Any License Plate Colletors Out There?

kpreed · Aug 21, 2009

In what state of the U.S. I live in, I try to assemble all year plates from that state. I do not have a photo of all my plates up on the wall, so I can only show you one of mine right now.
First is 1913 (still looking for a 1911) to 1969 (my last year plate)

John in Covina · Aug 21, 2009

Not a collector, but back in NY I recall that many families would have an old licensce plate or two tacked up in the garage.

As I recall NY had a policy that all old plates were supposed to be turned in so having retained a plate was considered to be like some type of minor triumph over oppressive government. My brother brought the old one from our dad's garage in NY out to California and it hangs with pride in his garage.

kpreed · Aug 21, 2009

My Grandfather nailed all his old California plates on the wall on his ranch (built in 1923 )by the model "T" pick-up. He drove till 1956. This must have had a effect on me, because in my garage I had a bunch of old plates hanging too. After I moved I started again, but in a new state.

RetroToday · Aug 21, 2009

I don't collect them, but I've picked up a few over the years and tacked them to the wall here by the computer.
Haven't taken a photo of them yet to share.

A little summary of what I do have:

- Matching pair of 1935 Ontario, Canada plates. (yellow & black)
- One 1949 Ontario plate (blue and white)
- One 1933 New York plate (yellow & black)

NicknNora · Aug 21, 2009

Nick is not a collector (he has a few) but he LOVES old license plates.

kpreed · Aug 21, 2009

Some great plates Retrotoday! A pair is really hard to find these days.
When I lived in California, there was and maybe still is, a year of manufacture license plate law. I had what few pairs I had on my cars, a 1940 Plymouth Business Coupe and my 1957 Pontiac 2dr. Hardtop (1956 plate with 1957 red sticker)

panamag8or · Aug 23, 2009

I've got a bunch of 30's-40's North Carolina plates and some older Florida plates. At one time, I was the owner of the first '87 Florida Challenger plate, # AAA 001 (never mounted). I sold that one for a pretty penny. I still have 003, but it is pretty torn up from being used on a work truck.

RetroToday · Aug 23, 2009

I took a few photos today of my plates this evening, I was at the mercy of the camera flash though.

kpreed: Thanks. They're not in perfect shape, but I like them a lot.
Was surprised to find the pair at a Flea Market a year ago - hopefully one day in the near future I'll have a nice 1935 car to put them on!

Flivver · Aug 24, 2009

I've collected license plates since I was five. That's when I found a 1926 Mass plate in the dump. My dad then gave me his run of plates (all with the same number) back to 1942. Here in Mass we have something called a reserve plate. If your plate has 5 characters or less you can keep the same number forever and even pass it down in your family. I am presently still using the same number my dad got for his first car in 1942.

Regarding plate collecting, I collect the six New England states, New York and Michigan.

John in Covina · Aug 24, 2009

I have no idea if it's true but recall reading something in a Doc Savage story that in NY the really low numbers were reserved for officials and "important" people. Plus the cops would make judgements based on the low plate number.

Widebrim · Aug 24, 2009

My father and I started collecting plates when I was about 10. Since Dad worked for Sears Automotive in Hollywood, he came across a lot of discarded plates in cars, and would ask the owners for them. We have about 100 plates from all over the world, but especially the U.S. As a kid, I found a bunch of CA plates in a trash can, all in good condition, running from 1929 to 1939 and 1945 (including a 1939 piece that has California World's Fair on it!). They used to hang in our old garage, but have been sitting in boxes for the last 20 years or so (along with our hub cap collection).

Natty Bumpo · Aug 24, 2009

Have a few...

...that my Dad started collecting in the 50's. That's him, 1950 <<< . Illinois had pairs, front and back, and I was told that the state's college and university colors were used. Brother and I shared Dad's part of the collection, I took even years to match 1954 birth. We have both kept our vehicles' tags and have swapped a few. Brother looks on FleaBay, I don't shop for tags.

Flivver · Aug 24, 2009

John in Covina said:
I have no idea if it's true but recall reading something in a Doc Savage story that in NY the really low numbers were reserved for officials and "important" people. Plus the cops would make judgements based on the low plate number.

That used to be true here in Mass also. But now the state holds an annual lottery for low number plates that are turned in.

I've never entered the lottery because I want to keep my Dad's original number...even though it's five digits and really not that special. But I have many photographs, taken over the years, showing that number on my Dad's car.

Foofoogal · Aug 24, 2009

I am presently still using the same number my dad got for his first car in 1942.

Awesome.

(including a 1939 piece that has California World's Fair on it!).

Awesome again.

I shall never tire of hearing of things people collect.
http://sandysfancypants.blogspot.com

John in Covina · Aug 24, 2009

Interesting that California had a World's Fair commemorative plate for 1939, it was held in NY so I guess everyone was really excited about the fair.

Foofoogal · Aug 24, 2009

That is interesting. That could be or may be a whole other field to collect.
We don't even get this excited when the Olympics comes to the USA now.
National pride to have the World coming to your country.
A true pulling together as a whole back then is one thing I admire about the past times in the USA.
(except of course the Civil War)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_Worlds_Fair
Transportation Zone

Dawn of a New Day it says. I wonder if there was anymore states License plates made during this time. I wonder if they sold these at the Fair for California. Maybe you could get your state made up. Very interesting.
I love this show on TV. It researches things like this?
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/about/show.html
Offtopic:
That show had where babies were exhibited at a fair on the other day.
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/investigations/704_babiesarticle.html
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/about/show.html
----------------------
I love the history of stuff. Sorry to railroad a bit this thread but sort of related.
http://sandysfancypants.blogspot.com

Widebrim · Aug 24, 2009

John in Covina said:
Interesting that California had a World's Fair commemorative plate for 1939, it was held in NY so I guess everyone was really excited about the fair.

It is rather odd, John, because since the state name of California appears just before World's Fair 1939, it actually reads California World's Fair 1939. I found a license plate holder selling on the Internet, and it had the exact same phrase.

John in Covina · Aug 24, 2009

Maybe it was in reference to the Califonia State Exhibit?

Widebrim · Aug 24, 2009

John in Covina said:
Maybe it was in reference to the Califonia State Exhibit?

Possibly...

kpreed · Aug 24, 2009

John in Covina said:
Interesting that California had a World's Fair commemorative plate for 1939, it was held in NY so I guess everyone was really excited about the fair.

Not sure where this is going, but California also had a fair at Treasure Island
1939 and 1940. My Mother went a few times and I have some stuff from it.

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