Back in late April, Mike In Plant City sent me a text message with a FB ad for a local Statesman not far from me. Although it was decently priced and in excellent shape, I fought hard to resist since I already had a pristine thumbscrew Statesman languishing somewhere in my garage. Besides, it’s missing the ash pan in the picture.
I reluctantly passed. I asked a few local grillfellas if they’d be interested in a vintage Weber but no takers. I let it slide and tried to put it out of my mind.
A few days later, Rub sends me the same FB ad. Now, when TWO different WKC’ers tell me to go get it, I have to listen (similar to the curb alert fireplace JEBIV and Chiku18 had me pickup). Coupled with additional photos from Mike In Plant City which showed the ash pan hidden inside, I acquiesce and ask Rub to reach out to the seller on my behalf since I don’t participate in Fakebook.
I tried to resist, I really did, but I’m weak for Webers.
I picked up this beautiful Statesman on a Sunday morning. The older gentleman said it hadn’t been used since his wife passed away and it had been stored in his attic for many years. One of the most enjoyable parts of kettle-rescuing is meeting new grillfellas and this gentleman was no exception. He gave my wife and I an extensive tour of his garden and even sent us home with several different plant clippings. Super super nice guy.
Anyway, I brought the Statesman home and kind of put it on the back burner since I was still restoring a red PITA 18” BBK at the time. PITA 18.5” Red BBK
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/index.php?topic=41718. I really wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it or pass it along, but somewhere along the way my weakness for mods resulted in a midgetized Statesman with dampers on the bottom vents.
Thanks to a couple of great enablers, Rub and Mike!