Wood Dale Handles

[zavod44]

I feel like we are getting much closer, but the question remains:

Wood dale handle pointing away is from ? to ?

Wood dale handle pointing toward is from ? to ?

Wood dale wooden handle is from ? to ?

Nailing this down would help greatly in documenting these kettles.  Anyone care to take a shot at summarizing?

Winz

Well obviously, the handles are still facing the direction of the vent.  So that question is easy.  They were turned that way some time in the early 60's.  The rest is Pure conjecture because we have an incomplete history.  We can definitively say they were perpendicular to the vent in 62.  So If I had to make a somewhat educated guess, the handles changed direction someplace around 63'-64'.  and it has remained that way ever since.  Now the 18 never changed and it is still that way.  Not sure why one is one way and the 18 is the other.  That is a question for another day....

[glrasmussen]

I think a visit to Weber Engineers desk, to review the archives is the way to go. That being said, the answers might not be the there...
There was no documentation on the gas performer... One of our best, with an inside connection, could not get it pinned down on production or production year...

[MartyG]

Where is X-WOLF-X now? Did he keep that redhead? We really need more pics of that one.

[Winz]

Thanks Brian,

We can definitively say they were perpendicular to the vent in 62.  So If I had to make a somewhat educated guess, the handles changed direction someplace around 63'-64'.  and it has remained that way ever since.

So, in the table I put forth we have this:

Wood Dale perpendicular handle             ? (first year of wood dale)   to 1962
Wood Dale parallel metal handle           1963    to   ?
Wood Dale parallel wooden handle         ?   to  ?(last year of wood dale)

Just trying to nail it down.

Winz

[Troy]

i would like to see a fact statement, citing reasons and sources regarding vent location on the 62.

[zavod44]

I think they moved form Wood dale right around 62'-63-64'.  Are there wood handled Wood Dales?  If your trying to figure out when your grill is from I would say 62'-63'? 

[zavod44]

Well this catalog says "new for '62"  Which I would think means 1962.  They all have the handles facing perpendicular to the vent.  That is pretty solid fact.  I would say 95%. 

[zavod44]

Hey Buckie, you see the right side of that catalog.....   "buy a Weber...... Better n' ever!!"

[Troy]

Well this catalog says "new for '62"  Which I would think means 1962.  They all have the handles facing perpendicular to the vent.  That is pretty solid fact.  I would say 95%. 

So the fact is, the 1962 catalog pictures grills with handles perpendicular to the vent.
We don't really know when the catalog was produced, when the pics were taken, or if features changed during 62 (or even before 62, but after the catalog was produced)
I realize there are a lot of things that will likely be unknown - i just want to be very careful with what is labeled as fact. (not trying to troll or play devils advocate)

[Troy]

i have in my notebook that the arlington heights factory was opened in 62.
they moved to palatine in 83.

trying to find the source now

[zavod44]

that's why I said 95%....it's real good intel, just not 100%

[Troy]

the 1966 weber catalog has been added to our old weber catalog page

[zavod44]

Troy the one we have as 67 I don't believe is 67....the number on the back is either 65 or 68 definitely not a 7.....

[Troy]

Troy the one we have as 67 I don't believe is 67....the number on the back is either 65 or 68 definitely not a 7.....

figures.
i trusted the files on the jump drive that someone sent.

figure it out. i'll re-label when i water mark them.

[zavod44]

Info is still good, but you know here at the WKC we are gonna get to the bottom of it.....