First, I want to apologize, in advance, because my brain thinks about all sorts of crazy bullsh!t things, and puts them together in all sorts of crazy ways, and it does it all the time. I can't seem to make it stop and it drives my girlfriend crazy. So, read on at your own risk.
I've always called a Weber a Wĕber (and by that I mean it has short "e" vowel sound).
This afternoon I was talking my neighbor. He told me that he was scrapping his current grill because his wife was letting him get a Wēber (long "e" vowel sound).
I didn't make a point of correcting him, but i did talk about my Wĕbers and how much I enjoyed them. He continued calling the one he was getting a Wēber.
After about five minutes or so, we went our separate ways. I just figures it was an Aunt (ant) vs. Aunt (Auuuunt) kind of think and went on about my business.
But, a little while later I got to thinking about the phonics lessons drummed in to me by the Sister of St. Joseph. (And I do mean drummed! In fact, I got the meter stick because the pointer broke over the back of my hand one time!) And you know, based on those beatings (oops, I meant teachings) for it to be a short "e" it really should be spelled Webber, not Weber.
Sorry, again!
BD