“We are usually in the market for Mid Century anything…”
(Ain’t that the truth?)
“Yes, Monty,” say Dawn and Brian, “we’ll take what’s behind Door Number 3.” What have you just won? A like-new KamKap Kook-Out barbeque grill! Yay, Monty, we love you! The pair jump up and down ecstatically like there is no tomorrow… or 1958… and roll this puppy home. Readers, continue to be patient and good-willed acolytes and maybe the Retro Decorating Gods will Let’s Make a Deal like this for you, too, when you go thrifting this weekend.
The rotisserie (box below) was never used, Mint in Box. Read on for these little lovebirds’ treasure hunting story of discovery. Dawn — whose blog is Pretty In Pink — writes:
Oh one minute, though. You know what I also love? Dawn takes photos — good photos — of all the stinkin’ rotten little details of this bbq and its accessories and instructions…. and sends me the photos tout suit. Yes, it’s ALL so Fascinating, you can tell she thinks to herself. Soooo Fascinating……. Good girl, Dawn, you know I approve and am very grateful to be empowere to show all this lovely detail — you made is soooo easy for me to do this story. Okay, so here you go, Dawn really writes:
Hello Pam-
Do you ever have those times when you find something so retrobly fabulous that you MUST share with someone who can appreciate it?
That would be me today.
My fiance, Brian and I, took a very unexpected road trip today. It’s beautiful here in Central Ohio, especially seeing how its mid March! We just couldn’t stay inside today. So we traveled around. No particular destination in mind.
We came across a “General Store” in Lancaster, Ohio that sold antiques…And as we were perusing the aisles looking for anything that caught our fancy…We literally stumbled on what will have to go down in MY book as the ultimate gem.
We are usually in the market for Mid Century anything, and currently our focus has been on midcentury barware since we both collect.
But what was so amazing today that caught my eye?
A 1958 KamKap Kook-Out Charcoal Grill in almost MINT condition. I have NEVER seen anything like it in all my antique store, thrift store, yard sale travels. Sure. I dreamed. I hoped.
Yeah. We loaded that bad boy up and took her home. We are sooooo very excited. I did a quick search on your site and did not see any other articles about retro BBQ Grills. A quick search of google and ebay didnt really tell me much either…
Do you know ANYTHING about these grills? We love it. We plan on using it. I am getting ready to post my own blog about it and I have fantastic pictures if you want to see them…
Thanks again. I just had to share with someone else that understands how exciting it can be to find such an unexpected treasure. 54 years old and it looks like it was bought a few years ago!
A happy reader-
Dawn
Thank you, Dawn. Kook-out. hahahahahaha. No, I know nothing about this grill. I will hypothesize: Another local/regional product… from back in the day when local/regional manufacturers created all kinds of useful and sometimes, kooky, products that principally served local/regional markets.
Readers: You can read more about Dawn and Brian’s find and see more photos on their blog, Pretty in Pink.
Regarding other grills on my site: I have written several times about the fabulous GE Partio Cart – this may be the creme de la creme of vintage barbecues, kind of like how an Electro-Sink is a Dishmaster gone Robocop. The Turco barbecue ball is another groovy barbecue design.
My question back at you is: Will you and Brian have the heart to use your Kook-Out? Please Do! Let’s ALL commit to setting our New Old Stock free — to giving these items a happy, productive, useful, much-loved life!
Congratulations ! What a great find. It appears to be close to NOS. The operation seems similar to the Sunbeam grill of the 50s, with its adjustable height grill.
And the accessories are a real treasure. Have fun USING your new retro cooking toy. My it be the first of many adventures together.
Enjoy !
Wow. I agree with Jeffrey and say they should use it and enjoy it. The real pleasure of owning vintage things like the grill is that they were made to last, and they were in a lot of ways made better.
This weekend I’m looking for a change in the forecast. I do not want to do a marathon in the rain.
I feel an MCM party tonight!!!! What a great find. (and don’t forget the jello mold for desert!)
I’m looking for Kentucky to advance in the NCAA tournament. Go Cats!
Oh, and I love the Kook-Out. Sounds like it landed with just the right Kooker-outers. And, I lived in Lancaster OH for one year, back in 1966-67, when my dad was assistant editor at the newspaper there. Lovely historic town. But what was special to me, a fourth-grader, was that General Mills had a factory there which produced a cool snack food — Bugles.
I loved Bugles! And sticking them on every single finger and pretending they were “witch nails.” Ha.
Bugles are the rage! LOL. And Lancaster is a sweet old town. I moved away for awhile, but am now just 20 minutes down the road. It sucked me back in. Lancaster is also the home of Anchor Hocking, and of course, General William T. Sherman. Just giving you all some history for today! Thanks everyone-Dawn
Love that! Went right to Google and found Kam Kap mixers,really state of the art electronic mixers. Haven’t found that it is the same company. But then I found this cook book for the Kook Out Grill!
http://www.collectorsquest.com/collectible/29278/kam-kap-kook-put-cook-book
I am fascinated. Still looking but had to bring this right away.
The mixer, by the way, is a DJ sound mixer, not a cooking one.
KAM is not the same company, it’s a UK maker of DJ equipment.
Found a picture ad in a Schenectady newspaper, the Kook OUt offered at Standard Furniture for $29.95, 95 cents down and a dollar a week. I hope this link will work:
http://tinyurl.com/6njogus
Van Nuys News, July 2, 1959 has an ad from May Co. for Kam Kap Deluxe BBQ Wagon for $24.98. No rotisserie, but a built in fire starter. Color, Coppertone.
I love the part in the ad where you can put .99 down and a $1.00 a week!
That ad is FAB!! Thank you!
No question in my mind – I would use that regularly.
I would also line the firebox and maybe even the hood with aluminum foil (shiny side so you can see it on both) to protect that fabulous bronze paint.
I don’t remember what brand grill we had, but I do know it was the same bronze color as this one and it had the same rotisserie (but not the side extension). My mom used to cook a chicken on that rotisserie on Sundays in the summer. What memories sitting next to my dad on the driveway near the garage next to the grill, while the rotisserie motor hummed.
This weekend I’m looking for some good times and good food at my son’s St. Patty’s party.
My dad used to love the Curtis Cooker. He loved them so much that he would replace parts whenever they would wear out. He actually built me one from parts once. He came from a family of butchers and really was quite fussy about how his steaks cooked so for him, the Curtis Cooker was the only choice. It had a little tray for Sterno in the bottom. I kind of looked like this grill a little bit.
I can somewhat speak to the rotisserie…although I don’t have an outdoor grill, I have an indoor electric grill (tabletop) from 1964 (maybe General Electric or something) that my mom found for me at a garage sale…Not only can you grill on it, but it came with a rotisserie and a big beefy motor like the one on your KamKap. The rotisserie is awesome!!! Definitely use it. I have made whole chickens on it and the taste is unbeatable. It also makes a fun party “focal point,” as everyone is oohing and aahing about it. The instruction manual is pretty hilarious too.
Wow, total score!!!!
Wow! such a great find and right in my old stomping ground of Central Ohio! Lazarus was THE department store in downtown Columbus and many the times we would take the bus there from Grove City. Congrats, Dawn and Brian!
Nope. Couldn’t use it. It’s just way too cool to muck up and abuse. I would proudly display it as if I was regularly using it and I would never let it get wet. So, it is probably better off with someone who will actually use it. After all, nothing lasts forever.
That is an awesome find! Congrats….I’m pretty sure your fabulous stone wall was just *begging* for something equally fabulous to be parked in front of it!
I love it when the Retro Gods are in a great mood, and bequeath such finds on the readers of RR.
Enjoy!!!
I actually thought that as I parked it there. RIGHT in front of a not so up to code outdoor outlet! It was a match made in heaven.Perfect to plug in the basket! Now. If I some day find a picture of the previous owners that shows a grill like this my journey will be complete!
Ahh….and my favorite personal BBQ story – I had a run of the mill briquet BBQ. Had the Kingsford briquets ready, but alas….no Kingsford briquet lighter fluid. (This is about year 1995).
Went to my mom and dad’s a couple miles up the road, and in the shop was two tins of Kingsford BBQ lighter fluid. Took them home, doused the briquets, tried to light them and nothing. Put some more fluid on, and still nothing. Went to the second can…..same result.
Finally I turned the can over, and on the back of the label was this coupon to get your FREE Kingsford BBQ t-shirt!! At the bottom of the coupon it said: “Offer expires Dec. 31st, 1971″ LOL! Yep, retro BBQ grills are one thing, but retro lighter fluid loses its punch after 24 years!
Thank you to everyone! We were so very excited to find this grill. We have a gas grill for every day use but I really do think we will use this.
I think as long as we clean it very well after every season we will be okay. I kind of feel like its been waiting a loooooong time to do what it was meant to do.
And Brian can not wait to throw some sort of meat in that basket!
For us the real excitement was the year previous getting that 1956 BBQ book and laughing out loud at how sexist it was. And then wondering if we could ever be so lucky as to find an old grill.
The MCM Gods were very good to us!
Watch out for all the toxic lead based paint fumes!!! Once you heat up that old paint it could be, well… ya’ just never know!
Yikes. It’s always something. Dawn & Brian: Take note, consult with a pro…
Wow! What a GREAT FIND! Possibly, THEE RR find of the year! That is one sweet little BBQ. Love it’s style, color – all of it! Congratulations on running across it. I’d have scooped it up too.
And I’m all about using my NOS. At age 57, and as long as I waited to own my first home (just last May) – AND, considering when I take the big dirt nap my niece, nephew and assorted others will not understand these ‘loud towels’ or “what is this ugly hanging lamp about?” (my NOS grape cluster KIT that I had assembled)…I figure things are better of my using them at this stage.
That being said, the paint is a concern. I was bummed when I realized I couldn’t put my vintage Knowles china in the microwave. Just have to make sure everything is hot at the same time on the stove like Mom did.
Gosh, how lucky! Retro AND NOS! While I haven’t been lucky enough to find something as large as a BBQ, I have so greatly delighted in going to Sally’s (Salvation Army!) and finding brand-new, still sealed in the package items (that are of course also retro/MCM), including…. Christmas wrapping paper, aqua cloth napkins, salad plates, a plastic aqua butter holder, salt & pepper shakers, and napkin holder set! In fact your story makes me want to take a trip to Sally’s right now! Thanks for sharing!!!
love it! I was watching the vintage store across the street from work (I sit at the reception desk) while they unloaded vintage outdoor furniture that would go fab with the cookout set!! I have a couple set of vintage weenie roaster sticks and Lawn Jarts (yes, metal tips). Get grillin’ – what time is the party?
We are totally looking for retro lawn furniture now. I have been looking for over a year for a nice glider. They are around, I just am looking for the right one. I also have on my list several old aluminum lawn chairs and of course, some white wrought iron.
Are issue is currently are wish list has grown towards larger items. And we do not have a truck or SUV. LOL. So now we are looking at used SUV’s to support our antiquing and thrift store habit.
FYI – they guys at the retro store mentioned that patio furniture back then didn’t always include an eating table & chairs as we have now (unless you went wrought iron & glass). The redwood patio set would’ve had a picnic table to eat from. Hence, I’m still looking as well. If you live in MI – check out the Allegan Antique fair (last Sunday of the month) – they always have gliders
This still is in great condition! Congratulations for a great find! It’s nice to find things that are made in the 50′s- 60′s and still working,
Hello everyone! Thanks so much for all the happy comments! Just wanted to pop back in and let you all know we USED the grill this week!! GASP. Yep. We sure did!!! We lined everything with like three layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. And we did our first ever lamb roast in the rotisserie. IT WAS LOVELY. The motor did great. The first time in its life it was put to proper use. Took about two hours over charcoal and Brian was sooo worried since he wasnt used to using charcoal, but he did great and the grill did great. WE LOVE IT. I feel like the grill is finally part of the social circle it was mean to be.
YAY! You two are Livin’ the Good Life!
Last year I found a Duncan Hines BBQ grill.
Here is the cookbook for your fabulous Cook Out BBQ! Here is the site for the Kook-Out barbecue grill cookbook: http://www.advertisingcookbooks.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=842
You need this cookbook!