Black Bertl

[brewtownbeatdown]

I'm gonna start by clarifying that I don't normally name my kettles.  However, the fella who alerted me to it, jokingly requested that I name it after him, so I decided on Black Bertl (sing it to Black Betty by Ram Jam).  As you likely guessed, Norbert is that fella.  In my overwhelmed laziness, do to hitting the 100+ kettles mark, I really haven't been scanning the sites/apps much lately.  Luckily, I have someone who's seven time zones ahead, finding me a sweet kettle 25mins. from my doorstep.  Messaged the seller, and received no response for two days.  Figured it was gone, but thankfully I was wrong.  Messaging with the seller moved along slowly, but it all worked out in the end. 

Black Bertl








This kettle has some serious charm.  Nice even, light fade with just a touch of patina. It's probably the cleanest kettle I've ever purchased, that wasn't NIB.  Seller bought it brand new, used it often, and meticulously cared for it.  He looked like a parent sending their child into the world when I loaded it up & headed out with it.  Just look at the original cook grate, ash pan, and triangle after 50+ years of use:




Had two seized thumbscrews, which were easily remedied with PB Blaster & a touch of heat.   Bowl dampers were turned so many times over 50+ years, that they all came off at some point.  Seller reattached two of 'em years ago, and I reattached the other right away. 



This acquisition came at a perfect time...just in time for the Chicago meet-up.  Brought 'er along to be my cooker kettle. 


Thanks again Norbert ( @Bertl ).  Glad my 2,000th post could be about an enthusiastic, upstanding member...and a sweet kettle!!!

[kettlebb]

Awesome!


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[CatskillSmoker]

Congrats on both the grill and your 2000th post. That Norbert is a GRATE Grillfella!

[Mike in Roseville]

Black Bertl had a...turtle....ram a lam?

Congrats on 2000 posts!

[inkaddictedchef1]

Bertl is a grate grillfella!  What a beautiful kettle

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[bladz]

Bertl is a grate grillfella!  What a beautiful kettle

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Having met both Bertl and Black Bertl in person, I couldn't agree more.


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[JEBIV]

Sweet cooker or looker if you ask me

[michaelmilitello]

Tough old Texan.  I love it.


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[Schaefd2]

Nice cooker right thar


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[Bertl]

Dam that cooker is badass Mike! It was a pleasure to help a friend.
You guys out there should know Mike aka @brewtownbeatdown helped me ship and agent a ton of stuff overseas.


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[inkaddictedchef1]

Grate teamwork fellas

Dam that cooker is badass Mike! It was a pleasure to help a friend.
You guys out there should know Mike aka @brewtownbeatdown helped me ship and agent a ton of stuff overseas.


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[HoosierKettle]

Congrats on 2000. What did he use to reattach the vents?  I'm blown away by that cook grate.


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[brewtownbeatdown]

Congrats on 2000. What did he use to reattach the vents?  I'm blown away by that cook grate.


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Looks like he used flared stove bolts, and double nutted them inside.  I'll be switching 'em to 1/4"-20 SS hex keyed screws with all metal lock nuts inside.  Gives it a rivet look, like so:
 


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[ReanimatedRobot]

Looks like he used flared stove bolts, and double nutted them inside.  I'll be switching 'em to 1/4"-20 SS hex keyed screws with all metal lock nuts inside.  Gives it a rivet look, like so:
[/quote]

You sir are a genius (or whoever you got the idea from is).  It looks like 3/4 inch long would be about right for an internal washer and double nuts.  Local hardware store doesn't have the hex keyed screws, but I am ordering them right now.  My yachtsman's rivets were trashed and while my Gourmet still has rivets on they are so rusted that two of them are hanging on by a thread. 

[Hell Fire Grill]

Bam-ba-Lam...