I don’t have a problem with having the porcelain redone on a grill restoration project. In fact, I have a really battle-worn “patent pending” 26 inch red kettle that I wish I could afford to have re-coated. It may be original but it is a little like a Babe Ruth baseball card where his face has been worn off. Finding an early 70s red 26 inch “Aristocrat” is a rare find. So I wouldn’t feel bad doing that. If I lived close by like
@Dave in KC does it might be a better possibility. As it is with high shipping it is just too pricey for me.
Many of us bring old Genesis grills back to new and consider them “original.” I don’t see anything wrong with restoring porcelain as part of that process.
I will admit, though, that starting with a black kettle and having it sand blasted and recoated into, say, a yellow or Glen Blue one would not be “original” and really would be a “replica.” That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy owning one, though!
I have had this discussion - even battle - in my other hobby of restoring 1960s Remco Seaview toy submarines. Much like our grills - and classic cars for that matter - this involves repairs, fabricated replacement parts and, in my case, replicated cardboard boxes that they came in. For display purposes, I would rather have a set that has been restored to look like it did on Christmas morning. Some hobbyists agree with me, others vehemently disagree.
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