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.
Brian K says
My family used on of these for a bout a decade. I think that I finally tossed it in the 1990s after it became rusty from being stored in a humid garage.
Ou dad was an organic chemist and had learned that the same carcinogens found in the organic dyes that he’d studied (HCA’s, I think) also were formed when meat fat drips down into a fire.
http://chemistry.about.com/b/2013/05/05/barbeque-carcinogens.htm
So he bought the Hang-It-All for health reasons!
It was WONDERFULLY made – very clever!
It was VERY easy to start from newspapers wadded up below (you start it lying on its side.)
It could be used horizontally as a stove or a grill or vertically as a healthier grill.
SOMEONE ought to start making these again!
PS: The web site for “Semagic” posted above is dead.
Jack Taylor says
I grew up with this thing. My grandfather bought one in Canton Ohio about 1960, I was there, he brought it back to CA and had countless burgers cooked on it. I have been wondering where it went since my grandparents passed away. I have looked online and it doesn’t seem they are still made
Richard says
I have one! Back in the 60s my parents, my younger brother, and I took several vacations in a camping trailer. One trip to Colorado, one to visit Civil War battlefields, and another to Nova Scotia from our home in NH. We cooked out on the Hang-it-All every clear night. To start it you just laid it down flat, put a few pieces of crumpled up newspaper under it and lit them. It heats right up in no time without having to use lighter fluid. Once the briquets were going you stand it up vertically if your grilling and put the meat in the hanging holders. Because the briquets are so exposed to oxygen it was very hot and was ready to cook in just a few minutes. When we were cleaning out dads house last year I found it and immediately claimed it. My wife and I will be using it on our camping trips.
keith grummel says
I just found one of these at a yard sale for 10 dollars its a very cool piece. Im gonna hang it in my kitchen.
Richard Peplin Jr. says
Hello Pam, I am Steve’s brother Richard. I worked at Lakewood Mfg. for over 20 yrs. I started at the bottom and eventually became Pres. The Hang It All was always a great topic of conversation with our older employees, one of them actually still had one and never used it. She brought it in and I paid her for it and then used it in the parking lot to cook burgers for some of our employees. It worked fantastically ! I wanted to reintroduce it in the late 80’s. Problem was reproduction costs, the original tooling was gone. I also love the graphics, box and tray especially ! Oh, Grandpa Peplin accomplished many things in his life, a very colorful man !!!!
Steve Peplin says
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
pam kueber says
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.
Sherree says
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
Steve Peplin says
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
Georgia Willis says
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
Eleanor says
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!
[link dead]
Claudette Robb Ross says
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!
Bob Vukas says
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.