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Passenger
It should be noted that the state first issued plates in 1906, and plates from 1906 thru 1909 were assigned to the driver rather than the vehicle. The first year that registrations were issued was 1903, done by counties and a few individual cities. To see these earlier plates, see "Pre-State".
A big thank you to Eric Tanner's "All About License Plates website for a lot of the information presented on these Passenger pages.
1910 - 1919
1910
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 33198 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 20000 - 99999: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Ingram-Richardson ("Ing-Rich") of Beaver Falls, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on dark blue |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From Jordan Irazabal 6" x 12"  From Don Bucchi 6" x 13"  From AACA Museum 6" x 14"  From AACA Museum |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1911
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 44272 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 20000 - 99999: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Ingram-Richardson ("Ing-Rich") of Beaver Falls, PA Issued in pairs Colors: black on yellow Plates from 31000 and above have beveled edges. Some beveled edge plates have been observed with numbers under 31000, those are replacement plates |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From Tim Gierschick 6" x 12"  From Mike Sells 6" x 13"  From Americana1900 6" x 14"   (Beveled edges) From Worthpoint (top) and Shane Oake (bottom) |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1912
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 2 - 59406 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 20000 - 99999: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on woodgrain Number 1 is reserved for the Governor (1912 was the first year for this practice) Fun fact: The 1912 Pennsylvania plate is one of two license plates ever made in the woodgrain pattern. The 1910 Ohio plate is the other. |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From John Anshant & John Willard 6" x 12"  From Don Bucchi 6" x 13"  From Tim Gierschick 6" x 14"  From Worthpoint  From Worthpoint |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1913
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 2 - 79750 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 20000 - 99999: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on olive green Number 1 is reserved for the Governor |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From John Anshant & John Willard 6" x 12"  From Tim Gierschick  From Ned Flynn 6" x 13"  From Steve Ondik  From Steve Ondik 6" x 14"  From John Anshant & John Willard |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Some plates were re-fired over 1912 plates. Some of the woodgrain pattern is visible under the chipped green paint of the 1913 plate. See photos to the right. |
 From Ned Flynn  From Tim Gierschick |
1914
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 2 - 114830 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 40000 - 99999: 6" x 14" - 100000 - 999999: 6" x 15" - Leftover Solid Tire plates: 6" x 15 1/4" (see notes) Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on black Numbers 20000 - 39999 reserved for Solid Tire (Truck). These plates measure 6" x 15 1/4", the extra width was used for a metal weight class strip applied vertically on the left side of the plate. The highest known Solid Tire number for this year is 26235, the leftover plates were issued as Passenger plates. See #38996 to the right. Number 1 is reserved for the Governor |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From John Willard 6" x 12"  From Steve Ondik 6" x 13"  From unknown 6" x 14"  From Jeff Hinkle  From Jeff Hinkle 6" x 15"  From Tim Gierschick 6" x 15 1/4" Leftover Solid Tire plate  From Jeff Hinkle |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1915
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 2 - 167673 Plates measure: - 1 - 99: 6" x 8" - 100 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 12" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 13" - 30000 - 99999: 6" x 14" - 100000 - 999999: 6" x 15" - Leftover Solid Tire plates: 6" x 15 1/4" (see notes) Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on blue Number 1 is reserved for the Governor It has long been noted that some plates have raised numbers and no period after "PENNA", while others have sunken numbers and a period after "PENNA". Sunken numbers are first reported in the 56000 series, and then were seen off and on. Thanks to Ned Flynn, Eric Tanner, and Tim Gierschick for their assistance. After grossly overestimating demand for Solid Tire plates in 1914, the state slashed the order by half. That means that numbers 20000 - 29999 were reserved for Solid Tire (Truck). These plates measure 6" x 15 1/4", the extra width was used for a metal weight class strip applied vertically on the left side of the plate. The highest known Solid Tire number for this year is 27967, but this number seems to be an outlier as numbers 27363 and 27667 have been observed without any evidence of the metal weight class strip having been affixed. Leftover plates were issued as Passenger plates. See #27275 to the right. |
6" x 8" From Tim Gierschick 6" x 10"  From John Willard 6" x 12"  From Steve Ondik  From Steve Ondik 6" x 13"  From John Anshant & John Willard 6" x 14"  From unknown 6" x 15"  From Tim Gierschick 6" x 15 1/4 Leftover Solid Tire plates"  From Tim Gierschick |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1916
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 230393 Plates measure: - 1 - 999: 6" x 11" - 1000 - 9999: 6" x 13" - 10000 - 19999: 6" x 14" - 30000 - 999999: 6" x 16" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: black on orange Number 1 is reserved for the Governor Numbers 20000 - 29999 reserved for Solid Tire (Truck) Keystone on left embossed and painted black. Aluminum keystone affixed on top of embossed keystone if the plate is transferred to a new car during the same year. |
6" x 11" From Tim Gierschick  From Jeff Hinkle 6" x 13"  From anonymous 6" x 14"  From eBay (jk*antiques) 6" x 16"  From Jeff Hinkle  From unknown |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1917
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 312545 Plates measure: - 1 - 999: 6" x 11" - 1000 - 1999: 6" x 13 1/2" - 2000 - 99999: 6" x 14" - 100000 - 999999: 6" x 16" Two different dies known for "2" and "4", see examples in red to the right Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in pairs Colors: white on brown Number 1 is reserved for the Governor Numbers 312500 - 312545 marked "Office Delivery". It's possible that these were sample plates. Highest observed number without this marking is 311661. Keystone on left embossed and painted black. Aluminum keystone affixed on top of embossed keystone if the plate is transferred to a new car during the same year. |
6" x 11" From Tim Gierschick  From Jeff Hinkle 6" x 13 1/2"  From Jeff Hinkle 6" x 14"  (Two different dies for "2") From eBay (bongocruiser2)  From America on Wheels / Kyle Gross (bottom) 6" x 16"  (Two different dies for "4") From Worthpoint |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1918
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 367812 Plates measure: - 1 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 99999: 6" x 13 1/2" - 100000 - 999999: 6" x 16" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in pairs Colors: white on dark blue Number 1 is reserved for the Governor Keystone on left embossed and painted black. Aluminum keystone affixed on top of embossed keystone if the plate is transferred to a new car during the same year. |
6" x 10" From unknown  From unknown  From John Anshant & John Willard 6" x 13 1/2"  From eBay (bongocruiser2)  From State Museum 6" x 16"  From Rob Baran |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1919
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: 1 - 449444 Plates measure: - 1 - 999: 6" x 10" - 1000 - 99999: 6" x 13 1/2" - 100000 - 999999: 6" x 16" Bolt/strap slots at top for 6" x 10" format; bolt/strap slots at top plus bolt holes at top and bottom for other formats Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in pairs Colors: red on black Number 1 is reserved for the Governor Keystone on left embossed and painted black. Aluminum keystone affixed on top of embossed keystone if the plate is transferred to a new car during the same year. |
6" x 10" From Tim Gierschick  From John Anshant & John Willard 6" x 13 1/2"  From Jeff Lesher  From Tim Gierschick 6" x 16"  From America on Wheels / Kyle Gross |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |