@MikeRocksTheRed Yup, no vents. This is an earlier version of the kettle gasser (although not as old as the ones with the vent cap on top). About the same vintage as my '78 MBH.
Notice the heavy metal base (front leg if you will) as opposed to the wire base.
Also, notice the little holes on the side of the lid. The lid is supposed to have three standoffs that lifts the lid off of the bowl, allowing for ventilation. Mine are gone, and why someone would pull them off is beyond me. Anyway, the custom foil implements are my current way to lift the lid.
Let a CI pan sit over the direct flame for a while and I think you'll get the sear that you want. Only one way to find out.