Ok, I'm back to thinking it is probably just half of a faded black & probably isn't worth the drive. The picture I posted is one he texted me. I also noticed the lack of thumbscrews so it would be a 69 at the earliest & that is assuming the wheels were replaced.
However, I do notice what looks like a color differential along the circumference of the kettle, which makes me wonder. But, I also see some sort of scratches that you don't typically see on porcelain (on the right on the pic I posted), which makes me wonder if it just grey primer or something over the original black. I also don't see ANY shine, it kind of looks like flat paint finish. In another picture, I noticed that at least one handle (the top anyway) appears black & shiny. So, maybe he set the bowl upside-down to paint it.
I hate asking questions, but I'm going to ask if he painted it. That's what I'm guessing at this point, but that ring around the circumference kind of bugs me.