Jim Nolan's Blog

American Restoration Episode Featuring Buffalo Forge Grill

You can see the "Planes and Flames" episode here. I drive in at around 13:25. Above, a screen shot of me trying out the grill after Tyler and Rick revealed the restoration. It was morning in Las Vegas, but well over 90 degrees out. Tyler and Rick and the rest of the crew were super nice people. It was fun (but expensive).

Buffalo Forge, Family and Friends

A recent shot from our street's block party. That's my son George, me, wife Isabella Bannerman, and our great friend Eleni. My Broil-Air, the one restored on American Restoration, stands proudly in the foreground. It's still working great. Unfortunately, we had no Sahlen's hot dogs to throw on it. 

Matt Georger's One of a Kind Buffalo Forge Grill

Matt Georger works in the metal business and re-did his Buffalo Forge grill with a stainless steel pan and other parts. It is totally cool and utterly unique. Also note that Matt has hubcaps on his wheels, which my grill does not. I didn't even know they had hubcaps. Check out my interview with Matt below and learn how he did it. Matt, thanks for all the great Buffalo Forge info over the years and for finding me my grill. 

Listen to Matt Georger's Grill 

Interview with former Buffalo Forge President David Newcomb

"Buffco" photographed on the blower of my Buffalo Forge Grill. It's short for "Buffalo Forge Company."

The ultimate Buffalo Forge insider reveals all about the grill and the company. Did you know it spun off one of the biggest companies in the world? Thanks David and thanks Ken Meyer for the engineering help.

 Buffalo Forge, According to the Boss 

Buffalo Forge Grill Ad, 1950

Click on ads to enlarge

These ads were kindly sent to me by Phil Marino, who works for the company that bought Buffalo Forge. Phil writes:

"Hi Jim

"I saw your grill featured on American Restorations last night.

"I work for what used to be the Buffalo Forge Company in Buffalo. Buffalo Forge was a manufacturer of larger heavy duty industrial fans used in the steel, cement, petrochemical and paper industries. We also had a line of ventilating products. In fact, air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier while he was a Buffalo Forge Employee.

"The grill was a side novelty item for Buffalo Forge, but built like a tank, much like our fans were.

"Buffalo Forge was purchased by Howden Fan (a UK company) in 1993 and sadly the Buffalo plant, which took up a full city block, was closed. About 7 years ago or so the building was demolished. We had a plant in Ontario, Canada that was also closed. We still have a plant in Mexico that was an original Buffalo Forge plant.

"We still operate our Aftermarket Parts and Service Division for Howden out of Buffalo, where we supply parts and service for Buffalo Forge fans along with parts for the 26 other fan companies under the Howden umbrella.

"I included two ads for the Buffalo Forge Grill and also some proofs for an ad for a circa ‘Cuban missile crisis era’ bomb shelter fan that used people power! I have the ads hanging in my office."

Phil, I am so gratetful to you for the info and the ads! I have been trying to find one for some time. And I'm glad to hear that other parts of the company are still going strong. Interesting to learn the blower "cranks in either direction." Rick Dale of Rick's Restorations thought that was the case, but I've always gone clockwise. Phil also reports that his fellow worker Dennis has spotted three BFGs in excellent working condition at the Biltmore Mansion in North Carolina.

Buffalo Forge Grill for Sale

This is a real beauty, just redone. It looks like it's ready to last another 50 years. It's for sale by Erin Jurecic ([email protected]). Erin's father owns a body shop, and sandblasted and painted it. He matched the exact color with DuPont paint. Erin tells me the blower works perfectly; her dad took it apart and sanded the fan. Hey, they only made around 500 of these grills, and a lot of them got rusty and thrown out. They're easy to throw in the back of a car, because the legs are easily removable. You will have the coolest grill at the tailgate, no question. If you're interested, make Erin a offer. It's won't go cheap, but it's less expensive than I paid for my re-do. 

Buffalo Forge Grill, Before and After Photos #3

This is the blower part of the grill. It shoots air under the coals. Repainted by Rick's Restorations in Las Vegas. Rick said I should put a coat of car wax on it to protect it from the elements. For more information about Buffalo Forge, see the Categories section on the blog's right column. Click either photo to enlarge. 

Buffalo Forge Grill Before and After Photos #2

Nice job by Tyler and the gang at Rick's Restorations in Las Vegas. That blower was extremely rusty. The pan was even worse. Click to enlarge.

Buffalo Forge Blacksmiths Forge

This photo was sent to me by Steve Maglinger. Steve writes:

"My name is Steve Maglinger from Bowling Green Ky. and after seeing last night's episode of American Restoration I noticed the grill that you had was very similar to the one I have on my front porch. It has been used by my wife as a plant holder for 20 years and after looking at it, I see that it is a real Buffalo. I have sent some pictures and was wondering how to get some information about it, such as age, worth and if you new of anyone looking to purchase this item. I was going to put it on eBay but have no idea of the value of it. Thanks for any expertise you can give me."

I asked Buffalo Forge expert Dave Newcomb about it, and here's Dave's reply:

"Hi Jim-----It's a blacksmiths forge----the Broilaire evolved from it by painting it bright colors and adding wheels and a handle-----I couldn't make out the embossed name on the gearbox---it should spell out BUFFALO FORGE CO----it also may be a copy made by Champion Blower and Forge Co----Regards---Dave"

Thanks, Dave. And if anyone is interested in buying Steve's forge, drop me a line.

Buffalo Forge Grill Tabletop Model

A photo sent to me from Phil Marino. Phil writes:

"I actually found another picture that I had. It’s black and white. I ran across it years back when I was helping clean out Buffalo Forge files that we were storing at the old Bell Aerospace plant (now a warehouse and leased space) after our plant was closed and vacated. The caption on the back reads ‘Two of “Buffalo’s” finest testing our “All Seasons Broil-Air” Frank Boltz and Al Chestnut’

"(Some Buffalo history, the X-1 that Chuck Yeager flew to first break the sound barrier was built in Buffalo at the Bell Aerospace plant, along with many WWII planes P39 for one. It was pretty neat walking around a building where history was made.)"

Thanks, Phil, for the great shot and the Buffalo history. I am told, by the way, that Al Chesnut still lives in Williamsville.