Someone send a Zavondle to the Smithsonian, STAT!

[mike.stavlund]

Sent from my iPhone using my fingers

[addicted-to-smoke]

Seems super shiny and clean. If I had a spare handle I'd gladly donate it the Smithsonian.

I'll bet if 30 or so of us donated $1 we could quickly make it happen. Seems like a worthy project, eh @Troy ?

I don't mind sending an email to get the ball rolling and see if they'd accept a handle donation. But if that's a two-rivet lid handle it could be more work than they want to hassle with?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/about/departments/curatorial-affairs

[SixZeroFour]

I love that they actually refered to it as a "redhead" in the little write up - that's awesome!

[Troy]

on it, courtesy of the WKC

[WNC]

Good show Troy!
I can't help thinking that there are some here who have even better, even older examples of kettles, not me, but it just means that some of you guys have museum quality pieces in your collection.
As if we didn't know that already...

[mike.stavlund]

Well this one is a beaut, but could have definitely used some @SixZeroFour magic on those legs. 

...or maybe they wanted it to look like it came right out of someone's backyard, I suppose.

[Craig]

This would be an honor if they allowed us to help restore it. The fact that they narrowed down the date to 1969-1973 and the person they got it from called it a "redhead" tells me it came from a Grillfella. @mike.stavlund  could you make out whether the vent said PAT PENDING or had the pat #?

[mike.stavlund]

@Craig , it was really hard to see the vent with the glare on the glass and the lights inside.  I think the only sensible solution would be for the Smithsonian to send a private jet to pick up you and @SixZeroFour for a few days of consulting.  Craig can nail down the date, and Matt can shine up those legs and ash pan.  I'll cook lunch. 

I remember in pre-WKC days reading about this grill on some other forum... I think the guy who donated it told the story... If I remember right the Smithsonian tracked him down following a CL sale or something.  The man donated it to the museum, and got a nice exclusive invitation to the opening of the new food exhibit (which features Julia Child's kitchen).  While it would be really cool to know that your grill would be preserved in perpetuity, and while I LOVE that the Smithsonian has a sweet redhead, I would be very reluctant to just give away one of my grills and know that it'll never cook again.

[1buckie]

@Craig , it was really hard to see the vent with the glare on the glass and the lights inside.  I think the only sensible solution would be for the Smithsonian to send a private jet to pick up you and @SixZeroFour for a few days of consulting.  Craig can nail down the date, and Matt can shine up those legs and ash pan.  I'll cook lunch. 

I remember in pre-WKC days reading about this grill on some other forum... I think the guy who donated it told the story... If I remember right the Smithsonian tracked him down following a CL sale or something.  The man donated it to the museum, and got a nice exclusive invitation to the opening of the new food exhibit (which features Julia Child's kitchen).  While it would be really cool to know that your grill would be preserved in perpetuity, and while I LOVE that the Smithsonian has a sweet redhead, I would be very reluctant to just give away one of my grills and know that it'll never cook again.

INDEED!!!!!


Very well said !!!!!


Except for the part where I talk them into letting you cook lunch......because it's the right, no, AMERICAN thing to do !!!!!!

[1buckie]

PS: Looks like it's a small BOWL tab to me....definitely a double rivet....... 

[mrbill]

While it would be really cool to know that your grill would be preserved in perpetuity, and while I LOVE that the Smithsonian has a sweet redhead, I would be very reluctant to just give away one of my grills and know that it'll never cook again.

it isn't just the cooker being preserved. it's "Americana" being preserved. think of the untold numbers of people who will see that grill and flashback to all the weekends, holidays and vacations where someone they knew(family, friends..etc) cooked on a kettle. it's a cooker born in America, used around the world and still going strong 50+ years later despite all of the "new whizbang" cookers out there. it's an American original and I'd happily give up my entire ensemble to a museum knowing they'd be there to spark that bit of nostalgia and memories of time spent with family and friends at a cookout.

[addicted-to-smoke]

Well said, mrbill. "for the greater good" -- just like rare aircraft or uniforms or any other modern artifact. Just because that redhead isn't obsolete doesn't mean it shouldn't be recognized.

[mike.stavlund]

Good points about Americana and the inherent value of nostalgia.  And @mrbill , have I told you about the 'museum' I'm starting up in my backyard?  Please ship your entire collection to me, post haste.   ;-)

Definitely small vent tabs on this kettle, all around.  And I think that's the remains of one rivet still in place where the handle used to be. 

[Uncle JJ]

So cool - Zav's chance to make it in the Smithsonian!  From the picture, it looks like the handle is bent out of shape.  Full restoration is in order!

[mrbill]

@mrbill , have I told you about the 'museum' I'm starting up in my backyard?  Please ship your entire collection to me, post haste.   ;-)

i was born in the morning, but it wasn't THIS morning