Just found out that my favorite BBQ joint uses a 50-year-old smoker that was literally patched with a license plate

I was talking to the owner of this place called Smokey's Pit in Austin last weekend while waiting for my brisket order. He showed me this old rusted smoker out back that had a Texas license plate bolted over a hole in the side. He told me it was from 1974 and has never been replaced because it keeps the heat just right. I looked it up later and found out that some pitmasters actually believe older smokers with welded patches taste better because the seasoned metal adds flavor. I don't get how that works but the brisket was amazing so I can't argue. Has anyone else run into some weird old equipment that people swear by even though it looks like junk?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.joseph16d ago

That's basically how everything works when you dig into it. People get attached to the junk that just works and refuse to upgrade because there's no reason to. My neighbor still uses a lawnmower he bought in the 80s with a rope for a pull start and it runs better than my new one.

kaigibson16d ago

@carter.joseph same thing happened to me with my old truck. Bought it in 2000 and it still starts every time without fail, no computer or sensors to mess up.

davidkim15d ago

Man these old machines just have a different kind of soul to them. My grandpa had a 1970s Honda motorcycle that sat in his garage for like 15 years. One day we just put some fresh gas in it, kicked the starter a few times, and it fired right up. Meanwhile my 2015 car gave me a check engine light last week because the gas cap was loose. It's like the newer stuff is too smart for its own good sometimes. You ever wonder if we're just trading reliability for gadgets that break?