Sherree – Re-discoverer of the Hang-It-All
There sure was a lot of innovation going on in post-World-War II America when it came to that important topic: Barbecue grilling. I certainly recall, as a young child in the 1960s, that camping and barbecuing were a regular part of our life. Dad always had a pickup with one of those camper shells that fit over the truck bed and even wrapped way up high above the truck cab with with a sleeping area and window toward the front. Are these still street legal today?
On the weekend, we’d hop in the truck/camper to go fishing at Big Bear Lake. In the summer, we’d drive to North Dakota to visit family. I have fond memories of me, my brother David and maybe even my cousin Timmy stretched out on top of the world in that camper shell thingie over the truck cab, watching the road ahead and puzzling the mysteries of life. In postwar America, gas was cheap, we loved our cars, and the interstates were being completed so there was, literally, a whole new America to visit. Get your kicks on Route 66. And on the road and in the great outdoors: We grilled.
Which gets me, finally, to Sherree’s latest wonderful oddity — woddity — barbecue grill: the Hang It All. Sherree — who has her own blog, Midcentury Thrifty Gal — writes, and sends lots of photos, which I tortured her for:
Hubby and I just purchases this strange Barbecue/Charcoal Grill called a Hang It All. It is vertical!
The meat is placed in wire baskets and hung vertically on each side of the vertically placed charcoal briquettes. The cute tray (with illustrations on how to use it) is placed underneath to catch the drippings.
I don’t think it was ever used; the tray is nearly perfect. The whole thing is on a black metal stand with legs (almost like tv trays) that can sit on the patio or grass . I just thought it was really unusual.
We don’t see a date on it and I could not find on online, although I did find the tray. I am guessing early 60′s by the colors and illustrations on it.
I asked if there was paperwork and speculated it was for camping. Sherree replied:
There was no paperwork. Must be a camp stove or apartment/balcony grill?
It actually could hold a dozen hot dogs on one side and 6-8 burgers on the other. Not sure how good it worked; the ashes would fall onto the tray. You would flip the baskets when they were cooked halfway through
We bought it in the basement of an old antique mall for $10.Looking closer at the tray graphics, it can be used vertically as well. You can flip the legs upside down to make handles to carry it.And the top can hold a small saucepan and coffee pot!
Probably won’t use it. I will either sell it or use it for display
Thanks!
Thank YOU, Sherree aka Midcentury Thrifty Gal, for sharing. I love this so much.
Is this a great country. Or what.
Serious cuteness! Take THAT George Foreman grill….;o)
It’s cute alright, but also a very efficient design if you think about it. I wonder how sturdy that bottom tray is?
It’s space-efficient, but since hot air rises I’m not sure how effective it is at broiling–it will radiate infrared horizontally, but wastes a lot of convection.
We had a pair of cast iron grills similar to this. They came with a raised base that we would fill with kindling wood to fire the grill in a horizontal position. When the coals were ready we stood up the grill. It did a great job with steaks. The radiant heat cooked everything more slowly. Without over burning. To sear the meat you placed it close to the gri, then you would hang the meat further out. Great steaks. I’d like to find another one. Too bad our old one rusted away years ago.
I have the cute tray but had never seen the grill contraption aside from the illustrations on the tray. Looking at the illustrations, I’ve always wondered how the very shallow tray could catch all of the drippings from a usual cook-out. Doesn’t matter though. It’s still cute and a very novel idea!
What a little trophy! I’m betting it was from the mid-to-late ’50′s. I believe I’ve seen its likes in the BH&G Barbecue Cookbook – late ’50′s edition. Absolutely adorable and might even be a handy way to grill vegetables.
There is a similar (although round) vertical grill in my 1961 Betty Crocker Outdoor Cookbook. Same concept; fat drips down into a pan instead of into the coals, thus eliminating the flare ups.
I think you are right about the vegetables
I do so love me some grilled veggies!
That is pretty nifty all right! I think I would hunt down another tray on eBay so I could use it and keep one try in minty shape.
What fun – it kind of saddens me that most of the really great innovation today has to do with electronics/technology rather than use-in-the-home gadgetry. I mean, my iPad is great, but this Hang it All is even better. Maybe I should get some good vintage decals to decorate my iPad and then it would be more exciting.
Looks a bit like illustrations of cartoonist Roy Doty (who illustrated some books by Nina Farewell that I have in my collection from the 1950s). Probably not his, but maybe the same era! He’s still out there apparently, maybe you can ask him Pam!
http://www.roydoty.com/
Love it! I have the tray, but not the grill…
i would buy that to take camping!!!
As others have posted, I have the graphic tray. We’ve used it for at least 20 years for our BBQ goodies. It’s great seeing the whole she-bang! Now that I know what the rest looks like, I’ll definitely be on the hunt! Love your blog, it gives me hope for what is my very sad, hideously tiny and dark kitchen that needs a proper vintage redo!
Cheers!
Suzanne
Thanks for reading my blog
My kitchen is a work in progress (as is the rest of the house)!
Ha! Love it! As a vegetarian, I see great promise! That last graphic has me hootin! Don’t want to wake the kids! Love this!
My Dad had a two sided vertical broiler. I found the Rensch twin grill vertical charcoal broiler on EBay. I can’t wait to try it to see about the flavor seal from both sides cooking at once.
I actually had a portable vertical charcoal bbq grill. Bought it through a catalogue 18 years ago. It folded up like a a little suitcase for carrying/storage. Unfortunately, I stored it at my brother’s and when he cleaned out his basement he just tossed everybody’s everything — without notice. Oh well. So I’ve been searching the Internet ever since — to no avail. This one is the closest I’ve come.
I just checked Ebay and Amazon for the Rensch twin grill vertical charcoal broiler metioned above. No luck. — Claudette
P.S. To Bob V — if it turns out you don’t like the Rensch grill, I’ll take it!
For Kristy and Claudette, and anyone else who would love to own a vertical grill like the Hang It All, which is so cute!
I know where you can buy an updated version! The whole concept of vertical grilling, it turns out, is healthier than grilling horizontally, and less smoke makes it more versatile for home and outdoor use!
The Fire Tower, in addition to all the uses of Hang It All, adds the feature of grilling healthy Mediterranean Kabobs. Check out the website!
http://www.semagic.com
I once owned a vertical grill as pictured and would like to buy another. Where may I purchase one and for how much?
Thank you for your attention, Georgia Willis, age 76 years
My grandfather’s company, Lakewood Mfg Co, from Westlake, Ohio manufactured the Hang It All. Unfortunately, the company no longer exists. I know they were produced in 1958, as I sustained a serious burn as an infant from one. I think they are as safe as any grill though. If you ever want to sell yours, I’d be very interested in purchasing it. I can be reached at 216.337.8072. Thanks. Steve Peplin
Hi Steve, I’ll keep an eye out for you. And thank you for the excellent reminder: Readers, use these old products safely, as they may not have been engineered to current safety standards.
Steve,
I just saw your comment on here; I will be contacting you. I think we are ready to let go of the “Hang It All” grill.
Sherree
Sherree, if you are interested in letting it go, I’m a very interested buyer. My grandfather (who manufactured the Hang It All), Stephen Charles Peplin, was a very interesting character. I am his namesake (Stephen C Peplin II) and am also a self made manufacturer like him. it would be very cool to have one of his products. I can be contacted at 800.347.8188 X11 or 216.337.8072 or speplin@talanproducts.com
Thanks a ton.
Steve