Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Some of you may recognize this grill... it was discussed
here a couple of months ago.
I contacted the seller, Sheila on Monday morning, the day after it was posted on CL... she stated that someone was coming over to look at the grill that evening, but if they were a no-show, I was next in line. I was kind of shocked that it had been posted for about 24 hours, and I was second in line. I'm also thinking... flat top 26 for $100? I've got no shot at this grill. I was pretty bummed, because I've been on the hunt for a flat top 26 for some time now, and I had missed it when it was on CL back in May.
Lo and behold, I get an email from her Monday night about 9:30... #1 in line was a no-show, and am I still interested? I replied immediately... she agreed to hold it for me until I could get over there Tuesday evening. It was only about a 20 minute drive from my new home... I pulled up as the garage door was opening, and there it stood! Sheila and her husband were super nice... she mentioned that her mother had given it to them years ago. She had won it as 1st prize in a home cooking contest. She said that her mother insisted it was limited edition grill... not sure what that could have been... possibly just the fact that it's a 26'er?
I mentioned that I had seen it on WKC a couple of months ago, and asked why it never got sold. She said something about miscommunication with the buyer, and then her daughter decided she wanted it. Daughter never picked it up.
Sheila's husband could only recall cooking on the grill maybe a couple of times. Lack of use & a desire to clear up some space in their garage is why they were selling it.
Sheila said that she was happy it was going to someone in the WKC... she was really impressed with how friendly and how passionate about Weber grills we all are. She was "a little hurt" by some of the comments about the replacement handles her husband made. They're cedar, and "he spent a lot of time on them". Spending 20 minutes getting to know them and their situation (he's got some pretty serious medical issues), I'm almost inclined to leave the frankenhandles on... well... maybe not
Anyway, enough babbling... on to the pics! More will be posted whenever I get around to cleaning this beast and firing her up!
Front shot. The side frankenhandles are held in by two screws... I'm guessing he must've drilled holes in the metal?
Side shot.
She was born in 1986...
We've got some rust to clean up. Here's the charcoal grate. I haven't seen the extra support on the bottom before. Didn't get a good pic of the cooking grate, but it's in excellent shape. Some minor surface rust on the bottom of it, but that's it. It's super heavy duty!
Upside down triangle, a little bent, and one of the welds has given out. I'll probably wind up cleaning up the rust and painting it.. blaik...
Ash sweep is in good shape... spins freely, with a bit more rust on the handle/nut than I'd like. At least one of the blades is not terribly flush with the bowl, so it'll be replaced. I do have the original ash tray... I'm going to look into getting an ash bucket. I think I may have an extra 22 bucket... not sure if that will fit on a 26 or not. Anyone know for sure?
My little man Henry showing where the porcelain has come off on the inside of the bowl. Damn handle spot welds
! The leg socket spot welds have the same lack of porcelain on the inside of the bowl, as you can see in the pic above.
Little Man, Big Grill. It'll be his someday
I probably won't be cooking on her for a couple more weeks... we're in a new house, and it'll be my 40th birthday on 7/31, so we're throwing a housewarming/birthday bash. She'll be getting a workout that day, for sure!
Topic: It's been a good week on CL, continued... UPDATED (Read 2633 times)