I stripped the paint from an old XLCH peanut tank and found the initials- G.M.E. between the rear mounting tabs on the bottom side. The tank looks to be OEM and at one time had the internal vent tube. The letters look less crude than any of the stampings I’ve seen from HD.
Was G.M.E. an aftermarket supplier or subcontractor?
Or did someone just put their initials on it for an anti-theft thing?