Weber Kettle Appreciation Society

Since I got my first Kettle (DE, OTS) about a year and a half ago, I've been keeping my eye out on CL for more additions. It's been harder than I thought it would be. Just not many Weber charcoals on CL around here, for some reason.

Then, I lucked into 2 that got posted on the same day. The next morning, I picked up both.

A little Smokey Joe (DO) for $12, which was advertised to include an electric starter and a bottle of lighter fluid. I took the starter (doubt I'll ever use it though) and asked her to kindly discard that lighter fluid for me.

The big find was a beautiful blue, DE, 22.5" OTG for $45. He claimed to have only used it once and it looked that way.
I assume it has to be a Gold. It's blue, has 2 handles, and has the hinged grate. Oddly, it didn't have the factory ash catcher or any clues that it was ever there. He'd put a trash can lid in place of what he described as the OTS disk. The clips for the disk are still there.

Did they ever make OTG's without the factory ash catcher? It seems that's what this is.

Anyway, I'm way more excited than I ought to be for these finds. My only complaint is that they were in better shape that I'd hoped for. I wanted to feel like I was salvaging them, but all they required was a minor wipe down and grate cleaning.

My 2 new family members: [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40611072@N05/7668850022/"]2 new members | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]

PollardsVision said:

Did they ever make OTG's without the factory ash catcher? It seems that's what this is.

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No, he just probably lost the ash pan. You could probably just install the ash catcher that the silver uses and it might even look kinda cool.

Trumpstylz said:

No, he just probably lost the ash pan. You could probably just install the ash catcher that the silver uses and it might even look kinda cool.

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My other Kettle is a Silver and I just use a 12 qt. galvanized pail with it. I was just going to get another one of those.

It seems odd that he would've lost it, but that must be the case. I probably should've asked if he still had it lying around anywhere, but I was just excited to throw that thing in the truck and get it home.

When I bought mine I came with the hinged grate and 2 handles it is an OTS bought new in 1989.

could be he replaced the grate himself. if it had the leg clips then for sure its a silver.

My custom Weber Performer Kettle Grill

I just wanted to show you guys my custom Weber Performer. Check it out and let me know what you think.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-U2YcwZzm4&feature=plcp"]Custom Weber Performer Kettle Grill - YouTube[/ame]

PollardsVision said:

Since I got my first Kettle (DE, OTS) about a year and a half ago, I've been keeping my eye out on CL for more additions. It's been harder than I thought it would be. Just not many Weber charcoals on CL around here, for some reason...

The big find was a beautiful blue, DE, 22.5" OTG for $45. He claimed to have only used it once and it looked that way.
I assume it has to be a Gold. It's blue, has 2 handles, and has the hinged grate. Oddly, it didn't have the factory ash catcher or any clues that it was ever there. He'd put a trash can lid in place of what he described as the OTS disk. The clips for the disk are still there...

Did they ever make OTG's without the factory ash catcher? It seems that's what this is...

Click to expand...

The Blue one is a bit different. Like others said, he may have replaced the grate with a hinged one. Did anybody else notice that the handles on the upper & lower half of the kettle appear to be different? It is possible that a handle was replaced, but its also possible that half of the kettle was replaced under warranty at some point. It seems like your Blueberry may be one of a kind! :-D

nene9572,

Very nice custom table for the performer!

I want to do something like this one day, but would prefer to do it with a basic OTG to save money on the initial purchase of the kettle. Unfortunately, the OTG doesn't have the same mounting brackets. The Platinum may be a little better. I wonder if it is possible to purchase a blank performer kettle direct from weber without the table, ignition, etc. If so, that may be the best option for a new build.

I have mounted several kettles in carts or frames using EMT or conduit clamps.

I mount them upside down so that the hook portion fits under the kettle bottom lip. The gap between the hook end and where the clip is connected to the frame protects the wood. A clip for a larger diameter tube increases this distance.

Been a member a while but long drinks between visits, thought this thread might apreciate this story and pics of my new pride and joy.
If you don't know I'm in Aussie and 3 weeks ago I won a new in the box 1986 H OTS, the guy we t over seas the day after the auction and I codnf get it until today.
He's like an hour and a half away and just I'm leaving he calls me d says he was getting it out of the shed its been in for 26 years and discovered the box was all rotten up one side and the bottom and if I didn't want it he's understand, or drop the price if I wanted it.
The auction went to 190 and I was prepared to pay that and put it awAy in storage.
So I arive there and he's all apologetic and opens the box and its all complete and mint, we strip down the layers and there's rust on the triangle leg shelf things axle and it did look pretty bad, tiny bit on the charcoal grate and tool holder. Other than that its brand new, then he says I feel so bad and don't need the money you can just have it, I said well here's 20 bucks and left with this....








That's the rust






I love it!

My '68-'70 patent pending redhead. I like to think she was made in '69 lol. Bought her on CL for $15. New leg and wheel set and hinged cooking grate and new charcoal grate and she is a beaut!



My blue workhorse--- 22.5" OTG I got at a garage sale for $5. Picked up the weber side table for $5 on CL. Amazing the deals one can find if you are patient

dales133 said:

Been a member a while but long drinks between visits, thought this thread might apreciate this story and pics of my new pride and joy.
If you don't know I'm in Aussie and 3 weeks ago I won a new in the box 1986 H OTS, the guy we t over seas the day after the auction and I codnf get it until today.
He's like an hour and a half away and just I'm leaving he calls me d says he was getting it out of the shed its been in for 26 years and discovered the box was all rotten up one side and the bottom and if I didn't want it he's understand, or drop the price if I wanted it.
The auction went to 190 and I was prepared to pay that and put it awAy in storage.
So I arive there and he's all apologetic and opens the box and its all complete and mint, we strip down the layers and there's rust on the triangle leg shelf things axle and it did look pretty bad, tiny bit on the charcoal grate and tool holder. Other than that its brand new, then he says I feel so bad and don't need the money you can just have it, I said well here's 20 bucks and left with this....


I love it!

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That is a thing of beauty! I especially love the 'brand new' wooden handles. Looks great... now let's see some action shots!

Bought my first 22.5 in 1974 and used it all of the time, then work got in the way and to save time I started grilling.

After nearly 20 years of not using my kettle, the pastor at my church talked me into a electric smoker and I bought one. I smoked several things, but wasn't really satisfied, then my memory of the kettle told me you can do better on that old kettle than this electric smoker, so I bought 2 racks of ribs, you guested it, I smoked one rach in each.

After the test, I sold the electric smoker and bought a WSM 22.5. I was using the WSM almost exclusively then again I told myself I can do this in the old kettle.

I have since bought from Craigslist as Red Performer SS and a late model Performer. I haven't used the WSM now of months and probably won't again until I do a large cook, say several racks at once.

I just found out about using clay fire bricks in my kettles and the applying the minion method, wow, I got over 4 hours at 275* with RO and didn't have to add even one piece of lump.

Weber Kettles are the greatest, we just need to experiment and try different things. I don't think the inventor's fully understood what they built and how versital they really are, besides being very portable. :blah:

WOW!! Stunning!! What a score!!! :thumb:

NICE!! I remember when mine was all shiny and new just like that. Mine is an 85 she ages gracefully.

Thanks guys! I'd sleep with it if the mrs wouldn't complain lol

Brand new redhead just piped up here on eBay today too, 1989 model, wonder where there all hiding

rubizuk said:

I just found out about using clay fire bricks in my kettles and the applying the minion method, wow, I got over 4 hours at 275* with RO and didn't have to add even one piece of lump.

Weber Kettles are the greatest, we just need to experiment and try different things. I don't think the inventor's fully understood what they built and how versital they really are, besides being very portable. :blah:

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Yea I did the same thing, scribed these fire bricks to fit my kettle and made an air deflector out of sheet aluminum , I got 10 hours @225 the other weekend with this setup

Here's my brand new EO Detroit Lions Team NFL Smokey Joe. Picked this up from CL for $20. Couldn't believe it sat sealed up in somebody's garage for the last 17 years.