License plate restoration (revisted)

[Kube]

Guys, I'd like to have a set of plates restored. Anyone with firsthand and fairly recent experience?
Cost? Turnaround time? Quality of work?

Thanks guys.

[deuce_roadster]

Always did my own. metal worked the plates, etched, hi build, sanded to your satisfaction base color in urethane, one shot lettering enamel thinned to your liking and mixed to your color, painted with pinstripe dagger on raised edge around perimeter, normal artists brush on letters and numbers. My late friend who was a pinstriper taught me. At least this way all your requirements are under your control. Some were probably done with a hard rubber roller in the factory (or prison!) You can mix the lettering color so it won't run but flows and stays put with the thinner. I use turpentine, paint thinner is synthetic turpentine. That has worked for me.
I got a lot of practice as I collected all the 48 states for 1940 and Canada, restored them and are on my sliding door between my work area and my indoor junk yard.

[Charlie Stephens]

Be sure to find out what you state DMV thinks of restored plates if you are intending to register your car with them.

Charlie Stephens

[woodiewagon46]

As Charlie points out every state is different. New York requires a photo of both plates, (if two are required), in an unrestored state. To most people that makes no sense as many unrestored plates are unreadable. My friend was stopped by the police because his 1932 plates were unreadable even though NYSDMV approved them. What most people do is that after the State gives you the new registration, then they have them restored. I have never heard of a police officer giving someone a summons for "restored license plate". I just had a plate restored for my '46 and 1946 is a one plate year in N.Y. because of a shortage of steel after WWII. I'm not going to recommend the name of the company that restored my plate because it was promised as a three to four week turn around and it took over three months to get back.

[kurt v]

Just did a plate for my 1940 , i did a restore ,repaint and for the 30 bucks it passed and now on the car.
kurt

[51504bat]

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Don't know if this guy does restoration or for what states if he does. I've bought CA YOM plates from him and he his honest and up front. Might be worth contacting him.
http://www.oldpl8s.com/

[325w]

Jack don’t remember his last name at this moment over on the Hamb

goes by kat fish. Lives in St. Louis

Jack Brewer. He has done several for me. Will use him if I need another done.

[corvette8n]

I did a 1941 Hawaii plate myself, painted the entire plate the color of the numbers, then I masked the numbers and cut around each letter/number with an exacto knife and painted the background color. I only put the plate on the front for car shows as I have a December 7th 1941 theme. Daily it runs a pair of unrestored ‘41 NY plates.

[blucar]

I had a local sign painter restore the '39 CA plates on my '39.. He used sign paint, that was over fifteen years ago.
I know that California would not accept restored plates for use as YOM's. I registered my '39 plates, then had them re-stored.

[rhphotord]

I was layed up with a knee replacement about five years ago and a buddy gave me a box of old plates, rust and all. I merely cleaned off with a scotch bright pad and let them sit in vinegar for a couple days. Washed them off, cleaned again with scotch bright pads, I primered and painted the back grounds. Raised letters painted there after. Do research on internet for correct colors. Admittedly severely rusted plates are beyond repair so start with sound plates at the outset. Not a finite science by any measure but I ended up with about fifty pre and post war plates on the wall.
Of course each state is different so use due diligence

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Kube

Guys, I'd like to have a set of plates restored. Anyone with firsthand and fairly recent experience?
Cost? Turnaround time? Quality of work?

Thanks guys.

Ya know, I've been watching this thread with particular interest, because I still have a pair of plates that I promised a GOOD friend that I would restore them for him to go on his '66 Corvette. I have one of them ALMOST finished and it's coming-out beautifully, but I need to get the second one done before each of us "Kicks-Off".

So, out of NINE posts, many stating YOUR OWN methods, and more rhetoric about individual state legalities, not one reply about recommendations from a first-hand customer about recent experience with a restoration service's cost, turn-around time or quality of the end result.

So...ANYONE HERE have any relatively RECENT experience with plate restorers? DD

[tomcarman]

Kube,
Here is who I used, though not close to you. I was satisfied with the result on a pretty crusty '47 aluminum plate. It took about 2 months but then my plate got lost in the shuffle plus I was in no hurry, so all is forgiven.

https://www.oldlicensefarm.com/

You can see the results in post #1 in this thread.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ate+nice+legal

[mercman from oz]

1941 Ford with Restored Hawaii Licence Plat by corvette8n

[52flthed]

Brian Mabry. Probably the best restorer in the country.

[nelsb01]

Kube;
Read the V-8 TIMES!!!
Give Duane Wells in Michigan a call.
He has the colors, each state license color combinations and is very reasonable.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by nelsb01

Kube;
Read the V-8 TIMES!!!
Give Duane Wells in Michigan a call.
He has the colors, each state license color combinations and is very reasonable.

BELOW is Duane Wells' web site. Quality and price look to be reasonable. DD


https://www.duanesplates.com/antique...te-restoration

.

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

I did a 1941 Hawaii plate myself, painted the entire plate the color of the numbers, then I masked the numbers and cut around each letter/number with an exacto knife and painted the background color. I only put the plate on the front for car shows as I have a December 7th 1941 theme. Daily it runs a pair of unrestored ‘41 NY plates.

If it matters to you or not your plate is a County of Hawaii issue. In other words "The Big Island".

[Jacques1960]

Vintage License Plate Restoration
$220 plus shipping
About 2 week turn

Will email you before and after

[Kube]

Thanks guys. I now have what I was hoping to find.

Much obliged...

[corvette8n]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

If it matters to you or not your plate is a County of Hawaii issue. In other words "The Big Island".

Wow thanks for the info, it’s only a display piece that sits over my ‘41 NY yom plate. I did get to take an 8 hour bus tour around the Big Island about 10 yrs ago.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by nelsb01

Kube;
Read the V-8 TIMES!!!
Give Duane Wells in Michigan a call.
He has the colors, each state license color combinations and is very reasonable.

I'd really like to give a fellow club member the business and appreciate the referral.
However, I have long believed that if a guy doesn't return a call and / or email, well, the same guy probably shouldn't be counted on to work for me.

[solidaxle]

I have done it for my own. The hard part is getting the color right and laying it on top of the letters and numbers correctly.



I was lucky on my "32" plates and found them NOS. What's the chances of that.

[deuce lover]

The License plate club:ALPCA ,10K members strong can most likely come up with them.They have a monthly publication and hold yearly a National Meet like the V8 Ford Club.When I needed to complete a 1932 USA set I joined and was able to find them what was missing. They even have a price value rating system to condition from state to state and worldwide. alpca.org is their site.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

The License plate club:ALPCA ,10K members strong can most likely come up with them.They have a monthly publication and hold yearly a National Meet like the V8 Ford Club.When I needed to complete a 1932 USA set I joined and was able to find them what was missing. They even have a price value rating system to condition from state to state and worldwide. alpca.org is their site.

That club has a bunch of really cool members. I had sold (quite literally) nearly two thousand matched pairs (in the envelopes) of plates to a just a handful of members last year.
Yes, nearly two thousand pair.

[nelsb01]

Well, sorry to hear that you did not receive a call back. He called me the day he received my plates to verify the color combination.

He could have been like myself for the past 3 weeks --- being someplace warmer than where I am now. You know it is the season to get-away.

[Pat/Ohio]

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Originally Posted by nelsb01

Kube;
Read the V-8 TIMES!!!
Give Duane Wells in Michigan a call.
He has the colors, each state license color combinations and is very reasonable.

Kube, Duane Wells does good work and a fast turn-around for a reasonable price!

Stay Safe!
Pat

[glennpm]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

I was lucky on my "32" plates and found them NOS. What's the chances of that.

Ditto here and no restoration required :-)

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Pat/Ohio

Kube, Duane Wells does good work and a fast turn-around for a reasonable price!

Stay Safe!
Pat

Perhaps he does. What he doesn't do is respond to calls / emails.

[solidaxle]

There's many nice 1939 Wisconsin plates, if that's what your looking for on Ebay for under $100.00

[TJ]

I used Duane Wells who advertises in the V-8 Times. Does a great job and is very reasonable I do know that he goes south for the winter at times. Many of the people we deal with who provide services are retired and need a break once in a while to enjoy their retirement. We also have to realize that at our advanced age there may be family health issues/emergencies and calling someone back at the time is not a priority.

[[email protected]]

Great reputation here in Michigan for his restoration work.

[DavidG]

Mike,


If you haven't already moved past this project, I recommend giving Duane another call as he has done all of my plates except the NOS ones and they came out as new.

[38convsedan]

Really good advice

[Steve/IL]

If someone runs a business and goes on vacation, I bet that they have a cell phone or
a computer or may even have a website. They should to take a few minutes every day to respond to inquiries. It is possible to have a recorded response to a phone, email or website inquiry. Simply disappearing for any amount of. time from their business is irresponsible
If they are sick, there is likely a family member, friend or employee that can explain the situation or answer the inquiry.
Not responding is a possible/probably loss of a business opportunity. Even if the business is only a hobby and they advertise, a timely response is a common courtesy.
DaveG, here on Ford Barn, is a good example of how to explain what is transpiring with his availability.
I am not complaining about Duane, just lack of responses in general to inquiries.
Just MHO.