Historic Photographs of License Plates In Use
Plates that are considered YOM (year of manufacture) and staged shots are not eligible. Click on pictures to see larger version.
1914
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Tractor |  From Spalding & Rhodes Steam Tractor Encyclopedia via Jason Cook |
 From Tim Gierschick |
Make of tractor is Groton. |
1915
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Passenger |  From Rich Gullo |
 From John Anshant & John Willard |
This photo was taken in Harlansburg, PA in 1915. Rich Gullo's wife found the photo in a family album. If you enlarge the photo, to the right of the girl you will see license plate #6330. Or is there another digit or something else behind the girl's left arm? From my research this appears to be a 1915 porcelain plate. |
1917
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Tractor |   From Jason Cook |
 From Bill Krellner |
Make of tractor is Case. |
| Tractor |   (Note the different "2" dies) From Jason Cook |
From Bill Krellner |
On a steam tractor in Germania, PA |
1918
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Tractor |   From "Unusual Vintage Tractors" by C.H. Wendel via Jason Cook |
 From Clayton Moore |
On a tractor made by the Hollis Tractor Company of Pittsburgh, PA |
1924
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Tractor Dealer |   From Jason Cook |
 From Jeff Lesher |
Photo shows a Rumley Oil Pull Tractor in Strong Man competition. The sign to rear of tractor reads "Harrisburg and Dauphin County Fair, East Harrisburg, September 17, 18..." Newspaper records about the fair confirm that this is a 1924 plate. |
1928
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  From Mike Alfonse |
 From Rob Baran |
"Z" weight class Truck plate. |
1928 or 1932
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  From Rob Baran |
 (Color scheme of plate in historic photograph, exact year unknown) From Peter Cohen |
This "T" weight class Truck plate appears to be a 1928 or a 1932. Plate reads T11-660. |
1929
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  From unknown |
 From Eric Tanner |
"U" weight class Truck plate. |
1931
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  (vehicle in bottom-left of photograph)  (Crop of plate in above photograph) From Rob Baran |
 From Worthpoint |
"U" weight class Truck plate. |
1935
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |   (Crop of plate in above photograph) From Philadelphia Free Library |
 From Bill Krellner |
"Z" weight class Truck plate. |
1937
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |   From Steve Briand & Richard Krause |
 From Chuck Sakryd |
"V" weight class Truck plate. |
| Tractor |   From Jason Cook |
 From Tim Gierschick |
Exact year is not confirmed, 1937 is the best guess. On a Road Grader in Cumru Township, Berks County |
1944 - 1954 (Exact year unknown)
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Tractor |  From Jason Cook |
 (Color scheme of plate in historic photograph, exact year unknown) From Tim Gierschick |
On a Farmall "H" Tractor |
1947
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Motor Boat License |  From Jason Cook |
 From Fred Schmidt |
1954
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  From Rob Baran |
 From John Willard |
"Z" weight class Truck plate. |
| Tractor |  From Jason Cook |
 From Tim Gierschick |
On a Farmall "M" Tractor |
1956
| Plate Type | Historic Photograph | Reference Picture | Notes |
| Truck |  From Dewey Fire Co. of Hellertown, PA |
 From Rob Baran |
"ZZ" weight class Truck plate. |