Homage to George Stephen

[Troutman]

Just a shout out to one of the most unassuming geniuses of the twentieth century, Mr. George Stephen of Weber-Stephens Co. kettle fame. I couldn't remember when my old dad had his first pride and joy Weber kettle, but it was some time in the early 1960's. Come to find out Mr. Stephen, then working for a metal works company in Chicago called Weber Brothers Metal Works, making marine buoys, cut one in half and created the most successful outdoor cooker ever made (with the possible exception of the iron pot). Not sure how many people own some variant of that cooker (I own 5 - 2 kettles, 2 WSMs and a gasser), but it has to be the most popular cooking vessels on on the planet. Anyway, just found some old pix on their website and thought you all would enjoy seeing this on their 65th year of existence. Thank you Mr. Stephen for your ingenuity and simple genius.....



....check out the rotisserie attachments to the early designs, I swear the motor on the lower right side photo looks just like the one I use now !!!



....$29.95 in 1950's was no small sum for one of these babies. I'll bet he was raking it in !!!!



Yes George we live in a better world because of you ...... THANK YOU !!!

KEEP ON SMOKIN' ...... TROUTMAN OUT !!!

[RonB]

Cool stuff.

[kmhfive]

I’ve got two and I’m rescuing another tomorrow. I’ll put pictures up for Mr. Bones as soon as I get over this last month of night shift!

[Mr. Bones]

Congrats, brother!
Lookin' forward to it!
Get some sleep, when yer able!

[CaptainMike]

Great post!

[Danjohnston949]

CaptainMike, 👍👍👍👍👍 Nuff Said‼️ 👍👍👍👍👍
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[Omega-Man]

Making me fell old!

[HawkerXP]

Your only old if you have metal handles. I am a spring chicken cause I've got one with wood handles. I wish I had saved my Dad's.

Thanks Troutman

[Troutman]

Metal handles are for MEN !!! Actually wooden handles date you brother, they're made out of some sort of plastic resin now.

[Butchman]

I remember my dad always had one at our house in the 70s and then he purchased a PK grill and put it at the lake A-frame house.
I wish I had those grills today! Great memories of great times!

[JeffJ]

I have 7 cookers. 5 of them are Webers (Jumbo Joe, Spirit 3-burner, 14.5 WSM, 22 Performer, 26). I also keep a Smokey Joe and my parents' place up north.

[Huskee]

Funny what's in a name. Stephen invented it, but the metal shop was Weber. Now the most popular grill in the world isn't even known by the inventor's name.

[HouseHomey]

Right? It was their metal and tools. Funny how that works. If I create a recipe at work it belongs to them. Built on the backs of us laboreres with some one else's money.

[Troutman]

Yea but note Mr. Stephen acquired the company after just 7 years. I doubt the Weber’s ever saw more then a token amount compared to the millions the company has made since.

[HouseHomey]

Live this post!! Thank you for sharing