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WWII Records Chest, what do the markings mean?


TheGrayGhost
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Snagged this beauty last week. It's 42 dated, 100% original and a real survivor.

 

Not sure what all of the marking mean, hope you guys can help shed some light.

 

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7/24 is probably a unit designation. Your side view looks like it might be G/7/24, or C/7/24.

 

The 47S actually looks like a stenciled 478. It might be an inventory number or cargo manifest line item number.

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That was my though on the unit as well, but I can't seem to find anything that fits.

 

How about the bars?

 

Forgot the pic the paper on the drawer front:

 

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In this case, I think it means the 7th box of 24 boxes in all. When traveling from one location to another or trying to figure out which document you are looking for, a quick look at a reference sheet will help you zero in on the right box or determine which box is missing. Kim

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That makes sense as well. It could be that the 478 is the unit designation. The inside tag suggests a battalion or regimental headquarters, if not a brigade.

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The two white stripes appear to be POM markings (Preparation of Overseas Movement), and member Ben Major has a nice listing of those on his site. https://www.med-dept.com/pom/about.php

 

However, these markings normally have a number by them, and I'm not seeing anything close. The numbers '7724' on the side of the box seem reminiscent (and there even seems to be a 'G' out of line, but with the numbers), but I'm not sure they are connected.

 

RC

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Hmm, some interesting points here. Never thought of 7/24 being 7 of 24, but it makes sense. I love a little mystery like this, decoding the clues.

 

Just for some added detail, the size and weight labeling, double bars, and 7/24 on the back were clearly done at the same time as the paint color, age and style match perfectly. I am not sure when the 47S (I don't believe it is 478 or 428) was done, but I believe it was at the same time or earlier than the other markings based on style and how it has aged. The G or C 7/24 seem to be the final addition.

 

Here is a detail shot of the 47S marking (also note the $6 price tag I missed:

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Hello Grayghost, Of course everything I have said about your box is merely conjecture on my part as well as a hunch based on the way we used to pack and move stuff in the 70's in the pre personal computer age when I was with the 16th Infantry Regiment. Here is a box in my possession that I picked up locally at a gun show about 10 years ago. I had always supposed it to be part of a number of boxes that the headquarters used to move records, documents and other important stuff when ever the unit moved out to a new location. This particular box is marked "28" so I always supposed that their was a list once upon a time that told the unit what was contained in box "28" as well as the other boxes. Based on the somewhat crudeness of manufacture, I figure this box started its life as some sort of ammo container with the handles and hinged lid added later. I suspect it dates somewhere between 1919 and pre-WW2. All of this is a guess on my part of course. I like the box so it provides storage for a bunch of my canteens at the moment! Kim

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