I recently acquired a trunk/footlocker from WW2. According to the metal plate on the lid it was made by “American Hardware Co., Inc” dated 1946
The Chest has a few numbers and other symbols on them I can identify 3 number not in the photo but the X and icons near it are what interests me
I ended doing a bunch of googling on this thing. Even looking into contracts with civilian companies during WW2 (it ended with the only documents that contain that information being located in the library of Congress and needing to physically go there to see the needed documents, something I can’t do at the moment)
The company itself no longer exists (just some other company’s with similar names)
The only proof these things exist is the fact that a bunch of other people are selling them on eBay/Etsy
Just trying to figure out what the symbols may be about
It's two cannons crossing each other. Usually a sign of artillery branch. The icons below usually signify which branch it is and the number above usually says the unit or battalion number. This can be a little bit different from insignia to insignia depending on who the manufacturer was at the time.
If I would have to guess I'd actually say it's the 13th battalion of a coastal artillery. I think the lines below the cannons are waves. There are several different coastal artilleries.
If you could get a better picture with better lighting so half the insignia isn't shaded out, might be able to give you some more detail.