Not etched,, just written like the 851/31 on the back of yours !! These numbers are company style numbers and likely the finish as well !! Not many furniture companies marked the furniture they made and the ones that did were usually high end pieces !! Sometimes you will find the remnants of a paper label but that is rare !!
I would think that your father was looking at the Chippendale style batwing hardware when he made his statement !! This style chest has been made since the late 1700`s with only minor change in style,, but the construction would be much different !! Still,,its a nice little chest and well worth keeping for its usefulness !!