I have a few of those as well, was told they were war time production (WWII) when all chrome and stainless steel was being used for the war effort.
Didn't the war start just a little AFTER 1939, and after '40, in fact.......pretty close to 1942, I think it was? DD
...the painted 39 HL rings were probally replacement parts made after the war began, and not necessarily in 1939.
depends what country you were in canada and commonwealth countrys in 39. us in almost 42. i am not sure about the commonweaths of maine mass. penn. conn. i guess they still belong to brittain. lol but you easterners knew that. seriously canada being the major export factory shipped all kinds of vehicles to england from 39 to 45 there was a lot of a trucks staff cars station wagons to name a few. the military also requested tons of extra parts. most of these cars were dechromed to match the army drab paint i have seen at hershey n.o.s. outside door handles for 39 and 40. stainless painted gray, pot metal and steel painted black. about 15 yrs ago did you easterners that go to hershey every year see the box with about 200 n.o.s gray painted s.s. 40 handles.Didn't the war start just a little AFTER 1939, and after '40, in fact.......pretty close to 1942, I think it was? DD