Model 1880
"There's an
old Smokey Mountain tradition: when you build something, you build
it to last. Now there's a smoke cooker worthy of that timeless
tradition. You'll love what it does to fish, meat and game...season
after season, year after year."
- Weber
Smokey Mountain Cooker Owner's Manual, 1981.
In 1981, Weber introduced the Smokey Mountain
Cooker Model 1880. It had all the features of today's cooker, but was
smaller in size and used different materials for some parts.
Weber
discontinued the Model 1880 sometime in 1983. We know from a
1983 Washington Post article
about smokers that the Model 1880 sold for about $100 in those days.
Picture 1 shows the
1880 standing next to the current WSM.
Picture 2 shows the
top cooking grate. Note that it does not have handles like today's
grate.
Picture 3 shows the
1880's water pan. Notice the wide, flat rim, followed by near-vertical
walls, then a gently sloping bottom that terminates in a flat, 3"
circle at the center of the bottom of the pan. The flat rim and tight
fit against the grill straps results in a much more stable water pan
than the one we experience in today's WSM.
Picture 4 shows the
charcoal chamber and charcoal grate. The chamber is made of the same
material as today's cooker, but is smaller in diameter. The charcoal
grate is not only smaller in diameter, but made of smaller gauge metal
stock than
the current grate. It is nickel plated, unlike today's grate.
Picture 5 shows the
teak wood lid handle--a classy touch. The Weber logo is stamped into
the wood.
Picture 6 shows the
letter "C" on the charcoal bowl damper, indicating that this bowl was
manufactured in 1981. Picture 7 shows the letter "E" on the lid
damper, indicating that this lid was manufactured in 1983. See
Determining The Age Of Your WSM for more
information on Weber's lettering scheme.
The dampers on the
1880 are made of aluminum and are stamped with a series of lines
between the vent holes. These lines make the damper more rigid, and I
assume this was done to help the damper retain its curved shape
better. The dampers are attached using the same tubular aluminum
rivets as in today's WSM.
Picture 8 shows the
access door. It is made of nickel-chromium plated steel and is much
heavier than today's aluminum door. The door has a smooth finish,
unlike current WSM doors that come with either a diamond pattern or
pebbled pattern stamped into the surface. However, it does sport the
same "H" pattern stamped into the door like today's door, which helps
the door retain its shape.
The 1880's legs are
similar in design to today's legs, but are made of the same nickel-chromium plated steel
as the access door. Although these legs are much sturdier than today's
legs, they apparently had a tendency, like the access door, to develop
rust, and were thus replaced by aluminum in later years.
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