Landed A Vintage Yellow Kettle


 
Kelly C

Kelly C

TVWBB Pro
I finally got a yellow kettle that I have been wanting for a long time. It is early 70’s... I think 73 or 74. The wheels are not period correct but will be changing them soon. Can someone confirm this being The Gourmet model? Also looks like legs and wheels need to be moved a quarter turn to line up with metal handles. Any other observations or thoughts on this find?E196614B-CE70-47A2-86B6-09276757C99C.jpeg1C313EB6-DEFE-44A9-A2CD-36F277AC37A3.jpeg
 
Kelly, no other comment from me than to say I'm jealous that's in your yard and not mine! It's got some scars, but it'll cook fine, and look great. And, for sure, that fixed leg should be under the handle.... Nice find!!

Found this pic on Weber Kettle Club. This is a '75, so you're in the ballpark on dating!

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R
 
Thanks Rich! I heard the bowls on the yellow ones turn orange during a cook. Excited to check that out.
 
Thanks Jon! Have thoroughly cleaned it inside and out. Still need to put period correct wheels on it and realign legs to correct position. What is overall consensus to use touch up paint on the older kettles or not?
 
Wow, that gets collectors riled up a bit. Seems like most of our WKC fans are in favor of only cleaning up and then oiling battle scars. Some say it is part of the kettle’s story or at least that it is “original.” Myself, I am in favor of carefully done modest repairs. Could be a trick to get the right yellow that is adequately heat resistant. If your scar is deep, you might want to try what I am planning on for my Aristocrat and use some JB Weld ultra high heat as a kind of bondo. Sand it carefully and then paint and topcoat with high heat gloss. I haven’t tried it yet, but there is a thread here somewhere with a guy who did something similar on a WSM.
 
Richard in NS said:
If you want to retain the value just oil the rust spots. Painting reduces the value for most collectors.
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Yep, I agree with that assessment. I just don't completely get it. On gas grill restores we are all trying to make them look like new. I do get that kettles are different, and I have seen some pretty sad repairs that would have been better left undone. I am still a little on the fence until I can fully try my ideas. But at this point I think I would like my patent pending Aristocrat to have a RED lid instead of a moonscape.

Here is a red kettle that I tried to retouch. I did NOT use the more extensive plan I have described previously. I would also like to try using a Dremel to feather out the paint.

What I did on this one was not perfect but still a lot nicer in my view:

BEFORE

BEFORE Top.jpgBEFORE Side View2.jpg

AFTER

AFTER Front View.jpg
AFTER Side View.jpg
 
Jon Tofte said:
Yep, I agree with that assessment. I just don't completely get it. On gas grill restores we are all trying to make them look like new. I do get that kettles are different, and I have seen some pretty sad repairs that would have been better left undone. I am still a little on the fence until I can fully try my ideas. But at this point I think I would like my patent pending Aristocrat to have a RED lid instead of a moonscape.

Here is a red kettle that I tried to retouch. I did NOT use the more extensive plan I have described previously. I would also like to try using a Dremel to feather out the paint.

What I did on this one was not perfect but still a lot nicer in my view:

BEFORE

View attachment 9862View attachment 9863

AFTER

View attachment 9864
View attachment 9865
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Jon, I agree. I have touched up a couple of mine but they were just black. I just wanted Kelly to know what the collectors were looking for. Never had one worth anything special. I am more into what I can get cheap, cleanup, make functional and use!
That said, I do have a redhead 3000 waiting to be refurbished that I want to look really nice. 😀
 
Kelly C said:
What is the oil of choice on rust spots...WD40 or something else?
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Just any cooking oil will do. Clean the area and apply it the next time you're cooking on the grill. The idea is similar to seasoning a cast iron or carbon steel pan. Once the seasoning occurs after several applications of oil, it should protect the kettle from rust spreading further. It's easy to maintain after that. Simply dab more oil during any random cook.
 
Richard in NS said:
If you want to retain the value just oil the rust spots. Painting reduces the value for most collectors.
Click to expand...
So what would the kettle collectors think of completely refinishing an old kettle in a period-correct color?
https://www.facebook.com/IndependencePorcelain/

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At least one collector uses there services. I think the CGA was refinished to match the collection.
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I do not think collectors mind so much if you get a kettle refinished in a color of your choosing so long as you are honest about it. Now if you started gobbling up period correct donor black kettles and refinishing them you might raise some eyebrows because no one wants to see knock offs if they invested heavily in theirs. Personally I don't care as long as they are forthcoming that it isn't original because I won't pay ridiculous prices from kettle scalpers. It is one thing when someone drives 6 hours round trip and invests hours of clean up for a reasonable resale price. It is another thing when someone screws over an old lady by giving her $20 for her dead husbands kettle and then throwing it on e-bay after just taking the hose to it.

I have seen the refinished kettles you mentioned, a WSM, a yellow and lime CGA, and more.

Unfortunately, until recently with the Glen Blue, Weber has mostly ignored the cries to bring back colors with something other than the 22 and SJ. Especially with the CGA's this has caused a ridiculous amount of demand with a very low supply. I just can't justify spending the $300 plus do a custom at this point in my collecting, but someday I might. With that brownie CGA it was actually cheaper to get it refinished than to buy an original.
 
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Kyle in Woodstock said:
I never knew this service existed. Very cool, thanks for sharing the link
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I have to give credit to Chris A. He posted about IPE last year when IPE first posted the red with white speckles WSM. I bookmarked their FB page and look at it periodically to see what's new and to dream. Seeing what they can do (antique car exhausts, 26" grates, etc.) I wonder what a complete porcelain enamel Performer would look like. Imagine a porcelain enamel frame, front & rear panels, lower basket and table. Put it together with some SS hardware and it would last for generations. That would be awesome.
 
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