Sometime's a title search will tell where it came from. A few years ago I did a search on a truck and could only go back about 3 owners due to it probably coming from another state BUT sometimes you get lucky and find a good lead. You can also "back track", owner to owner, IF they can remember who/where each owner got it from. Doing this I know where my panel was made, where it went, who owned it,(decendants now live in Texas) and I got it from Florida. The original owners family request pics of it now an when, if ever, I get done with it. Hope this give some ideas.
Edit: each state charges a little for the title search. Probably about $10 now and I think you have to mail in your request.
