History of Weber, Chicago tribune article from 1990

[pbe gummi bear]

This is a great article on the history which tells a different side of the story.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-06-24/features/9002210657_1_weber-bros-mr-weber-weber-grill

He left Wood Dale in 1966 for Arlington Heights, then moved to the still- larger facility in Palatine in 1980, which employs 11 family members. The corporate wing today is remarkable chiefly for the number of barbecue grills in odd corners where other businesses might display plants.

A bright-red spanking new charcoal kettle is the centerpiece of the reception area. Mike Kempster Sr. has one of the original, podlike grills next to a copy of this year`s model in his office. Out in the secretarial area are several grills here and there, most notably a hideous lime green model attached to a serving cart with wheels.

``We don`t make these anymore,`` said Kempster, patting it on its offensive dome. ``In the 1970s we had a lot of bright yellows and bright greens because that was the trend in outdoor furniture. We follow the trends very carefully, we don`t dictate them. Today, we`re looking at the emergence of more gray and blue tones.``

The lime kettle was called ``The Gardener.`` The copper-colored kettle was ``The Warrior.`` Names for other colors and sizes of grill included ``The Statesman,`` ``The Gourmet,`` ``The Imperial,`` ``The Penthouse,`` ``The Fleetwood.``

In 1980, however, the company dropped nearly all the elegant designations for its charcoal grills because they had meaning only to the company salesmen who could keep them all straight. Instead Weber began using only four names:

``Bar-B-Kettle,`` for the basic model; ``One-Touch,`` the basic plus a cleaning device; ``Smokey Joe,`` for the tiny picnic model; and ``Ranch,`` for the jumbo grill that can cook 19 whole chickens at once.

Other interesting things:

The original wok was called the coolie pan.

Weber made an indoor exhaust system(!) so you can bbq inside.

The black porcelain is actually grey before it gets fired up. Perhaps the fading black is due to discrepancies when baking it.

Their gas kettles were a flop. No surprise there!

Kettles were nicknamed Sputnik due to their shape.

George Stephens was a sailor and tried to launch the galley que early on but it didn't pick up.

[Chasing_smoke]

Great story, lots of cool facts and insight into the company. My favorite quote was from the other competitor "what's shape got to do with cookin?!" Lol


"my kettle is more powerful it will do almost anything."

[Thin Blue Smoke]

Very cool link! Thanks

[Craig]

Good read!

[sparky]

Wheres this loading dock of bird feeders at

[vader06]

Cool story.  Thank for posting it.

[jcnaz]

"A cow's worst nightmare"...
AWESOME!!>

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