nameplate says 1947, the gearbox does not agree

Plate on the bed says South Bend, 1947, 9 inch. The gearbox has a later plate style and one screw that is not like the others. Previous owner said 'all original' with the face of a man who sells boats. I don't need it to be a museum piece. I need to know which parts book I'm supposed to swear at.

Beds and gearboxes got swapped for seventy years. Date the bed by the serial if it's still there under the paint, and date the gearbox by the lever arrangement. They are allowed to be from different decades. 'All original' is a sales word.

There's a thread from 2016 about a 9A with a later compound. Same situation. Match the part to the casting in front of you, not to the romance on the nameplate.

Serial on the bed is there, under green paint that was not South Bend green. Bed is '46 or '47. Gearbox is a '50s replacement, best I can tell from the lever. Parts book is now two bookmarks. The boat man can keep his word.