that second shot is of a ranch lid being made... The bit in the center looks about right for a mothership era ranch, all they would need to do is roll that other edge and it's pretty much bang on shape wise.
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: SmokenJoe on December 29, 2015, 09:39:37 PM
Great pics and info ...  it looks like a shooting club w/ a chance to show off the larger cooker for events ???                                 SJ
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Lumpy Coal on December 29, 2015, 10:19:22 PM
Love the shot in the shop!

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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 30, 2015, 05:53:23 AM
While reading the front page  to one of the issues of The Grill Out Times, Mike Kempster talks about how in the early days they would always cook turkeys on these demo cooks , because they were dirt cheap and there would always be leftovers for the crew to eat.


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 30, 2015, 05:57:17 AM

Great pics and info ...  it looks like a shooting club w/ a chance to show off the larger cooker for events ???                                 SJ

I do see a few guys with guns out in the distance ( upper right hand corner of the picture ) could be a skeet shoot ?


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: dazzo on December 30, 2015, 10:00:45 AM
Almost looks like a country club of some sort in the first shot? or shuffleboard club? Very cool

I do see a few guys with guns out in the distance ( upper right hand corner of the picture ) could be a skeet shoot ?

Yup, I always found skeet shooting much easier on a shuffleboard court     ;D   ;)


The workshop image could be a ranch, but since they were still making buoys, maybe that's what it is? That's such a nice image.





Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 30, 2015, 10:05:17 AM

Almost looks like a country club of some sort in the first shot? or shuffleboard club? Very cool

I do see a few guys with guns out in the distance ( upper right hand corner of the picture ) could be a skeet shoot ?

Yup, I always found skeet shooting much easier on a shuffleboard court     ;D   ;)


The workshop image could be a ranch, but since they were still making buoys, maybe that's what it is? That's such a nice image.

I guess your right , looks like that dudes holding a shot gun , but it's probably not lol


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: SixZeroFour on December 30, 2015, 10:19:01 AM
It does kinda look like a gun :) but if you look at the group of guys pictured in front and to the right of them they are leaning similarly onto the shuffleboard poles... there also appears to be a small paved area in front of him like the other courts(?)

Whatever it is - I want to be there! 8)
Title: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: Idahawk on December 30, 2015, 12:08:25 PM
It does kinda look like a gun :) but if you look at the group of guys pictured in front and to the right of them they are leaning similarly onto the shuffleboard poles... there also appears to be a small paved area in front of him like the other courts(?)

Whatever it is - I want to be there! 8)

The only shuffleboard I know involves being in a bar, there's beer, sand and no poles :) 


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Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: ramsfan on December 30, 2015, 04:53:46 PM
Check out those 5 dudes standing in front of the big RK's watching the guy cook. Look at the guy on the end on the right side. He sort of looks like a skinny Al Capone. The picture was taken in Chicago, probably near Weber HQ, correct? That could be big Al himself and them other dudes could be Frank Nitty, John Dillinger, Melvin Purvis, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis. Might be a gangster picnic going on?
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: SmokenJoe on December 30, 2015, 10:55:43 PM
Hummmmm, @ramsfan  ...  soooooo, you think that FBI agent extraordinaire Melvin Purvis was actually mobbed up and that's why it took so long to gun down JD, Pretty Boy Floyd, etc. ???  That's an interesting idea, very forward thinking.     :)   ;D                         SJ
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: ramsfan on December 31, 2015, 05:45:33 AM
Hummmmm, @ramsfan  ...  soooooo, you think that FBI agent extraordinaire Melvin Purvis was actually mobbed up and that's why it took so long to gun down JD, Pretty Boy Floyd, etc. ???  That's an interesting idea, very forward thinking.     :)   ;D                         SJ

It's a joke. Don't take it seriously. Just having a little fun that's all.
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: GregS on December 31, 2015, 08:04:35 AM
it looks like sand, not concrete.

i'd wager they were tossing horseshoes in the background. 

excellent images!

edit: i just noticed the little pieces of wood under each leg of the ranches.  i do this with the front leg every time i cook on grass.  great minds!   ;D
Title: Re: George Cooking on two Ranch Kettles
Post by: stubblebum on December 31, 2015, 08:16:25 AM
I was wondering what the beverage of choice was as most of them with a can in hand appear to be of the same variety.