Travel Channel 

Weber Grills

The Story:
Folks had been grilling their meat for ages when the process was virtually reinvented in the late 1940s by George Stephen. At the time, Stephen was working for the Weber Brothers' Metal Products Company, which specialized in making buoys. The buoys were built by welding two halves of a sphere together. Looking at one of the halves, Stephen was inspired to cut some holes in it, add a lid, some charcoal and finally a mesh grilling surface. Thus, the modern grill was born. Over the years the Weber-Stephen company has been improving upon the original design, including the addition of gas power in 1971.

Recipe for Success:
Weber grills begin life as coils of raw metal. An autopress machine stamps out the various parts, which are measured, honed and tested before they move to the next stage: painting. Each piecs is hand-painted and then baked for a half-hour in a kiln, which turns the paint into an indestructible enamel. The grilling instructions are screened on using a porcelain paste and then baked so it won't come off. Finally, all the pieces are put in box and shipped.

Ratz's Facts:

Grilling began in the United States during the mid-19th century, when cowboys found they could make stringy beef taste delicious by grilling it over a fire.

Weber grills have steel bars called "flavorizers," which vaporize juices and fats, creating smoke that gives the meat a perfect barbecue flavor.

Some say the French invented grilling, while others say it came from Caribbean Indians or from the inhabitants of Tortuga Island.