1974.

[G$]

Based on the following aging data, along with what we have of color availibility, would it ever be possible to identify a kettle that was certainly made in 1974?:

1971-circa 1975

On November 10th, 1970, Weber was granted the patent number for the leg sockets. With that, a couple minor changes occurred again. The lid vent remained the same except that the new patent number 3538906 replaced "PATENT PENDING" . This patent number still appears on the lid vents of kettles made today.  Another change made was to the wheels. The black metal rims were changed to black plastic with thin whitewalls and the black plastic hubcaps. Early on, the treads on the early plastic wheels were still made of rubber, however at some point before 1975, the treads were changed to plastic. The 1972 and 1973 catalogs feature kettles with rubberized wheel treads on plastic rims. It is possible that the change to plastic treads may have occurred between 1973 and 1975.

I am thinking the wheels, along with what we know of a particular color's life history from catalogs may make it possible to do, but I have not worked out the algorithm yet.  Craig, or any other experts want to help me on this?  (Obvioulsy my goal here is to try to find a kettle that I can be certain was made in 1974).

[G$]

For example, this is some conventional wisdom on color run years:

Avocado Green. Circa 1966-1974.
Lime Green. Circa 1974-1978.
Yellow. (Bright Yellow) Later available on standard kettles from 1973-1978.

[Craig]

I didn't know that the revisions got posted.... That's still an older edit that I was working on.
As for 1974..... HankB has an 18.5 that he got new in 1974, it has the small turn tabs on the bowl vents and the all plastic wheels (early version) and black hubcaps.

Heres an 18.5 BBQ K with modern wheels... Said to be from 1975....larger bowl tabs and new style wheels but still a "BAR-B-Q-KETTLE" vent.




Heres my 22.5 same vent styles, but older plastic wheels...if '74 had small bowl tabs...then it is my estimation that this to be a 1975 model BBQK. I'd bet money that George wasn't wasting perfectly good materials (wheels, vents, ash catchers) before making the permanent switch. Hence the two styles of ash catchers on 1979 kettles.  Its looking as though either 1975 kettles had two different wheel styles. OR 1974 had two different bowl vent styles... The mid 70s kettle details can get hairy but I'm working on it.  With the inconsistency in wheel styles  (metal/rubber, plastic/rubber, early plastic, modern plastic) there certainly had to be some overlap in model years back in the day. Reilly got a 1974 catalog I thought, I would love to have a close look at it.


I hope that helps. I'm still working on it.

[G$]

Awesome, as always Craig.    This was exacly the kind of info I was hoping for.

I found the page with those notes on a google search a few weeks ago.  Not sure if you/Troy want to delete the page? Update it?   It does look like more info than the current dating page has, but to your point, I do not know if it has all been vetted.

[Craig]

Awesome, as always Craig.    This was exacly the kind of info I was hoping for.

I found the page with those notes on a google search a few weeks ago.  Not sure if you/Troy want to delete the page? Update it?   It does look like more info than the current dating page has, but to your point, I do not know if it has all been vetted.

I am working on some tweaks and adding more info. The  discovery of the 1975 Yachtsman's markings changed the dynamics a little bit in my research. My ultimate goal is to make identifying the pre 79 kettles a lot easier than it has been. Even if it helps narrowing down a kettles age to a 3-5 year window. I'm still learning new things all the time.

[zavod44]

What yachtsmen markings?

Sent from my XT1080MAX using Tapatalk 2

[Craig]

BBQK lid vent, large bowl tabs, modern wheels. Hadn't seen that variation/combo until last month.

[zavod44]

Craig is that the grill I just sent?

[Craig]

Craig is that the grill I just sent?

The one and only... I experimented with PAM after some WD40 dripped out the leg socket and black streaked the bowl when I was reattaching the legs the other day. It's lightened a tiny bit since I did that on Saturday but holy crap PAM is like the "Just For Men" for black kettles turned grey.


Oh and it's stayed darker after two washes with Dawn dish soap...