After taking a closer look at the specimen I have determined that the original lid color was indeed red. (like I'm some kind of scientist
) However, I believe it wasn't porcelain, but some kind of high heat paint that didn't last and was pre colored porcelain era. If I had to put a year on it I would go with 1955 because I believe that Rielly's
Animal is a 1953-54 because it has the flat top before the lids were changed. We know of 1956 models that had colored porcelain. I also believe it was an early fifties model going by the leg sockets because they are the really old pieces of welded pipe like Zorknard's old 22. I would like to see what Brians Mothership III has for sockets to be sure since they may have continued using the same style on these. Maybe I am over thinking this, but in the fifties it was a popular grill trend to paint the body black and the lids red and I have seen a few examples like this.
I will add that I like grills that look the way it does now and have no plans to make any changes to the lid. It just looks like it has some great history below all of those layers of paint and belongs that way. Of all of the old Webers I have owned this is my favorite so far. I just want to do some serious ribs and chicken on it once it's up and running.