The recurring collector idea of reuniting items with families is largely a feel-good idea from the collector.   The assumption is made that because the collector is really interested in military items, the family must also be interested.   Things get thrown away, sold, or given away every day.  Collectors preserve the memories.   The most recent occasion was there was an estate auction for a WW2 officer locally.  Every single lot went above value, but I paid strong to keep things together.   It was obvious that things had been "gone through", as there was no loose photos or paperwork at the sale.  I left my number with the auctioneer, who agreed to pass it along to the family in hopes of at least getting copies of paperwork.     A couple days after the auction, I received a phone call from the auctioneer - saying that the family realized the dog tags were in one of the lots, and asked if they could buy them back.     At this point, I am way over valued on what I had paid.  I said I would consider the request, but would also still be interested paperwork, photos, or at least copies of the same.  I suggested giving me a call back in a week, as everything was very fresh at that point.   Of course, I never heard from them again.   If it was so important to them. they would have been more persistent.     I am glad I kept them with the group.

Very nice ACW grouping!   Frank

Aluminum Company of America ( ACA ) month coded their canteens in 1918.  As far as I can tell, it was only done April (4) through November (11) 1918.  This is from observation of original examples only. I have found nothing in the records at NARA to indicate that the government asked for it or that ACA asked permission to do it.   I agree that the pin holes are probably corrosion.  This could be either from something put into the canteen like lemonade or imperfections in the original aluminum stock used to stamp out the canteen bodies.  Attached are images of a canteen in my collection with some significant corrosion.  

Nice score, jsand. Cool design. I especially like when the basic military roller buckle gets reworked!

I can't speak for the wings but the Air Corp DI's and collar brass look good. 💖

Trench art buckle.  76th Infantry Division.  England, France, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg.  

I've managed to do a bit more research and have discovered that LV6 MT4 is a group i.d. for Common Electrical Stores for mechanical transport. 9199 would be the bit that tells you which one to order and presumably would provide a clue to which vehicle. Y-5 is suggesting it could be motorcycle or small  cars but so far no direct link to anything.  LV7 is British Army Code for foreign vehicles.

Interesting. Thats good to know. I’m still wondering whether to leave it as is or try to restore it. I may just put it up for sale as it is.  

Loving the nearly completely white back, very nice

Gorgeous uniform !