My first CL Score! Or, maybe not so much...

Chezmatt · 03-16-2013, 07:43 PM

I was perusing CL earlier this week, and saw a guy offering two Weber kettles AND two smokey joes for $50... for all four! Looking at the picture, I was shocked to see that one of the smokey joes was red. Could it be? Could this guy be selling the rarely seen and much rumored red smokey joe?
I quickly shot him an e-mail offering him $40 for the red SJ alone. (I don't have room for the rest.) We quickly reached a deal, and I had a friend pick it up for me. (The seller and my friend are in San Jose, about 40 miles away.) When my friend met the seller, he said that $40 was too much, and would only take $20. A steal!

Today, my new red super score arrived. It's was pretty dirty, and had seen some heavy use. I started to clean her up, and here she is:

IMG_20130316_154146_885.jpg
IMG_20130316_154143_223.jpg
IMG_20130316_154345_757.jpg

Note the "M" date code from 1990:

IMG_20130316_154214_128.jpg

But then, I was noticing that the surface felt a little rough, and not glassy like your typical Weber. I also saw some chipping, and what looked like heat damage:

IMG_20130316_154333_630.jpg

IMG_20130316_154234_868.jpg

IMG_20130316_154245_198.jpg

Using my world-renowned deductive reasoning, I started to suspect that this might not be a factory original paint job. I did some research over at the Weber Kettle Club. (Side note: Those guys REALLY like Webers.) From what I found there, it looks like red SJs were either (1) made in the 1970s or (2) emblazoned with a Budweiser logo. Clearly, neither of these conditions pertains to my new acquisition. So, I'm now pretty sure that I just bought a good old black smokey joe (with a wood handle, at least) that somebody spray-painted red.

Ah well. I guess I'll use it to make a 49ers mini-wsm, to go along with my World Champion San Francisco Giants Orange and Black Mini-WSM(TM). There are worse ways to spend $20.

Toney Marconi · 03-16-2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chezmatt

There are worse ways to spend $20.

True

Pappy · 03-16-2013, 07:51 PM

I thought I saw in a post that someone said it wss painted.

Big Dan · 03-16-2013, 07:58 PM

The "M" on your lid signifies it was made in 1990.

Harbormaster · 03-16-2013, 08:01 PM

They tried to be thorough.

Take a look at the rivet in the top vent. It's a pop rivet. The original rivet would have a solid head.

At least you have a good attitude about it.

Budman1 · 03-16-2013, 08:02 PM

Pretty much everything I do is "emblazoned" with Budweiser. Good score.

Fo Sizzle My Nizzle · 03-16-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chezmatt

Ah well. I guess I'll use it to make a 49ers mini-wsm

That's just adding insult to injury right there!

charrederhead · 03-16-2013, 08:49 PM

$20 for a SJG w/ wood handle is a good deal no matter who painted it red!

BUT, $50 for all 4 was a great deal....sell or give away the others. What were the kettles?

Chezmatt · 03-16-2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harbormaster

At least you have a good attitude about it.

Yeah, there's a lot of stuff in the world to be mad about. This is not even close to being one of them.

Chezmatt · 03-16-2013, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charrederhead

$20 for a SJG w/ wood handle is a good deal no matter who painted it red!

BUT, $50 for all 4 was a great deal....sell or give away the others. What were the kettles?

I would have loved to take all four, but I couldn't get down to meet him, and couldn't impose on my (working single mother of two) friend to haul four grills up to me.

stl-rich · 03-17-2013, 11:56 AM

I was real interested in that until someone told me that the SJ was painted. I already have one of those :-)

03-16-2013, 07:43 PM	#1
Chezmatt Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-05-11 Location: San Francisco, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My first CL Score! Or, maybe not so much... I was perusing CL earlier this week, and saw a guy offering two Weber kettles AND two smokey joes for $50... for all four! Looking at the picture, I was shocked to see that one of the smokey joes was red. Could it be? Could this guy be selling the rarely seen and much rumored red smokey joe? I quickly shot him an e-mail offering him $40 for the red SJ alone. (I don't have room for the rest.) We quickly reached a deal, and I had a friend pick it up for me. (The seller and my friend are in San Jose, about 40 miles away.) When my friend met the seller, he said that $40 was too much, and would only take $20. A steal! Today, my new red super score arrived. It's was pretty dirty, and had seen some heavy use. I started to clean her up, and here she is: IMG_20130316_154146_885.jpg IMG_20130316_154143_223.jpg IMG_20130316_154345_757.jpg Note the "M" date code from 1990: IMG_20130316_154214_128.jpg But then, I was noticing that the surface felt a little rough, and not glassy like your typical Weber. I also saw some chipping, and what looked like heat damage: IMG_20130316_154333_630.jpg IMG_20130316_154234_868.jpg IMG_20130316_154245_198.jpg Using my world-renowned deductive reasoning, I started to suspect that this might not be a factory original paint job. I did some research over at the Weber Kettle Club. (Side note: Those guys REALLY like Webers.) From what I found there, it looks like red SJs were either (1) made in the 1970s or (2) emblazoned with a Budweiser logo. Clearly, neither of these conditions pertains to my new acquisition. So, I'm now pretty sure that I just bought a good old black smokey joe (with a wood handle, at least) that somebody spray-painted red. Ah well. I guess I'll use it to make a 49ers mini-wsm, to go along with my World Champion San Francisco Giants Orange and Black Mini-WSM(TM). There are worse ways to spend $20. __________________ 22.5" WSM (x2) / Orange & Black Mini-WSM / CharBroil RED gas grill / Green Weber Performer / Somewhat Suspicious Red Smokey Joe

03-16-2013, 07:51 PM	#3
Pappy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-11 Location: Granite City, Illinois (Near St. Louis "GO CARDS") Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I thought I saw in a post that someone said it wss painted. __________________ Performer, UDS, 1983 WSM, Frank-in-Weber, 120 Gallon Offset, IQ-110, ET-732

03-16-2013, 08:01 PM	#5
Harbormaster Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My first CL Score! Or, maybe not so much... They tried to be thorough. Take a look at the rivet in the top vent. It's a pop rivet. The original rivet would have a solid head. At least you have a good attitude about it. __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR, EE/DU mutt); Brinkman Cimmaron; Chuckwagon Cooker; 22.5" OTG (DT); Two 22.5" Bar-B-Kettles; One 18.5" Bar-B-Kettle; Smokey Joes (A, K); Genesis Silver C (DU); 3 WGAs (EZ, DE, N); 3 SJPs (DT, DU, DR). "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"

03-16-2013, 08:02 PM	#6
Budman1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-13-13 Location: Wyoming County, N.Y. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pretty much everything I do is "emblazoned" with Budweiser. Good score. __________________ UDS, Mini-UDS, smokey joe, gasser, 3 pie irons, and a weenie fork. "The best BBQ I ever had is the one on the plate in front of me."- Remus Powers

03-16-2013, 08:49 PM	#8
charrederhead is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-29-12 Location: Thomaston, CT Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	$20 for a SJG w/ wood handle is a good deal no matter who painted it red! BUT, $50 for all 4 was a great deal....sell or give away the others. What were the kettles? __________________ Weber kettle farmer, rotis., 18.5 WSM, WGA, Brinkmann (nee OK Joe) Cimarron stickburner

03-16-2013, 07:58 PM	#4
Big Dan Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 09-02-12 Location: Coastal Bend Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The "M" on your lid signifies it was made in 1990.

03-17-2013, 11:56 AM	#11
stl-rich Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-10-10 Location: saint louis, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I was real interested in that until someone told me that the SJ was painted. I already have one of those :-)