Old red kettle worth it?


 
Stefan H

Stefan H

TVWBB Guru
Would this red kettle be worth a 3h round trip? Seller is asking $30 and there might be room for haggleing. But it looks like it has the typical rust spots at the welds for the charcoal grade and handles.
 

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If it were me I would ask some questions before driving that far such as how the lid fits and how sturdy the leg sockets are. Looks like there is a gap between the lid and bowl on the left side. May just not be set on it correctly or could be a clue it doesn’t fit well at all and you would be stuck fighting it. Just my initial thoughts.
 
Lid looks like its been dropped a few times. That gap on the left looks like a dent and so does the one by the bowl handle. And then the top handle.
I would say it's up to you.
 
Three hours is a bit much for that one (says the guy who has one.) Doesn't have any sort of ash catcher in addition to the battle scars. Then again, perhaps it would be a nice Saturday drive. :)

R
 
I completely get the allure of an older-era red. Mine was still available a day after appearing on Craigslist because it was in a small mountain town that was about 90 minutes away. The seller said there were quite a few no-shows, but I like driving. I had enough time before picking up my youngest from elementary school, so it was a no-brainer for me. So, I think it's similar to the question up for consideration for all pre-loved kettles: what's it worth to YOU? OR, maybe if you can wrap it into a fun little day trip. Maybe there's a cool little restaurant in the seller's area, or some kind of semi-interesting tourist attraction? I gotta admit... it's really nice to look in the back yard and see a redhead waiting out there to get fired up. ;)
 
When I was looking for an 18" kettle a few months back I concentrated my search on areas farther away instead of close to home...any excuse for a road trip! I found one that the seller swore was 18" but I had my doubts because of the photos, but in the end I was happy to drive 2+ hours each way for a 22" that I didn't need because I stopped at an excellent meat market on the way home. And in healthier times I probably would've found a couple of places to eat as well.:)

However, it was also 2 hours of mostly interstate and highway driving. Had it been 2 hours of urban/suburban traffic and the related headaches and hassles there's no way I would've done it.
 
I don’t mind traveling the “blue roads” to find something that interests me, the two major highways through here are the worst! US 131 is a madhouse from here to Grand Rapids and I 94 is miserable both ways fro here to Detroit or Chicago. I do my best to not use them whenever I can use a side route.
I have been around this area so,long, I have found some side routes that are much prettier, a little slower but, more relaxing and used to have places for a snack or a frosty beverage, alas, that is on hold for a while!
 
Timothy F. Lewis said:
I don’t mind traveling the “blue roads” to find something that interests me, the two major highways through here are the worst! US 131 is a madhouse from here to Grand Rapids and I 94 is miserable both ways fro here to Detroit or Chicago. I do my best to not use them whenever I can use a side route.
I have been around this area so,long, I have found some side routes that are much prettier, a little slower but, more relaxing and used to have places for a snack or a frosty beverage, alas, that is on hold for a while!
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I grew up in Battle Creek sounds like you live around there or K-zoo?
 
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