The grill you see here is about 60 years old, and cooks just as well as a new one. Let that sink in for a minute.
When WKC forum member charred saw this listed online for “free,” he didn’t hesitate to get it. He knew it was special, but only learned afterwards just how special. Click here to learn more about that journey. We present it here unrestored; the twist ash pan isn’t original to this model — those were introduced later.
Few of us have ever seen a Weber kettle from the 1950s, but several details identify this 18.5″ model as such. The solid triangle pan is the most obvious clue, but details such as the bowl handles welded “flat” (squared off against the bowl) and metal (rounded) lid handle also point to a machine made before the mid-60s.
And what about that pattern? Today it’s known as “Custom,” referring to the random squiggle lines added in the style popularly known as Chromoveil. First seen on pottery made by Brush-McCoy, we don’t know if the “cobweb” design was a collaboration with The Brush Pottery Co. or merely inspired by it. Here’s a bit of history about the pottery company.
Thank you Jeff, and Martin, for contributing to this gallery entry!
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- Chugging along!
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- charred’s Custom
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- Triangle pan
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- 3 vent holes underneath, back then
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- Close-up of handle
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- Close-up of lid
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- Thumbscrews hold steel legs in sockets
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- White steel wheel with rubber tread
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- Detail of charred’s Custom, Chromoveil pattern
Man, that things cool. Nice write up Dave. Thanks
I was wondering what kind of value you would put on your grill. If you were to put it on e-bay how much do you think you would get.
Just curious, I have one myself.
Thanks Glen
“I was wondering what kind of value you would put on your grill. If you were to put it on e-bay how much do you think you would get.
Just curious, I have one myself.”
There’s no quick or definitive answer. Glen, I can’t answer for this grill’s owner, but this is the second Custom recently acquired by WKC members. The other is a 22.5″ and went from auction at a much higher cost. charred’s, as revealed in the forum thread link above, was free + driving time.
It really just comes down to exposure (worldwide auction vs. local listing vs. say, a listing on THIS site …), what the seller knows about the grill, its condition, and whether or not there’s a throng chomping at the bit to get it.
As my old Econ prof said, “Everything is worth whatever the buyer is willing to pay.”
I just noticed the write up….thanks very much and I appreciate the effort.
I’m honored to have this special piece of Americana and, while I suppose “everything has a price”, unless one of George’s buoys is involved, I can’t imagine letting this little cutie go!