[Milsurplus] ID plate questions

[Robert Goff]

I just picked up a RAL-7 from a fellow ham in California. It's been 
repainted gray, so I assume it saw some service after the war, but there 
were a couple other characteristics that I hadn't seen before.  The original 
ID plates were apparently removed and replaced with plastic plates that look 
like some form of acrylic -almost like lamination material.  So-here's my 
question: Was this common practice?  In all other respects the plates are 
the same except for the SN. The SN on the plate is 79-SF.  I've never seen 
one with letters in it that way.  Could the SN have been reassigned when the 
receiver went through "remanufacture"?
Thanks,
Robert
W7MKA

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