Instead of launching into a long day of studying rivet patterns, it might be wise to first have an open - no holds barred - discussion with the museum staff about the chronology of ALCLAD labeling. Bring along copies of the 1992 paper
"Matching the Markings"; pertinent pages and photos from the 1941 and 1943 editions of "Aluminum in Aircraft"; and a sharp blow-up of the 1936 photo showing the labeling on AE's Electra to hand out to museum staffers.
I realize that anyone who holds firmly to the belief that 2-2-V-1 is a piece of AE's Lockheed will continue to question if the "AN-A-13" designation could appear together with the letter font seen on the piece. Ric, however, had a different view of that important issue back in 1992. In "
Matching the Markings" he wrote-
"....we reasoned that if we could match the size and style of the letters with labeling surviving on other aircraft we might be able to complete the picture. An exhaustive search of aircraft of World War Two and earlier vintage produced only three examples of aluminum bearing these exact markings... In all three cases, the entire sequence of labeling reads: ALCOA T. M. .032" ALCLAD 24 S – T 3 AN–A–13 ...the conclusion appears justified that the letters visible on the artifact are the last two in the word "ALCLAD" in a sequence identical to that shown above.... [the] precise significance [of "AN-A-13"] has not yet been determined." So... in 1992, when Ric was not aware that "AN-A-13" dates to the WW2 era, he took the position that the font he sees on 2-2-V-1
did appear together with the AN-A-13 designation.
Is that now just an inconvenient truth?... best ignored while at the Air Force Museum?