The Imperial Weber Wood Dale i.e. "The Epic Transaction"....

[GregS]

those kettles just ooze vintage americana. 

[MaxBobcat]

There she is.  My grail!!

Excellent score Harris.  Love it!   

[Craig]

This color makes me want to smoke a tobacco pipe, swill some scotch and fire it up for some thick steaks or chicken a la vermouth while listening to Sinatra. Seriously.

[Danny C]

the grill is, literally, the grill that started it all.

it sparked my passion for old webers.
it connected brian, jeff, me, shaun, aj, craig, lawrence
it ignited new types of conversation at the bullet
small fires of controversy rose between our new passions and the bullets old ways.
shit went nuclear.
when the smoke cleared, WKC rose from the ashes.

I am glad all that went down, because I really do enjoy this website, and congrats on the kettle, good job Harris.

[kaz]

35 People?

I wonder if anyone called to say the grill was worth way more than asking price and would then offered to pay several hundred over asking price to have it shipped.


I'm so damn jealous I'd camp for a week to get a deal on either of those.

[Jason]

Awesome grill and great story to go with it!

the grill is, literally, the grill that started it all.

it sparked my passion for old webers.
it connected brian, jeff, me, shaun, aj, craig, lawrence
it ignited new types of conversation at the bullet
small fires of controversy rose between our new passions and the bullets old ways.
shit went nuclear.
when the smoke cleared, WKC rose from the ashes.

[mike.stavlund]

The 'Meat Ninja' grill connected me with Troy on a visceral level, because I grew up next to my Dad's wood-handled Imperial in Rockford, IL.  Same town as Troy was living in at the time.  Glad it found it's way back to Troy! 

[MrHoss]

Wow. Gorgeous just gorgeous.  I understand.

[G$]

Amazing.

Those are  the most beautiful grills, and two fine guys get to enjoy them!  Thanks for sharing "the rest of the story".

[Troy]

The 'Meat Ninja' grill connected me with Troy on a visceral level, because I grew up next to my Dad's wood-handled Imperial in Rockford, IL.  Same town as Troy was living in at the time.  Glad it found it's way back to Troy!

ah yes. that was truly a strange small world situation.
When you first started sharing the details of the grill and where it was - I was convinced that I had somehow acquired the grill of your youth.
Turns out there's multiple imperials in Rockford IL (there's still at least one more there, but I lost touch with the guy who has it )

[kendoll]

Fantastic kettles! I am not even going to try and explain how badly I would like one of those.

Very glad it has made its way back to you Troy!

Ken

[Golly]

words cannot describe how friggin amazing this transaction is

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[1911Ron]

Wow what a great story and a two good looking kettles!

[Mark Schnell]

This color makes me want to smoke a tobacco pipe, swill some scotch and fire it up for some thick steaks or chicken a la vermouth while listening to Sinatra. Seriously.

Just make sure you have your cardigan sweater and slippers on!

[zavod44]

Okay let me fill in a bunch of the blanks and get the whole story told.......A year ago Troy was moving and I was doing some resto work on his baby blue imperial.  When he was moving he couldn't take everything, and I made him an offer to buy his Imperial.  A deal was struck and I took possession at the first meet up in Illinois.  I had it and it was in superb condition.  Another deal presented itself and I had to pull the trigger on the deal.  The deal was my mint wood handle Imperial for an inverted Metal Top Handle imperial.  It's not as nice but it was much older and I couldn't resist the metal top handle that was turned the other way.

Here it is with smoke pouring from it next to the Red Wood Dale 18"




I felt that the Imperial with the wood handle was so nice I never wanted t cook on it.  I figure this metal handle was a little rougher and I wouldn't hesitate to cook on it.  I was very happy with the trade. 

Here's Phoebe marching around it



So fast forward to this years meet up at my house.  Troy found out that I traded his beloved grill( that I bought fair and square by the way )  and he wondered where it went.  I told him Harris had it.  So the very next day after the meet up Terry texted me and said there was a Imperial at an upcoming estate sale.  I told him I wasn't interested, one because I have one...two it was gonna turn into a shitstorm and I really wasn't interest in a circus.  Then I started getting Troy sending me texts to go get it, I said listen I have a full time job, I don't have time to sit at an estate sale, I'm gonna go tell my boss I'm taking the day off...I need to go sit at an estate sale?  Ah no.  So I still figured the locals would go for this....then on Thursday Harris contacted me about the grill.  Harris and Troy hatched some plan that if Harris could score the grill he would get Troy his Imperial back to him in Socal.  However Harris needed to get it and he's in Atlanta.  So here we go...I'm sucked back in, Just when I try to get out...they suck me back in.  So I still didn't want to step on any local toes, so I contacted the usual suspects and everyone said they were out....So now what do I do, I still can't go over there myself, but.....My wife's cousin is a 22 year old kid who works second shift at O'Hare.  He would get off at 11:00 and would be relatively close.  So the wheels start turning.  I told Harris I may have an agent but he doesn't work for free...So I called John and he was eager, I put Harris in touch with John and they worked out a deal and the wheels were put into motion....John would get off work and go straight there.  I told him to bring a paper and pen and make the list and don't leave.  HE got to the house around 11:30.  He said someone actually showed up at 3:00 AM but not for the grill.  HE was number one on the list and the bulk of the people started showing up about 6:00 AM.  Need less to say John was the first to get it and he walked out with a near mint 1959 Glen Blue Imperial.  So technically I didn't purchase this grill in any way, I was just acting as the Super Agent that I am....John brought it to me, and I shipped it off to Harris, and they could now do their deal....This beauty was in my possession for a few days, but I can tell you it is as nice as it is in the pictures if not better.....