Daddy's old deep fryer

I came across Daddy's old fish fryer the other day and hooked up a bottle of propane to it.

Now, Dad's been gone 32 years and 32 years is a long, long time for a lot reasons. It's way too long to be without my No. 1 fishin' buddy and icon. BUT...aside from that, it's also too long for the fittings of my fish fryer.

The fryer looks like an iron framework with 6" legs and is equipped with ceramic-handled faucet-lookin' thangs for the gas on/off. The problem is that the fittings inside the 'valves' (for lack of a better term) are deterioriated and allow propane to seep past and leak from the handles, rendering it unsafe and unusable as it is.

I have tried everywhere to find new ceramic handled valves but have not been able to do so at this writing. If any of you know where I might go to find such an animal, I'd appreciate your comments. Sorry for no photo.

I'd just like to restore the old fryer. I just KNOW it would make the crappie taste even sweeter. :)

aj

good luck on your quest arkie.....just imagine the memories that restored cooker will bring back.

dont know about handles but some of the hardware stores have gas shutoff values that might work

doug

Sounds quite similar to Grandma's wash stove that she used to heat water on. Work great as fish cookers.

Thanks for your comments, guys. One day, I'll have it up and runnin' and as close to lookin' original as I can find.

aj

Arkie John,
Take the Handles off the valves
Take the valves and the handles to a Local Hardware store (Note: NOT A BIG BOX STORE) that sells propane and/or grills, etc.
They should have replacement (pipe size/ threads) valves.
Then see if you can get the handles to fit onto the new valves and you will be in business.
Important that you take the valves with you.
If you don't there is an old saying: "You can't make just one (1) trip to the hardware Store"
Good Luck !
1perchjerker

They still make those valves as I have seen similar ones on propane cook stoves the one, two, and three burner cast iron models like cabelas sells.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jaxsprat

They still make those valves as I have seen similar ones on propane cook stoves the one, two, and three burner cast iron models like cabelas sells.

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Looks like I'll be making a call to Cabella's and to some up-scale (old fashioned) hardware stores.

Thanks a bunch.

aj

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arkie John

Looks like I'll be making a call to Cabella's and to some up-scale (old fashioned) hardware stores.

Thanks a bunch.

aj

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Ever go to Russlleville ? Lenords hardware has been in bussiness for a hundred years and has loads of obsolete stuff.;)

Nim,

Yes, I go to Russellville every so often, but not since I retired. It will give me a good excuse to go again. That's the type of place that will have what I need, I know.

Thanks for the tip about Leonard's.

aj

I remember those old gas values. Maybe you can check with a gas company, propane company and see if they could be overhauled. Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhitePerchJerker

I remember those old gas values. Maybe you can check with a gas company, propane company and see if they could be overhauled. Good luck!

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Thanks for the idea. I will be glad when I get it 'standing tall.'

aj

Arkie,
Post some pictures of the old fish fryer. I would love to see a picture of it!!

John, you may want to seek out someone who is still familiar with the workings of old-style gas ovens and wall heaters. They are a dwindling few but still around. Kinda like lookin for someone who can take a starter apart and redo the windings & brushes, or a guy who knows what a timing light is, knows top dead center. I do know that if the original came with porcelein odds are the metal at the time was not as refined as today, probably had a higher iron content and therefore more susceptable to oxidizing and getting irregularities marring the gas seal due to pitting or metal erosion over the years. In my coming up rubber O-rings and vaseline made stuff like that seal up and a simple liquid soap test or lighter held next to it would show any leaks.
On a more important note, 32 yrs is way too long but cant be avoided. Know it would do yur heart good to fire it up in yur Dads remembrence. I miss my Dad terribly, been gone 9 yrs. Mom passed 16 yrs ago. You hear about kids scrambling to get at the valuable or
perceived valuable stuff from their "inheritance" but I got Dads tackle box, fillet knife. An old old qt bottle spigot that was the old-time screw-on oil spout. A ceramic bowl that had a chip in it and a crack down the side like the Liberty Bell I used to eat my cereal outta and get a bloody lip from the jagged nick. Yellowed, and the ugliest thing in the way of bowls there is, but a lifetime of memories.
And rest assured if ya give it a go and never get the thing fixed proper you can lay yur noggin down to sleep and know you & yur Dad both know the connection lives.

Shoer,

Man, we have many of the same values, fer sur. Yup, I got my Daddy's old tackle box with all the old wooden, glass-eyed lures of every description. I just recently gave them to my little brother (now 53) when he started making his own crankbaits.

To gotta bite;

I'll get you a photo of that thang real soon. I need to get it out and look it over real, real good and take it down to the propane place and see what I can do.

Blessin's to both of you. <><

aj