Black Thumbscrew 26 is Home, Updated 5/9

[Rub]

<longrantwarning>@Pezdogs  pointed this out back on April 1: http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/trading-post/black-mbh-26/
It's been a challenge every step of the way as no agents lived close to the seller, the seller was always slow to respond, schedules didn't work out, etc. Finally a bbq friend was able to meet the seller, negotiate a lower price, and bring it home. Then at the suggestion of fellow FL Grillfella @chiku18 I decided to try having it shipped via Greyhound. With the discount it was a great price, about $78 compared to the $198 I paid UPS. The online booking process was easy enough although my agent did have to drive about an hour each way to get it to the nearest bus station. So he gave up his Saturday morning and dropped it off at the station with the label I'd bought and emailed to him. I went online that evening to check out where it was with the tracking info I had. Nothing shows up. OK surely by tomorrow. Nothing. I wait a 3rd day and check and there is still no record of this 28x28x28 x 56lb box. I check with my friend about the receipt he got for it and he says they didn't give him one. They just told him to "set it down over there" which he did, then left. Oh damn. I emailed their Customer Service about it and got no response. I called them the next day and after 20 minutes of being on hold and lots of questions and them calling other bus stations looking for it they told me they had no idea where it was. So I'm figuring it's sitting in some Greyhound dude's back yard by now and I'll never see it. But they assured me it would make it and just hang tight. Eight days since the drop off and still no package. I call the Lakeland (final destination) terminal to see if they had seen it - nope. I'm feeling it's gone for sure. About an hour later I get a call back from the Lakeland terminal and holy $#!t it's just arrived. I make the 40 minute drive to pick it up yesterday, tell the wonderful lady behind the counter why i'm there, she goes in the back then comes back out and says she can't release it. It's not in the system and she's not letting it go. WTF are you kidding me?! It's got my name on it and here's my ID. What else is there to know? She has to make some phone calls and finally says I can have it. Thank you. I don't think my experience was typical for Greyhound. Just make sure your package gets scanned into the system.
</longrantwarning>


This is a sweet Fleetwood thumbscrew (1963?) 26 in fantastic shape. Only one small chip on the rim and everything else is golden. No bowl or lid rust, no dents, and all the tabs are there. Wheels in great shape. Handle is tight. It did have a great fade on it but I think that got shot when my buyer sprayed Break Free CLP on the thumbscrews and it got everywhere. I'll probably have to darken the whole thing. I think this will clean up great. All it's missing is the metal hubcaps. Anyone got a line on a pair? Thanks to all who helped get it here! Here's some quick pictures I got yesterday.

[chiku18]

Congratulations @Rub for bringing another beauty to FL. My experience with Greyhound was great , from Sacramento to Tampa (Saturday -> Thursday) with full tracking. Yes my seller also had to drive an hour each way, but was perfect transit.

I will say its time for us ( @Plant_City_Mike / @Mr.CPHo) to meet at your hood to admire all the recent acquisitions and may be enjoy some ribs .

[Mr.CPHo]

Did someone say "money muscle"?! 🤤

Congrats, Rub.  I'm pretty sure I have a pair of metal push caps for you. 




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[Schaefd2]

That is awesome!! Nice 26er!


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[inkaddictedchef1]

... so much stress for such a beauty of a kettle. Great patience and score

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[Neil_VT00]

Congrats Rub.  Glad it made it safely.  Looking forward to seeing it all cleaned up.

You should be able to grab the push nuts at Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-3-8-in-Nickel-Axle-Push-Nut/3012502

[SteveZ]

Looks like that will clean up Grate! Love my Fleetwood too! That sounds like quite an ordeal with the shipping.

[Bob BQ]

@Rub!  I'm glad it finally found it's way to you! That was a frustrating seller to deal with, and then pile on the shipping debacle... oi.  Let's see some pics of it in action!

[PotsieWeber]

NICE!

[Darko]

That's a sweet grill.

[Rub]

Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to cleaning this ole beauty up.

Congratulations @Rub for bringing another beauty to FL. My experience with Greyhound was great , from Sacramento to Tampa (Saturday -> Thursday) with full tracking. Yes my seller also had to drive an hour each way, but was perfect transit.

I will say its time for us ( @Plant_City_Mike / @Mr.CPHo) to meet at your hood to admire all the recent acquisitions and may be enjoy some ribs .

That sounds like a good idea. We will have to look for a time we can get together. And $$ muscle for @Mr.CPHo

[RRRanger99]

Awesome 26er!

[zavod44]

I guess you get what you pay for......anyhow awesome score, glad it showed up

[Rub]

UPDATE

I finally got a chance to do a little cleanup on her. It will be a cooker so I didn't go crazy on it. Polished the top vent, legs, and triangle. Got rid of most of the rust on the wheels. Was able to get rid of a lot of the Break Free marks on the bowl and lid. Sanded and oiled the walnut handle. The ash pan has been a challenge. It has some sort of clear coating on it that's keeping me from being able to polish the aluminum. I may just leave it. I'm really looking forward to making this 26" the workhorse of the stable!

[Kneab]

Looks great Rub