It moved three years later to Little Ferry, New Jersey and manufactured warm air furnaces. In 1968, the name was changed to The Ducane Company and moved the base of operations to Barnwell, South Carolina and in 1975, they started making Ducane gas grills. Ducane filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and was partially acquired by Weber-Stephens at a bankruptcy sale in 2004 for $13.6 million. Perhaps the $1200 price tag scares most backyard grillers away. Holds lots of accessories – our foldable side shelf implements a patent-protected crossed-wire support system that makes the shelf super strong.
To use one, load up the space on the bottom with a piece of newspaper or two, pile coals in from the top, then light the newspaper. The fire and heat from the newspaper ignites the bottom coals, then the fire builds up. When the top coals are covered with gray ash, you’re ready to go. Make grilling season easier on yourself and clean your grill at the start of each grilling session, not at the end. Start by lighting your coals and letting your grill heat up for about 10 minutes. This should heat the grates enough that any crusted-on food can be easily removed with a grill brush.
One thing that I noticed while putting the grill together was that the materials just seemed chintzier and more flimsy than those on the Weber Kettle Grill my dad owned. (Weber grills are still assembled in America, but with some imported components.) The metal in the legs seems to bend pretty easily. weber charcoal grill The most significant difference that stood out to me was that all the handles on the new models have plastic instead of wood. The wood on the 1970s and 80s versions really classed things up. We didn’t have a charcoal starter on hand this time around, so we used some firestarter gel from Hasty-Bake.
Other than a couple of convenience features, this is just straight-up grilling. Nicholas McClelland is an expert on all the topics that will help you have a great summer, from grills to whiskey to golf. He graduated from The Missouri School of Journalism and has been testing products and writing for The Spruce Eats since April 2019. Sixty years ago, Weber Brothers Metal Works, later called Weber-Stephen Products, used to make mailboxes, fireplace equipment and a number of various other metal-based products. George Stephen, Sr., a salesman at the company, then decided the grills of the day weren’t up to snuff.
Given the enormous variety of products and designs, there is no one-size-fits-all test. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. weber genesis 2 Whether you’re grilling a big batch of burgers, a delicate whole fish, or a ton of cherry tomatoes, the grill basket’s got your back. This simple, inexpensive tool will help you take on grilling’s biggest challenges with none of the stress.