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Tractor
Tractor plates were first issued in 1914, and used an E prefix, standing for Engine until 1927, from 1928 to 1933 a TE prefix, meaning Traction Engine, was used. Then the prefix was removed and the word TRACTOR was used as the legend until the discontinuation of tractor plates after 1983. Both the 1971 and 1977 bases used the prefix TR. In 1984 tractor plates were replaced by two different types. If the tractor was used for industrial purposes, it received a Special Mobile Equipment (SME) plate. If the tractor was used for agriculture, the vehicle was issued an Implement of Husbandry (IMP) plate. There has been a proliferation of SME plates and profound scarcity of IMP plates. As of the end of 2011 there were 24,367 SME plates in use and 216 IMP plates.
1914 - 1919
1914 (First year)
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Observed serial range: E1 - E1167 (per newspaper records) Plates measure: - E1 - E9: 6" x 8" - E10 - E99: 6" x 10" - E100 - E999: 6" x 12" - E1000 and above: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on black Ben Vaughn shares this snippet from a newspaper article dated January 1, 1915 (click to see large image):  |
 (6" x 8")  (6" x 10") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 12") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 14") From Tim Gierschick |
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: E1 - E2196 (per newspaper records) Plates measure: - E1 - E9: 6" x 8" - E10 - E99: 6" x 10" - E100 - E999: 6" x 12" - E1000 and above: 6" x 14" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in pairs Colors: white on light blue |
(6" x 8")  (6" x 10") From John Willard  (6" x 12") From Tim Gierschick   (6" x 14") 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: E1 - E2341 Plates measure: - E1 - E9: 6" x 11" (unverified) - E10 - E99: 6" x 13" - E100 - E999: 6" x 14" - E1000 and above: 6" x 16" Manufactured by Brilliant Manufacturing, Co. of Philadelphia, PA Issued in singles Colors: black on orange |
(6" x 11")  (6" x 13") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 14") From Bill Krellner  (6" x 16") From Tim Gierschick |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1917
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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CLASS 1 From Act 410 of 1915, Section 3: "First Class. Traction-engines or tractors used exclusively for agricultural purposes, road-grading, and transporting the machinery and appliances, which, when at rest, they operate with their own power; and excluding engines used for hauling of freight of any kind." Thank you to Jake Eckenrode and Eric Conner for the information. Observed serial range: E1 - E2799 Plates measure: - E1 - E9: 6" x 11" (unverified) - E10 - E999: 6" x 14" - E1000 and above: 6" x 16" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: white on brown |
(6" x 11")  (6" x 14") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 16") From Bill Krellner |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
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CLASS 2 From Act 410 of 1915, Section 3: "Second Class. Traction-engines or tractors used for freighting, which shall include all hauling upon the public highway, excepting such as is specified in the preceding paragraph." Thank you to Jake Eckenrode and Eric Conner for the information. Observed serial range: No plates known for this class. According to the registration report for 1917, numbering for this class was 3450 - 3475. All plates measure 6" x 16" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: white on brown |
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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: E1 - E3066 Plates measure: - E1 - E99: 6" x 10" - E100 - E999: 6" x 13 1/2" - E1000 and above: 6" x 16" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: white on black |
(6" x 10")  (6" x 13 1/2") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 16") From Clayton Moore |
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: E1 - E3019 Plates measure: - E1 - E99: 6" x 10" - E100 - E999: 6" x 13 1/2" - E1000 and above: 6" x 16" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: red on black |
(6" x 10")  (6" x 13 1/2") From Tim Gierschick  (6" x 16") From Tim Gierschick |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |