Oyler pit under construction at J&R Manufacturing in Mesquite

Test kitchen at J&R Manufacturing in Mesquite

President Ryan Higgins supervises construction at J&R Manufacturing in Mesquite

President Ryan Higgins at J&R Manufacturing in Mesquite

One of the most important inflection points in Texas barbecue occurred in 1974 when a company in Mesquite, J&R Manufacturing, began producing the Oyler barbecue pit. This cooking appliance combined an all-wood burning firebox with a series of mechanical dampers and fans to make the process of smoking meat more automated.

The ease-of-use afforded by these pits, combined with their built-in safety features, allowed pitmasters to efficiently produce high-quality barbecue. This lead to the proliferation of Texas barbecue throughout the United States and beyond.

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J&R celebrates 50 years in business in 2024. It still produces contemporary versions of the Oyler pit, used........

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