What year did Weber switch to the plastic wheels?

[Brian O'Neal]

The 1973 catalog shows all the kettles with stamped steel wheels. I have a 1979 redhead that has plastic wheels. I believe the plastic wheels are original, although they could be replacements, but I don't think so. So assuming the 1979 is original do we have any idea what year they switched to the plastic wheels?

Brian

 

[Shaun R]

I believe they stopped using the steel wheels in the late sixties and then switched to plastic with rubber around 1969 or 70. Later the full plastic ones with the Weber stamp came along. I have never seen any stamp on the metal ones. Please show us a picture of yours and the catalog picture.

 

[Brian O'Neal]

Well you can clearly see the steel wheels in the 1973 catalog. So obviously they were still steel in 1973. I'm not saying they were stamped with the word weber, I'm saying they are made of stamped steel. The wheels I have are just the standard plastic wheels that are still basically in use today, they just look a little beat up. I'll get pictures in a minute. I'm sitting here watching this unbelievable world series game 6. It just won't end! As a Cubs fan I have to root for the Rangers.

Brian

 

[Shaun R]

Keep in mind there is a plastic wheel with rubber tread that replace the metal and came between the metal and full plastic. That could be what you are seeing in the catalog. Besides, thay use old different pictures sometimes.

 

[Brian O'Neal]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Shaun R:
Keep in mind there is a plastic wheel with rubber tread that replace the metal and came between the metal and full plastic. That could be what you are seeing in the catalog. Besides, thay use old different pictures sometimes. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, if you look at the '73 catalog what do you think they are, can you tell which ones are in there? Do you have a picture of the in between wheels? Do you know when they started using them?

Brian

 

[Shaun R]

If you look at JeffK's brown Imperial Sequoia it has the plastic/rubber wheels and it's pretty old. Who knows exactly when they started using them? I think they used old stock on some of the models in the catalogs too. It happens every year.

 

[Craig H]

The plastic wheels were in place by 1977. Judging by the picture of a Readhead on a 1977 recipe book. I saw a '75 vintage 18.5 readhead that was NOS on one of the message boards that had what appeared to be the metal wheels. I'm guessing '76-'77 or so was when the switch was made. The late '70s saw alot of companies switching productions from metals and brass over to injection molds for many of their products. i.e. lawn mower wheels, grill wheels, impact sprinkler heads etc.