Thermos Grill Ignitors

The Thermos brand is owned by W.C. Bradley Co. of Columbus, Georgia, which also owns Char-Broil grilling products. The Thermos brand has been retired, but information on grills sold up to the year 2003 may still be found on the Char-Broil web site. Five grills are listed on the website as well as a Thermos natural gas conversion kit. Universal replacement parts can also be purchased, including single and dual spark grill ignitors.

History

The history of the Thermos brand begins with the Thermos bottle invented in 1892 by an Oxford University scientist. The American Thermos Bottle Company of Brooklyn, New York, bought the rights in 1907 to manufacture the innovative container that maintained food temperatures. In 1953, the company was the first to manufacture fully lithographed lunchboxes--the first featuring western star Roy Rogers. The company acquired its first grill manufacturer, Duncan Hines, in 1955. In 1987, Char-Broil bought the barbecue grill division of The Thermos Company. The original Thermos Company continues to manufacture food storage containers separately from the Char-Broil Co.

Safety Issues

Some Thermos grills were recalled so they could be retrofitted to avoid a fire danger. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, The Thermos Company was voluntarily replacing parts in its gas grills that it had sold between 1989 and 2004. While the company is no longer selling these grills, consumers should be aware that the parts, all manufactured and labeled Taiwan Pao-An Ind. Co., are a hose, valve and regulator assembly that might leak gas and cause a fire. Owners should replace these parts or discontinue using the grill.

Warranty

Since Thermos grills haven't been sold since 2003 and were covered only by a one-year warranty, all such quality-assurance pledges have since expired. Replacement parts vendors may provide warranties, and buyers should check when making their purchases.