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.Thanks!
Thank YOU, Sherree aka Midcentury Thrifty Gal, for sharing. I love this so much.
Is this a great country. Or what.
Kersten says
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!
pam kueber says
🙂
Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen says
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
Sherree says
Thanks for reading my blog 🙂 My kitchen is a work in progress (as is the rest of the house)!
kristy says
i would buy that to take camping!!!
Sue Sweeney says
Love it! I have the tray, but not the grill…
Abigail Grotke says
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/
TappanTrailerTami says
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.
Annie B. says
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.
Sherree says
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 🙂
Annie B. says
I do so love me some grilled veggies!
Eartha Kitsch says
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!
Vicki says
It’s cute alright, but also a very efficient design if you think about it. I wonder how sturdy that bottom tray is?
Rocket Doc says
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.
Richard says
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. 🙁
Just another Pam says
Serious cuteness! Take THAT George Foreman grill….;o)