The myriad of options.
Brass versus Aluminium
You all may very well be correct that the originals were aluminium but its interesting that so few still exist. Could it be that as they are extremely thin, they haven't survived time and the elements?
If they were anodised like the data plates on the dash of "wheel-chocks", ( sorry read "Jeeps" ) and the aluminium surface was exposed it would be more critical that they be made from the original material; however, as the examples and descriptions given are all painted in carriers, would it not make more sense to make them from brass which has a higher tollerance to adverse conditions and is less affected by the electrolysis of dissimilar metals?
From an engineering perspective, if there are too many variations in the text that must be stamped onto the plates, your costs will once again rise. Your man is expecting quantity of the same plate, so that he can get his worker to mass produce. Changing wording on the stamping process takes time, writes in a factor of possible human error and will inevitably blow out expected costs. ( from experience ).
But saying all that, if the guys are prepared to wear the costs, there's nothing better than getting all of the little diamonds to finish your resto of perfectly. They are always the best bits - the little bits that are harder to find or make yourself.
Pedr
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