Terry, first and foremost, HOLY SH*T that's a beauty!! I love that citrus skin finish on it. I really do love the OLD black MBH's. Nice find!
To help determine this one's age, Bman hit on it and it seems we're finding out and learning more and more all the time. These kettles, with the BBK small tabbed lid vent and large bowl tab vent combo has been compelling me to place this era in the 1975 model year (October 1974-September 1975) I have a 22 of the same style that I got from Brian. The next style... That Brian, Marty and a couple others have, the super elusive engraved "WEBER" lid vents being 1976 models (late '75- late '76). Assuming that Weber's fiscal/model year were the same back in the 1970s. I'd love to pick the Production Designers brain who worked for Weber back then. It could account for the wheel variation as well since this same setup has been seen with the later wheel style.
Just for fun, I recently did a little snip action on my black 22's daisy vents and it's still period correct with the BBK lid vent. I am
NOT suggesting you snip that gorgeous 18's daisy vents.
This cooker gets regular usage in the rotation and is my "go to" MBH. It's a faded to graphite grey finish.