Remember my $10 49’er?

Jon Tofte · April 29, 2018, 06:24:34 PM

A month or so ago I posted a link to an OfferUp ad for a "bbq grill" for $10.00, and as a newbie I asked what everyone thought:

A number of you helped me identify this as a pre-75 18 inch kettle - "The 49'er" in Weber's folksy nomenclature of the time. You told me to Go! Get it! No brained! So, in spite of tax season I went and picked it up. It joined a huge backlog of grill projects - mostly Genesis gassers - awaiting April 17.

Well, tax season is finally over and this neat little kettle was first up. I tried to follow the great advice I found here in restoring the legs, wheels, ash pan and kettle itself. I kept everything original except I sprung for a shiny new grate:

I have mostly done Weber gas grills, so this is my first kettle restore. At this point I don't have the heart to cook on it, so I am displaying it in my office at work, complete with a 1973 Weber catalog, a "price tag" I made myself based on the listing for this grill in that catalog and a few "before" pictures.

For my first effort I was pretty happy with how it came out. But, there was one thing missing. I don't know if this 49'er ever had a Weber logo on the handle (probably not), but I really wanted that to complete the "look".I love the replica handles available here, but I am lucky to be friends with an artist who lives down the street from me. I did his tax return, and he did this for me:

I love it! I was especially happy to b3 able to retain the original riveted handle.

I can see how it is easy to get caught up in the Kettle Fever! I bought a really pretty red kettle from Charlie, a super nice and friendly WKC member. We wound up making some great swaps, too and he helped me land a blue SSP. With a yard full of grills and projects, I guess I need to stop for now. But if someone has an avocado grill they want to part with...

addicted-to-smoke · April 29, 2018, 06:39:18 PM

Truly Excellent

kettlebb · April 29, 2018, 06:48:49 PM

That is really nice, you should feel good about that one.

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Firemunkee · April 29, 2018, 07:07:45 PM

Nice job!

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LiquidOcelot · April 29, 2018, 07:24:16 PM

Being a San Francisco 49er fan i want one of these babys just because of the name. Beautiful restore

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Mr.CPHo · April 30, 2018, 04:53:54 PM

@Jon Tofte, nice restore on the 49'er!

Let me know if you need any parts for the SSP restoration.

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WNC · April 30, 2018, 05:17:14 PM

Man looks beautiful!
Great first restore

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Darko · April 30, 2018, 06:00:37 PM

Great work on the restore.

Schaefd2 · April 30, 2018, 06:07:10 PM

Nice work!!!

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jcnaz · April 30, 2018, 09:22:50 PM

I love it!
I have a 49er and it is one of my favorites.

RRRanger99 · April 30, 2018, 09:42:45 PM

Very nice restoration!

Rub · May 01, 2018, 03:48:52 AM

There's something to be said for a classy, clean black kettle. Kind of tuxedo-like. Well done.

Foster Dahlet · May 01, 2018, 10:07:44 AM

Quote from: Rub on May 01, 2018, 03:48:52 AM
There's something to be said for a classy, clean black kettle. Kind of tuxedo-like. Well done.

This.

jacko1962 · May 01, 2018, 10:56:44 AM

Awesome I have the same 73-74. It is my avatar. Actul like the bleached out black wiht the gray look. Son I bought it off remembers when his Dad bought it. Cleaned up 40 years inside the kettle and saturated the vents with PBlaster overnite. Works awesome.

Jan M. · May 01, 2018, 01:08:09 PM

That's a super nice kettle !
Very good job !

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News:

Remember my $10 49’er?