History of the 26r


 
A

Allen Sharar

TVWBB Super Fan
I've been somewhat obsessed with the Weber 26r since the early 00's. When I first was catching the Weber bug it was between the times when the flat-top 26rs were discontinued (late 90's or early 00's) and the newer model 26r being released (2007 or so I think). Of course, not being able to find one instantly made me want it even more. I pestered Weber support about possibly ordering parts to build my own 26r, but they no longer stocked all of the flat-top parts. I eventually found a J code black flat-top that I have to this day and have since added an early 70's Aristocrat and a Glen-Blue.

I'm curious about the when the newer model 26r was reintroduce - what the thought process was around the redesign. Why Weber moved away from the flat-top and modeled the current 26r closer in appearance/dimensions to the 22". In my mind the flat-top 26r looked a lot more like a blown up 18" kettle. I'm aware that prior to the flat-top 26r (mid 60's) Weber made a 26" kettle that looked a lot like the current model - again, with the profile of the 22" kettle. Any chances of Weber making/offering a throw-back flat-top 26r in a limited run, etc.? Hoping Mr. Burns might weigh in on this topic.
 
Allen Sharar said:
I've been somewhat obsessed with the Weber 26r since the early 00's. When I first was catching the Weber bug it was between the times when the flat-top 26rs were discontinued (late 90's or early 00's) and the newer model 26r being released (2007 or so I think). Of course, not being able to find one instantly made me want it even more. I pestered Weber support about possibly ordering parts to build my own 26r, but they no longer stocked all of the flat-top parts. I eventually found a J code black flat-top that I have to this day and have since added an early 70's Aristocrat and a Glen-Blue.

I'm curious about the when the newer model 26r was reintroduce - what the thought process was around the redesign. Why Weber moved away from the flat-top and modeled the current 26r closer in appearance/dimensions to the 22". In my mind the flat-top 26r looked a lot more like a blown up 18" kettle. I'm aware that prior to the flat-top 26r (mid 60's) Weber made a 26" kettle that looked a lot like the current model - again, with the profile of the 22" kettle. Any chances of Weber making/offering a throw-back flat-top 26r in a limited run, etc.? Hoping Mr. Burns might weigh in on this topic.
Click to expand...
Hi Allen!

The 26"er was discontinued sometime between 1989 and 1999. I'm digging through some resources to try and track down the year, but things are a little murky.

It was reintroduced in 2009. I can't speak to exactly why the change was made to move away from the flat-top design over to the more traditional shape found on the 22", but it was likely a deliberate decision to give more head room inside the kettle. Additionally, 26" lids and bowls are spun rather than drawn like the 18" and 22"ers, so the change may also have been related to the particulars of the spinning manufacturing process.

The chances of offering a throw-back flat top model of the 26" is very slim, as doing do would require costly new tooling to make a different shaped lid for a model that is already a bit niche in nature.

Thanks!
John
 
Allen Sharar said:
I've been somewhat obsessed with the Weber 26r since the early 00's. When I first was catching the Weber bug it was between the times when the flat-top 26rs were discontinued (late 90's or early 00's) and the newer model 26r being released (2007 or so I think). Of course, not being able to find one instantly made me want it even more. I pestered Weber support about possibly ordering parts to build my own 26r, but they no longer stocked all of the flat-top parts. I eventually found a J code black flat-top that I have to this day and have since added an early 70's Aristocrat and a Glen-Blue.

I'm curious about the when the newer model 26r was reintroduce - what the thought process was around the redesign. Why Weber moved away from the flat-top and modeled the current 26r closer in appearance/dimensions to the 22". In my mind the flat-top 26r looked a lot more like a blown up 18" kettle. I'm aware that prior to the flat-top 26r (mid 60's) Weber made a 26" kettle that looked a lot like the current model - again, with the profile of the 22" kettle. Any chances of Weber making/offering a throw-back flat-top 26r in a limited run, etc.? Hoping Mr. Burns might weigh in on this topic.
Click to expand...
I tracked down the introduction year of the 26" Kettle.

It was 1962, and it was the introduction of The Fleetwood. 1750173992022.png
 
I was looking through the catalogs Chris has here on the website and the last mention I see of the 26 was in the 1999 catalog. Chris doesn't have a 2000 or 2001 catalog, but the 2002 catalog no longer has the 26 inch kettle.chrome_amE3rYaHno.png
 
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