Woodard grill cart with unmarked kettle?

[shadrack]

Hi guys first post here so I'll jump right in.

I just picked this up over the weekend.  It's one of the variations on the Woodard grill cart with an 18" kettle grill.  This has spent its fair share of time outside over the years but is in nice condition and the grill appears to have never been used.  The strange thing is, the grill is totally unmarked.  It appears to have the Weber single screw wood handles but the dampers don't say anything on them.  There is an indented groove around the bowl that helps it nest perfectly into the circle of the cart so I'm fairly confident this is the grill that came with it.  A bit of research lead me to the Smokey Joe Platinum kettle, which is a close match of the bowl and lid design but that's just a guess. 

Unlike the other Woodards I've seen, this one has a space for a slide out cutting board rather than one that sits down in the expanded metal . The original is missing so I'll have to look to see if it's a standard size or else will cut one to fit.  Other than that, I'll probably sand it down and repaint it a dark green, which appears to be the original color from what I can see under the black paint.  The cart is in excellent shape with minimal rust to be found so it should last forever with proper maintenance.  I might just set the original kettle aside since it's unused and look for another 18" to plop in there.

Anyone have an idea why this sucker is unmarked when the other versions I've seen come with a Weber branded kettle?

[Mr.CPHo]

Wow, helluva first post. 
Welcome.  I think those 18" Woodard carts are so cool.  Congrats.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

[johnny 2 shack]

whoa yea ! what a beauty ! and 18 to boot !

[crowderjd]

I may be wrong but I think that kettle is a Sears economy kettle, made by Weber and dropped into the Woodard cart...except as I look at it again I don't see any leg sockets...that's a good mystery...congrats on the score!

[Harbormaster]

A Smokey Joe Platinum wouldn't have handles, and the intakes would be higher up on the side of the bowl. They would also mot be daisy wheel vents.

The indentation is what holds the cooking grate and is like the Sears Econo kettle previously mentioned. I agree it's strange there are no leg sockets.

Nice pick up nonetheless.

[Bob BQ]

Very nice! @harris92  has a couple of them.

[YardBurner]

The top vent looks like a replacement.
Screw and nut vs rivet.
Did Weber ever offer unbranded replacement vent wheels?

[swamprb]

Sears Economy Kettle would be my first guess, but I've had both styles of the bowls, grate tabs and molded grate holder.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/weber-1343-sears-economy-kettle-grill-parts-c-193079_193086_193149.html

https://www.weber.com/US/en/help/schematics/browse.aspx?model=1343

Neither schematic shows the molded bowl, but the new 22" Wal-Mart Weber and SJ's are like that.

[1buckie]

I may be wrong but I think that kettle is a Sears economy kettle, made by Weber and dropped into the Woodard cart...except as I look at it again I don't see any leg sockets...that's a good mystery...congrats on the score!

A Smokey Joe Platinum wouldn't have handles, and the intakes would be higher up on the side of the bowl. They would also mot be daisy wheel vents.

The indentation is what holds the cooking grate and is like the Sears Econo kettle previously mentioned. I agree it's strange there are no leg sockets.

Nice pick up nonetheless.

Sears Economy Kettle would be my first guess, but I've had both styles of the bowls, grate tabs and molded grate holder.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/weber-1343-sears-economy-kettle-grill-parts-c-193079_193086_193149.html

https://www.weber.com/US/en/help/schematics/browse.aspx?model=1343

Neither schematic shows the molded bowl, but the new 22" Wal-Mart Weber and SJ's are like that.

What if it's a Weber, made by them, but unbranded because it was sold by Woodard?

[Heyjude]

I've never seen a sears economy 18

There was also a JC Penney grill 

I did come across a kettle with a plain top vent.

Its also odd that there really is no way to catch the ash out of the bottom vents

But no leg sockets says its legit

It may have just been one version that was made but we haven't seen it before.

When did Weber go to Single Screw again? @Craig

[Craig]

I've never seen a sears economy 18

There was also a JC Penney grill 

I did come across a kettle with a plain top vent.

Its also odd that there really is no way to catch the ash out of the bottom vents

But no leg sockets says its legit

It may have just been one version that was made but we haven't seen it before.

When did Weber go to Single Screw again? @Craig

Middle of 1981-early 1982.

[Heyjude]

Thanks Craig.  So,was the Woodward cart that new?
The while thing seems odd at best..

Bump for this!

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/off-topic/vintage-weber-on-rockford-files/msg20205/#msg20205