For a first time buyer, it's clear that txx..... has done some good research, unlike a lot of newbies who buy their first machine and are later disappointed to learn what they've got.
He raises an interesting question, yet to be answered:
Did Mills ever use the cutout oval metal award plate with a paper award card showing under it, or is the cutout metal oval an invention of later day "restorers" who needed to replace an original metal oval and the easy way to do that was to use the cutout over a paper card?
Below is a Brown Front off fleabay that appears to have original patina that has a cutout oval plate;
but note the ends are not smoothly polished like the repos of today.
Also note that the metal oval frame does not neatly fill the casting area as you would expect it to if it were done by Mills.
- Cutout Award Plate