1982. Is D the wild goose?

[Craig]

I have searched the site and the rest of the 'net and unless I'm blind, I have yet to see a 1982 (D) kettle. Does anyone have one? Had one? Seen one? In the wild? In captivity?    Seems to be a few 1981 C's out there and quite a few 1983 E's, but the D seems to be the "Great Pumpkin" of the lettered kettles. 

[G$]

Craig, have you ever seen a C code that had one type of handle on the lid and the other kind on the bowl?

And no, I do not recall ever seeing a D.  Is that one of the missing vent codes pictures then?

[Craig]

Craig, have you ever seen a C code that had one type of handle on the lid and the other kind on the bowl?

And no, I do not recall ever seeing a D.  Is that one of the missing vent codes pictures then?

I've seen C codes with riveted handles lid AND bowl, C codes with riveted style lid and screwed style on the bowl and vice versa. Definitely a transitional year '81 was. The shape of the '81 single screws were like the riveted with the thinner profile. I know by 1983 the wood handle shape/profile was the later/modern style.
D is a missing vent picture, and for now, the missing link and grill to the date codes. I know that there was no "I" code, because 1986 was H code then they skipped "I" for 1987 and went to J or "crooked J".

Heres an all riveted 1981 "C" I'd love to have one like this... Its not mine.



Bowl Handle



Lid handle

[G$]

So it makes you wonder if they ever stamped D.  Almost like C was the clean it all out, make nothing new year.....

[Craig]

So it makes you wonder if they ever stamped D.  Almost like C was the clean it all out, make nothing new year.....

I've been starting to wonder if that's the case.

[G]

Interesting.  Good catch Craig.   I don't have one and don't recall seeing one either.

[kendoll]

I love the irregularity of the paint on that C code!

Ken

[1buckie]

This is a PM I sent to Marty on Aug 6th ~~>

Was stumbling around the BBQ InterToob I ended up @ TVVBBWWBWB, or whatever they're called & found this ~~~>

One year ago yesterday, Ken Mc answering Brian about one of his kettles:

"Hey Ken is that grill light gray? "

"actually Brian it is a nice bright silver "

Couple posts down:

"How old do you think it is Ken? "

"It is a "D" Brian, 1982 "

Congrats Bman! You got yourself a Poster. Only D to go.

  ^^^^^^^  That's the last info I can see @ "Vent Code Update"

Just need to get a clear pic from Ken & yer done......

[MartyG]

I followed up with Ken and it's NOT a D after all - it's an N.  So the hunt for truth remains on for now. Could very well be that D did not exist, but it's fun to think that it does.

[G]

Glad that was confirmed because I was going to call shenanigans....I believe the "silver" was only made in 1991. 

[Craig]

There's a pic that I can google later when I'm home of a guy claiming his redhead 22 was made in 1982, but there's no close up of the vent.

[1buckie]

Ah Ha.......

So the ball's still up in the air !!!!!!

I followed up with Ken and it's NOT a D after all - it's an N.  So the hunt for truth remains on for now. Could very well be that D did not exist, but it's fun to think that it does.

Maybe that's the case?

There's a lot of "C"s out there.....perhaps they made TWO YEARS' worth & sent everybody on vacation for a bit........

[Hogsy]

I agree Buckie ..... Well kinda
I've noticed over here that H or 1986 must of been a huge year for the red 18
I have 4, Golly has a couple and a lot of the others I've seen on Gumtree and eBay over here are all H code
They must of pumped up production of certain kettles some years or maybe they just sent a boat load of red 18's over to OZ that year

[Tom C]

In 1981-1982 there was a bad recession here in the US

[Craig]

It could also account for the different wood handle styles. Maybe the felt D didn't read well on a vent much like they never did "I"