Cast iron kettle

[Oakgrovebacon]

I rescued this old kettle on the family farm, having been stored in a barn for probably the last 35 years. Took a lot of cleaning and I seasoned it with oil in the smoker with a propane burner for heat. I remember it being used to cook down pork fat into lard over a wood fire in the yard on "butcher day" in the late fall or early winter.
I built a stand to hang it over a fire pit to do a family chilli cook. Have not done that cook yet but will this fall. I replaced the original bail as I thought it is close to failing. The paddle is copied from an old Apple butter paddle from my mothers church. Cypress wood head and red oak handle. The kettle is about 22" wide and 15" deep. Dr Sperry & Co -Batavia, Il #5 on the bottom. I just felt like it deserved the time and effort to preserve it over letting it end up in the scrap yard.

[Thunder77]

Absolutely you needed to preserve that! That's a bit of history there! How much does that monster weigh?

[Oakgrovebacon]

I would guess 35-40 lbs

[jgreen]

Nice job!

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thank you!

[JCGrill]

Looks great! That would be useful for all kinds of things on a camping trip.

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thanks

[JCBBQ]

Man! Nice job on that. How cool that you copied the wood paddle too. Excellent work OGB!

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thank you

[kmhfive]

Very nice save! My grandmother would do the same thing with a similar pot every year.

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thanks!

[Steve B]

Very cool OGB. Nice stand you put together there as well. Just wait until Spinaker gets a look at that beauty.

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thank you

[Pirate Scott]

Very Cool! Nice Work, and Workshop looks nice too!

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thanks! I spend a lot of time in there.

[Skip]

Very Nice find and restore Oakgrovebacon . When Spinaker sees this he will faint or get tears in his eyes (maybe both!!)

[Mr. Bones]

That is jus' Super Cool!!!
Kudos fer' yer craftsmanship, an' intrepidity!
Aside from th' breakfast I went an' had, this makes for a great Sonntag mornin'!
Many thanks fer sharin' with us Iron Heads!!!

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thanks Mr Bones!

[RonB]

A great job on the restoration.

[Spinaker]

Wow!! That is amazing. That is one find that I have yet to make. Cast in the 1800's these are Dr. Sperry's are quite rare. (Especially a number 5)

This is such an awesome find. It is so cool that you will be cooking with it, over an open fire, just like like your family did before it went in the barn all those years ago.

[Oakgrovebacon]

Thanks! I thought you would like it if anybody would. All of the rest of my CI would fit inside of this pc.

[Steve B]

I knew you'd like this one.

[Mudkat]

Awesome find! That kettle is a real treasure! History, heirloom, and a story. Can't get better than that. Thanks for the pics and sharing it with us!

[HouseHomey]

Yes. What everyone else already but aside from that, I'm not sure this would be so awesomely cool without the great story and memories that go along with it. Great job!

[AdamJG]

Badass! Would make a good jambalaya pot!

[Mr. Bones]

True Dat!!!!Would make a mos' wondermous huge pot of Jambalaya!!!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Dagnabbit, now I'm droolin' (again!)