14.5" WSM to Return


 
A

Alberto G

TVWBB Member
Nearly three decades ago, if you wanted a small, vertical water smoker from Weber you could buy the classic and still popular Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5-inch cooker, or the 14.5-inch version (known then as the 1880). This little smoker certainly wasn't going to handle a lot of barbecue, but it could smoke up a chicken or anything else that was small enough to sit comfortable on its 13.5-inch diameter cooking grates and do it without a huge amount of charcoal like the 22.5-inch. Due to poor sales, the 1880 was last seen in 1983 when it was pulled off the market. Occasionally an old model will show up online only to be snatched up by collectors faster than you can flip a burger. That might all be about to change, if rumors I've heard (from some pretty good sources) are true. Later this year we just might be seeing the return of the 14.5-inch Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker. Just so you know how big this will smoker is, it has the same base and lid of the Weber Smokey Joe portable charcoal grill and will stand about 2.5-feet tall.
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http://bbq.about.com/b/2011/05...ey-mountain-14-5.htm
 
Good find! I have an 1880, it's a good size for a small family. Weber probably saw all the SJS/SJG conversions online and want to bring it back to the market.
 
Originally posted by Chuck_B:
http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/...581038316#5581038316
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Woopty doo captain.
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A while back, I sent an e-mail to Weber telling them that we had a thread containing over 600 replies concerning a Smokey Joe conversion to create a mini-WSM. I also reminded them that they'd asked me about the need for such a cooker during my 2008 visit to Weber HQ.

It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition or if it's just rumor.

Regards,
Chris
 
Originally posted by Chris Allingham:
A while back, I sent an e-mail to Weber telling them that we had a thread containing over 600 replies concerning a Smokey Joe conversion to create a mini-WSM. I also reminded them that they'd asked me about the need for such a cooker during my 2008 visit to Weber HQ.

It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition or if it's just rumor.

Regards,
Chris
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I sure hope it comes about. As I explained in the thread Chuck referenced, I'd definitely be in the market. I just feel sure that a 14.5 would be more efficient for small smokes for two. And I definitely have no problems at all with having and using both an 18.5 and a 14.5 as appropriate. To me, that combo is actually better than one 22".

Rich
 
Well, I figured the best way to get the (hopefully) straight poop was to just ask them. So I did this morning. Here's what I got in return:

Hi Russ,

Thank you for the email.

At this time there are no plans for a 14.5" Smokey Mountain Cooker. You can check our website at the beginning of every year for any new products that will be released for that year.

We thank you for your interest in Weber.

If you need further assistance, please let me know.



So I guess unless she's telling a little fib, this one will be a no-show for now.

Russ
 
Originally posted by Chris Allingham:
A while back, I sent an e-mail to Weber telling them that we had a thread containing over 600 replies concerning a Smokey Joe conversion to create a mini-WSM. I also reminded them that they'd asked me about the need for such a cooker during my 2008 visit to Weber HQ.

It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition or if it's just rumor.

Regards,
Chris
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I want one what a great thing to take camping !
 
Couple reasons off the top of my head that you won't see it. First of all, the wsm costs so much more than the competing mini water smoker, the ECB Brinkman. Can't even find a wsm around here! NOWHERE! And this is Tennessee, which is in the heart of the bbq belt.... <span class="ev_code_RED">while Home Depot has been getting rid of the wsm elsewhere for as cheap as $48!</span>

Secondly, the sales of the BIG wsm have been rather high in comparison to the classic 18.5", at least going by posts and from folks I know. "Go big or go home" rings true with a lot of bbq guys nowadays, and so now the classic size wsm has become the "mini" wsm.
 
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