I wish I had a red 18", or an avocado, or yellow, or....
I do have an old black '74 18 incher that I got for something like 10 bucks. It was well used and obviously not much appreciated by the prior owner. A testimony to how tough those old kettles were made, it actually cleaned up pretty nicely. I keep it on display in my office. It's the oldest Weber I own.
Turns 50 next year!
I believe the item in question, is a Weber slide-a-side lid holder accessory, P/N 8411, there are several knockoffs as well. The lid bail that comes standard on a performer also comes on the Master-Touch series & the 70th anniversary kettles, (P/N's 63058 & 65188).