“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.
And there she was. With an already wonderful price of $59.99. We walked away. Discussed it. Came back for it. And the lady offered us 10 % off. Did I mention it came with a rotisserie that had NEVER been used? Complete with box? Instruction manual (Dated 10/29/1958)
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!
Mary Sisson Eibs says
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.
Jeanne says
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. 🙂
Daves MidCentury Stuff says
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.
Elaine says
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
Elaine says
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.
Leslie says
I love the part in the ad where you can put .99 down and a $1.00 a week!
Dawn says
That ad is FAB!! Thank you!
Elaine says
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.
Elaine says
The mixer, by the way, is a DJ sound mixer, not a cooking one.
Elaine says
KAM is not the same company, it’s a UK maker of DJ equipment.
JKaye says
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.
clampers says
I loved Bugles! And sticking them on every single finger and pretending they were “witch nails.” Ha.
Dawn says
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
JKaye says
I’m looking for Kentucky to advance in the NCAA tournament. Go Cats!
Preston says
I feel an MCM party tonight!!!! What a great find. (and don’t forget the jello mold for desert!)
Nick Klaus says
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.
Jeffrey from Village Green says
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 !