The Weber Charcoal Grill: An Invention Born Of Frustration
Let's go back a few decades, to the 1940's and 1950's and meet a man named George Stephen Sr. This man learned the welding trade, and worked at the Weber Brothers Metal Works in Illinois. He was keen on barbecuing, but he was frustrated by the limitations of the traditional (open) grills available at that time. The Weber Brothers Metal Works produced floating buoys out of metal. He had a brainstorm: He took one half of the buoy dome and welded some legs onto it, flipped it over, supplied it with a grate for cooking and fashioned a lid for it from another buoy half. His friends called this new type of grill the 'Sputnik,' after the Russian-made satellite of that era. The verdict: the Weber charcoal grill was a GREAT grill! It is important to remember that this new Weber charcoal grill, as it was later called, was not for sale cheap. The early Weber charcoal grill sold for almost $50 at a time when most ordinary grills sold around $7 - $10 dollars. But his grill became so popular that eventually Stephen bought out the Weber Brothers Metal Works and did nothing but manufacture the Weber charcoal grill. Today the Weber company makes both charcoal and gas grills. What Makes Weber Charcoal Grills So Special? Weber charcoal grills are truly one of America's most popular brands of grills - for good reason. Weber grills are outstanding in their field for the following reasons: Solid construction - Weber charcoal grills are not made from cheap metals and thin plastics. When finally assembled, it will not wobble. They are constructed using high-grade US steel. Weber charcoal grills also feature a porcelain enamel finish that is baked on, not painted on, so it will not peel off due to the high heat. The cooking racks are made from heavy duty plated steel or chrome plated aluminum, that heats up better and more evenly. Easy assembly - You assemble Weber charcoal grills yourself, at home. This saves you money - yet the grills themselves are very easy to put together. They can be assembled with simple tools you already have at home, and require no special skill or know-how. Service and maintenance - A key feature of all Weber charcoal grills is their easy-to-understand operating manuals. They also have a toll-free service line. Replacement parts and service for any Weber charcoal grill are very easy to secure through a nationwide network of dealers who also service what they sell. Weber charcoal grills also feature an uncomplicated design that makes clean-up easy and far less time-consuming than with other models. Safety - Weber charcoal grills are very safe. They heat up quickly and the user can control the heat very easily. Weber charcoal grills also feature handles that do not get hot, and are hard to tip over, eliminating accidents. Good warranties - Weber charcoal grills are made to last, so the Weber company stands behind their product with some of the best grill warranties in the business. |
