Do we know what happened after 1952 to change the design in '56?
For the pan, this is how I imagine it...
----------
We added vents to the bowl for better airflow, we need something to catch the ashes with now.
Let's build a pan. It gives us stability for the legs. Well add folded edges for strength.
You know, this pan is expensive. Let's stamp one out. Rounded edges will stiffen it a bit, and the stamping is less expensive.
This pan doesn't seem to do a very good job of catching ashes (this line will also be used a few decades later). Let's make a saucer that sits closer to the vents to catch the ashes. We'll add a wire triangle to stabilize the legs.
Do you think, years from now, the Weber Kettle Club will wonder what we were thinking?
---------
Hey buckie, you think if we burn a snake right to left, then have it burn back left to right, we can create some type of vortex to go back in time?