Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-07-2021, 05:29 AM   #1
LLB
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 8
Default License Plate Search

Hello, I have a 1930 Tudor and I'm searching for a pair of Indiana plates for it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to look? I have found single plates on eBay, but no pairs.

Thanks!
LLB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 06:04 AM   #2
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: License Plate Search

take your time with ebay- they come up. also you could join the national "plate" club for leads. I forget their designation, off the top of my head............
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-07-2021, 06:12 AM   #3
Ed in Maine
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
Default Re: License Plate Search

I agree with Ronn, have it as a bring up and bookmark it. Pairs will cost you more and because it is in the Model A era they will cost even more. A few years ago I found a glass covered 1914 plate for my Model T for a $100.00. Try to find a near perfect plate, they are difficult to paint and have them look original. I use my plates in the front as a vanity plate. I know it may not be legal but I haven't been stopped yet. Who is going to pull a bank job driving a Model T??
Ed in Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 06:42 AM   #4
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
Default Re: License Plate Search

Is there anyway to duplicate a single plate? My first job was working with gas turbines and the sheet metal parts were formed with stamping molds made of low temperature melting metal, like pot metal. Perhaps a stamping mold could be made for the plate in the same way by casting the mold using the existing plate? Dead soft copper would be easy to form or even dead soft aluminum. Once painted it would be difficult to tell from steel. A large press may be able to be used to form the new plate(s).
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 06:44 AM   #5
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: License Plate Search

When I was looking for a ‘29 NC plate, I used eBay’s saved-search alert to email me whenever a new plate was posted. It took several months to find a suitable plate.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 06:57 AM   #6
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
Default Re: License Plate Search

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Second thought: Seems like there is a market for re-pop antique license plates.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 07:23 AM   #7
WHN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Posts: 1,815
Default Re: License Plate Search

Check your states motor vehicle laws on using period license plates.

This subject has come up many times before. Some people really seem not to care weather it’s legal to repaint or reproduce a plate. In most states it is not legal.

Might seem like a minor point, but at what point do you except illegal.
WHN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 07:32 AM   #8
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,088
Default Re: License Plate Search

National plate club

https://www.alpca.org/
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 08:32 AM   #9
gary678*
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Middletown, NY
Posts: 162
Default Re: License Plate Search

I think that the "Repaint Rule" is ignored (personal experience) if the repaint is good. I believe that the rule exists to eliminate sloppy repaints that make it difficult or impossible to read a plate from a distance or moving vehicle. I doubt that at a traffic stop that an officer is going to take out a magnifying glass to determine the authenticity of a plate. A good source for plates is eBay but as mentioned in an earlier post much patience is needed. Another option is to buy a single plate, photograph it, and send the photo to a vendor that does stamped copies (raised letters/numbers) for a duplicate. Cost for copy is in the $100. range. Good Luck! GD
gary678* is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:00 AM   #10
Model A Ron
Senior Member
 
Model A Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Troutman, NC
Posts: 717
Default Re: License Plate Search

I just found my 1929 North Carolina Plate on e-bay as well. It may take some time to find a nice one but they do come up. For me this was 3 month of looking.

Ron
Attached Images
File Type: jpg LP.jpg (73.6 KB, 35 views)
Model A Ron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:18 AM   #11
WHN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Posts: 1,815
Default Re: License Plate Search

Quote:
Originally Posted by Model A Ron View Post
I just found my 1929 North Carolina Plate on e-bay as well. It may take some time to find a nice one but they do come up. For me this was 3 month of looking.

Ron
Nice car and the plate completes the look.

Enjoy.
WHN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:24 AM   #12
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: License Plate Search

The '29 NC plate is one of those plates where the color is just all over the map, dozens of different takes on what color it was. Here's a photo I took when I was doing research. Bottom is a plate I found in the collection of a major plate collector in Greensboro. Top is a photo I got off an eBay listing that IMO looked original.

Text sources describe the color as "Carolina blue," but I've seen a lot of samples that are closer to the royal blue that you've got on your plate. I don't think anyone knows for sure. Even the originals I've seen are clearly altered by years of age and sun exposure.

BTW a good tell on whether an NC plate has been repainted is the R's and A's in the state name. Those letters are really hard to do by hand and it's rare that both Rs and both As on a repainted plate look the same.
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg IMG_2644.jpeg (120.7 KB, 20 views)

Last edited by alexiskai; 05-07-2021 at 09:29 AM.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:45 AM   #13
TerryH
Senior Member
 
TerryH's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Posts: 937
Default Re: License Plate Search

I found and bought restored plates for my 1930 Town Sedan, here in S. California. You need to be sure the numbers/letters are still good…..I heard that motorcycle plates were using some of older numbers/letters. In California, I had to take the plates to my local DMV, where they were examined as to color and size. Restored was fine as long as the color matched, size was correct, and numbers available. But every state is likely different, so I would sure recommend checking with your DMV first.
TerryH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 10:24 AM   #14
brito36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Marengo. Illinois
Posts: 259
Default Re: License Plate Search

Try a google search for Indiana License Plates. you can usually find a matched set within a few weeks. A matched Illinois set for 1928-1931 go anywhere from $35.00 and up.
brito36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:07 PM   #15
gdmn852
Senior Member
 
gdmn852's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Erie Pa
Posts: 684
Default Re: License Plate Search

These plates were bought off EBay paid $50. for them
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg FE5EEA7A-D174-4453-9F11-746835111EDB.jpeg (38.2 KB, 10 views)
gdmn852 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:24 PM   #16
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
Default Re: License Plate Search

It did not occur to me that re-pop plates could be illegal. Who would care if they were original or not. A set of original plates 1930 came with my car. The North Carolina DMV said to keep the issued plate under the seat and mount the original plate on the rear. They did not record the number or check to see if it was original or still OK. In fact, they didn't even look at it.

Lots of people on the internet advertise restoring original plates. Are they breaking the law? Most do a very good job that are not distinguishable from a new 1930 plate.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:24 PM   #17
Model A Ron
Senior Member
 
Model A Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Troutman, NC
Posts: 717
Default Re: License Plate Search

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexiskai View Post
The '29 NC plate is one of those plates where the color is just all over the map, dozens of different takes on what color it was. Here's a photo I took when I was doing research. Bottom is a plate I found in the collection of a major plate collector in Greensboro. Top is a photo I got off an eBay listing that IMO looked original.

Text sources describe the color as "Carolina blue," but I've seen a lot of samples that are closer to the royal blue that you've got on your plate. I don't think anyone knows for sure. Even the originals I've seen are clearly altered by years of age and sun exposure.

BTW a good tell on whether an NC plate has been repainted is the R's and A's in the state name. Those letters are really hard to do by hand and it's rare that both Rs and both As on a repainted plate look the same.
I have seen the same. Mine is a repaint and it is good enough for my purposes. The North Carolina 1929 plate also cost more than a 28 30 or 31 and is not always so easy to find.

Ron
Model A Ron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:27 PM   #18
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: License Plate Search

Quote:
Originally Posted by Model A Ron View Post
I have seen the same. Mine is a repaint and it is good enough for my purposes. The North Carolina 1929 plate also cost more than a 28 30 or 31 and is not always so easy to find.

Ron
Yeah, my speculation on that is that the Carolina blue paint makes it particularly appealing as a collectible.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:41 PM   #19
mgambuzza
Senior Member
 
mgambuzza's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 173
Default Re: License Plate Search

I was fortunate enough to find a pair of 1930 License plates in fair condition for around $50 on eBay a while ago. In NY you have to have a pair, so it was definitely worth it. The only part that was a little nerve wracking was waiting to hear from the DMV after the purchase, whether they were OK to use or not (they used to have a number you could call to check the letters/numbers to verify it was valid - disconnected since COVID). I went through the re-registration process, pictures of the plates, and a check, and held my breath - two weeks later a shiny new registration came through - mission accomplished. I may at some point seek a restoration service for the plates, but for now I enjoy the comments/looks when people see them and ask if they're legal.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_3903.jpg (60.6 KB, 3 views)

Last edited by mgambuzza; 05-14-2021 at 07:19 AM. Reason: add photo
mgambuzza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:50 PM   #20
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,109
Default Re: License Plate Search

Quote:
Originally Posted by nkaminar View Post
Second thought: Seems like there is a market for re-pop antique license plates.
https://www.licenseplates.tv/
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:49 AM.