34 Comments Add your own

• 1. admin  |  April 16th, 2006 at 13:35

  “One of the first bareques with an integrated cover, the Ball-B-Q combines a domed top which rolls over a double stack of racks and a rounded pan joined to a single curved pedestal. The shape of the ball somewhat resembles the castors that are the main product of its manufacturer, Shepard Products. The spun aluminum top emphasizes its use and contrasts with the intense red of the pedestal. A black wood sphere acts as a handle and allows easy and safe opening of the hood. The Ball-B-Q was the recipient of both Design Canada and Association of Professional Industrial Designers Ontario awards.”
  -Liz Crawford

• 2. Dave Roberts  |  May 21st, 2006 at 11:21

  My father bought one of these, probably in 1971, and enjoyed cooking with it. They where very ecomonical to run, the booklet that came with it cautioned agains overaoding it with charcoal, it listed the number of briquets for various meats/cooking times. Despite looking cute the Ball-B-Q worked well and cooked fast. Funny nobody makes them anymore.

  Ours was lent out and never returned. We are still looking for a replacement.

  DR

• 3. admin  |  May 22nd, 2006 at 14:01

  If only someone would reissue this one! If you do find a replacement, we’d love some better pictures.

  -ME

• 4. jenny  |  June 7th, 2006 at 16:23

  does anyone know how much the ball b-q is worth?

• 5. admin  |  June 7th, 2006 at 17:18

  Jenny,
  They are hard to find in decent shape, most have been backyarded. If you have one, they are more valued for sentimental reasons than cash. The last one i saw was $10 at an garage sale (i wish now that i had bought it, i would love to add it to the CDR collection!). Hope this helps.
  -Todd

• 6. roxy  |  July 5th, 2006 at 16:40

  Hi,

  I have a ball-b-q. It is a little rough, but darn cute. Hey DR, let me know if you are interested.

• 7. admin  |  July 7th, 2006 at 11:43

  Hi Roxy,
  We could use some better pictures for the CDR. Any chance you can send some our way?
  -Michael

• 8. S.Tyssen  |  September 8th, 2006 at 21:24

  I have a ball-b-q. Purchase and shipping reciepts intact with original box and packaging dated dec 1971. It has been used, a little I think? I want to clean it, but how is it best I care for it ?

• 9. admin  |  September 8th, 2006 at 21:37

  If anyone has a line on one of these let us know. We need one for the collection and would love to get one in any shape,

  TF

• 10. aja  |  September 10th, 2006 at 06:36

  I bought my parents a ball-b-q back in the very early 70′s at the huge cost (for a 10 year old) of CDN$50. That was all of my allowances for a year. When I moved into my own place many years later, I took the ball with me. In summer I would fire it up after work and make dinner on it every single night. It is without a doubt the best low-tech bbq I have ever used (and I have used a good few in my time) The food always came out smokey and juicy and perfect. I left Canada more than 10 years ago and couldn’t ship it, so it got sold at a garage sale. I just hope whoever is using it today loves it as much as I did.

• 11. jennifer  |  October 3rd, 2006 at 13:44

  I would imagine a lot of the reason for its disappearance lies in its unfortunate design. It looks great, but it’s a bit too top-heavy, like it would tip over at the slightest bump. Also, aluminum melts at low temperatures compared to other metals, and this results in carcinogenic fumes being emitted.

  Yum!

• 12. Al  |  October 19th, 2006 at 18:12

  After all these years of owning my short stemmed Ball B Q my first time searching on the internet I found it, and others who recall the grill. I have one in very good cond. If you have ever watched the 70′s show theres one along side the gararge when they are hanging in the drive way. Anyone have any idea of the value of this grill?

• 13. Jeremy  |  February 9th, 2007 at 09:42

  This past summer found a ball-B-Q at a goods exchange day. I am now in the process of refurbishing it! When I have finished the rebuild, I’d be more then happy to supply some more images.

  THX, JER

• 14. Morgan  |  April 18th, 2007 at 14:32

  I would like to buy one. Does anyone have one for sale?
  midcenturymorgan@yahoo.com

• 15. Jonathan P  |  June 7th, 2007 at 22:22

  I’m in Saskatoon, SK. I have fond memories of this growing up – and would love to find one. Anyone in SK AB or MB have one they want to part with? Email jonnygroups – at – gmail.com

  Great finding this site and this picture!

• 16. Patricia  |  June 25th, 2007 at 15:49

  I have one of these that a neighbor gave me years ago. Have no idea where she picked it up. She had two, a larger one and a small one she gave me. Don’t know if she still has hers.

  One of these days mine is going to collapse in a pile of rust (I stupidly have left it out every winter in Montreal). Would love to fine a newer one. Too bad they don’t make them anymore because they are fantastic little grills!

• 17. Sue Grey  |  August 7th, 2007 at 12:34

  We have one here, BRAND NEW just like the one pictured above… Any one interested, make an offer grey1957@hotmail.com. Both racks and coal pan. Never used. Looks nice and was tempting to use. We recovered it from a basement. It has no rust, nothing to show age. Will send pictures if requested. Hurry! Temptation to use it is growing by the day!

  Sue

• 18. Ted  |  May 3rd, 2008 at 10:52

  I have just come across a Ball B Q AND a MATCHING server?? with a clear plastic type of cover and have been trying to find more info on these? Any help would be appreciated!

• 19. Jennifer  |  May 18th, 2008 at 06:07

  Hey, Ted, what does the matching server look like? We just found a ball-b-q with two matching orange pedestals with round wood inserts…tables basically. Trying to figure out if these were tables to serve/workspace.

• 20. Ted  |  June 7th, 2008 at 18:23

  I am betting your pedestal looks like mine… Mine didnt have the wood insert but it has a nice clear plastic (terrarium) type of cover. I have since seen pics of a server (table) in a black and white pic that has a cover like mine. I have mine on Ebay right now if anyone wants to take a peek! Thanks and good luck!

• 21. Michael  |  June 9th, 2008 at 10:07

  I have a tabletop version of one of these in near perfect, basically unused condition if someone wants it. I bought it for about $100 in the early days of eBay, probably around 1999. It is really cool.

• 22. Paul  |  August 17th, 2008 at 22:34

  I have one in pretty nice shape that I am going to clean up – inside needs it mostl. The top has picked up a couple of dents over the years, but nothing major. Not too bad of shape at all.

  I saw in earlier posts that there was interest in better photography? If you want pictures, I will be happy to send some. Please send a request to me at pkvk05@comcast.net and I will send you pictures from a number of different angles.

  I probably won’t be back to this board, (just ran across it looking up info on my Ball-B-Q), so please e-mail me directly for any info.

• 23. Wynn  |  August 26th, 2008 at 09:10

  This was by far the best grill I have ever owned. I used mine until it totally wore out. Everthing was nice about. It had an adjustable grill height (ca’t do that on a weber grill). It had an easy to remove ash tray. The lid pivots back instead of falling on the ground (how cool is that). The handle never gets hot to the touch, unlike other brands that will scorch your hand.

  Nothing else comes close.

• 24. Stephanie  |  October 18th, 2008 at 16:46

  I just put an AMAZING Ball BQ on EBAY today! It has never been used and comes with the original box. You must see it to believe it!

  Click this link or search Ball BQ –

  http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=ball+bq&_sacat=See-All-Categories

• 25. craig Keller  |  August 20th, 2009 at 08:39

  I have a NOS Balll-B-Q by shepherds, box was shot so I put it together it is the tabletop model. Can send you pictures if interested

• 26. craig Keller  |  August 21st, 2009 at 01:18

  I have one of the small table-top Ball-b-q’s NOS listed on ebay

• 27. Lorena JOnes  |  October 18th, 2009 at 18:45

  I bought one in 1971 and carried it with me to Florida in 1983. It finally wore out around 1990. Why can’t the manufactor make more? It was a fantastic grill – we even used it out in Winter in Ohio. I haave not checked out EBay but will look to see what is now available. I loved the two rack system. One could bake on the upper shelf and grill meat on the lower rack. I have never found anything else like this grill.

• 28. Ged  |  December 22nd, 2009 at 21:53

  I want to buy one in NOS or very good condition. Im willing to pay for shipping to Australia. Drop me a line – gednic10@bigpond.com

• 29. Amanda Smallwood  |  May 12th, 2010 at 18:49

  I loved my Ball B-Q ,found it at a yard sale and they sold it to me for $3.00. I don’t know what it was about that thing but it seem that everything cook just right! I left town for a few days and it was gone right out of the back yard, i was so upset. Okay so I am on the look out for one if anyone could help maybe give me some tips i would be grateful!!

• 30. Ball B Q Freak  |  May 29th, 2010 at 10:50

  If anyone is interested there is a new Ball B Q for sale here http://www.etsy.com/listing/35077599/ball-b-que
  Check it out. Only 25 bucks us.

• 31. Ball B Q Freak  |  May 29th, 2010 at 10:55

  Whoops sorry, I was looking at the wrong price. It’s actually an outrageous price that they are asking

• 32. BBQ Prodigé  |  June 20th, 2010 at 06:47

  Please, if anyone has a ball bq for sale email me at jim61thompson@yahoo.com, condition does matter, but I saw one the other day and just had to have it, thanks!

• 33. Brian Hillman  |  July 8th, 2010 at 11:51

  I live in england and bought one in the seventies and it it is still going strong. The only problem is the ash pan is rusting and am trying to find a replacement.

• 34. stevebrunet  |  August 8th, 2010 at 22:18

  I have a bran new one not the table top but the one with the long stand. I’m in BC Canada. It’s beige and brown, it comes with the manuels. Any idea anybody how those bbq are worth these days.
  Thanks
  Steve

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