5 Historic USA BBQ Grill Brands | American Grilling History

These five brands have been part of American outdoor cooking for decades. Listed oldest first, they still show up in South Florida yards and outdoor kitchens today.

1. Fire Magic (1937)

Founded in California, Fire Magic has built premium outdoor cooking equipment for more than 80 years, mainly for residential and light commercial outdoor kitchens.

2. Char-Broil (1948)

Char-Broil grew out of Columbus Iron Works in Georgia and became a common backyard gas grill name. Later TRU-Infrared models pushed the brand further into mid-price gas cooking.

3. Weber (1952)

George Stephen Sr. launched the kettle grill in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The round charcoal kettle is still one of the most recognizable grills in the world.

4. Big Green Egg (1974)

Big Green Egg brought ceramic kamado cooking to a wide U.S. audience from its Georgia base. The sealed ceramic shell holds heat for long cooks and high-heat searing.

5. Broil King (1985)

Onward Manufacturing, a Canadian company founded in 1906, shifted its focus to Broil King barbecues and accessories in 1985. The brand built a strong U.S. manufacturing and retail presence and is known for heavy construction and even heat across the grates.

Keeping older grills working

Plenty of these units are still in use. Regular cleaning and repair keep burners, seals, and cooking surfaces working. If you own an older American grill, grill repair service can address ignition, gauges, and worn parts without replacing the whole unit.