1935Packard Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 Over the years I have seen some license plate extensions with city names. Here are three that I have: I looked around online, and I haven't been able to find out much about them. When were they used? For what purpose? Were they used in addition to state plates, perhaps requiring a separate fee to park or drive in the city? Or were they only ceremonial? I figured some on this forum probably know. Any help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearsFan315 Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 i have seen some of those for some of the older cities around here, one old timer told me they were for when you registered your car in that city, you got plate show the city it was registered in. some had years on them, some had years and a number on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 In Virginia it shows you paid the city tax. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 In Winnipeg for a few years, many years ago you got a paper tag to go inside on the windshield. If you lived in the suburbs and were caught driving in the City of Winnipeg you were fined a road tax. Similar to the radio tax you were supposed to pay. They cruised the streets and could tell if you had a radio on and had not pair the radio tax. I believe the permits were $2.00 and the fine was $2.00 plus you had to buy a permit. Seems stupid not to buy one in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 UK also had radio and television taxes. Black vans could detect the IF signals. I suspect part of the innovation that took place in the US was a lack of such taxes and unmetered telephony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 They are city "booster" license plate toppers most popular in the 1920s, and WERE NOT taxable plates like you see for North Carolina and Virginia. I have, since 1978, been collecting these booster tags, and at one time I had as many as 40 or so. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 More. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.H.Boland Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 This one's been on my '21 Chevy for years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 No one has mentioned Taxicab plates yet. Edmonton and Calgary both issued separate taxi plates, about the size of a motorcycle plate that was affixed to the grille of the cab. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Years ago in Florida there were separate license plates for rent cars and taxicabs.Gov plates were yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Is that for Newburgh NY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG57Roadmaster Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 When your name is Tom Gibson... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Billy Kingsley said: Is that for Newburgh NY? More than likely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1935Packard Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 5 hours ago, West Peterson said: Fascinating, West! Thanks for the context! If I can bother you for another question, do you happen to know who sold them, or how they were bought? Were they just items you could buy privately to show your civic pride, or were issued by the city? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1935Packard Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 (edited) If the booster plates were designed to match that year's license plate, I think I have successfully dated the "Piedmont" plate I have. I found it on the wall of an old garage in Piedmont, California, and there is only one year in which California's license plate was anything like that color -- 1927. Edited June 25, 2020 by 1935Packard (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 I have never seen one of these anywhere............interesting. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 2 hours ago, edinmass said: I have never seen one of these anywhere............interesting. that's because I've been hoarding them. 😁 You need one like this. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 7 hours ago, 1935Packard said: If the booster plates were designed to match that year's license plate, I think I have successfully dated the "Piedmont" plate I have. I found it on the wall of an old garage in Piedmont, California, and there is only one year in which California's license plate was anything like that color -- 1927. I have never seen a vintage ad about them, and I've never been told who made them, or where they were offered (city hall, five and dime, community fund raiser, etc., ????). All I know is that I started collecting them because I had an interest in license plates. The plates I like were too expensive for my budget, and I was able to pick these up for about $5 each. I'd buy one or two or three at Hershey. Now I don't see them for sale anymore. Your thought about possibly matching a particular year's colors makes sense, but I suspect the color choice was entirely up to the community that had them made. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 12 hours ago, 8E45E said: No one has mentioned Taxicab plates yet. Edmonton and Calgary both issued separate taxi plates, about the size of a motorcycle plate that was affixed to the grille of the cab. Craig I'm pretty sure the question was only in regard to the booster tags that the OP posted. There are ZILLIONS of different types of tax (or tax-free) license plates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 5 minutes ago, West Peterson said: I'm pretty sure the question was only in regard to the booster tags that the OP posted. There are ZILLIONS of different types of tax (or tax-free) license plates. In 1954, (and only that year), Alberta did issue front plates with the city or locality: http://canadiandesignresource.ca/graphics/typography/alberta-1954-license-plates/ Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 11 minutes ago, 8E45E said: In 1954, (and only that year), Alberta did issue front plates with the city or locality: http://canadiandesignresource.ca/graphics/typography/alberta-1954-license-plates/ Craig Interesting. I wonder if they automatically gave them out, or if you had to pay extra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 3 minutes ago, West Peterson said: Interesting. I wonder if they automatically gave them out, or if you had to pay extra. With the exception of the 'Drive Safely!' plate, one would had paid extra. I believe those 'Drive Safely!' plates were possibly issued free to Alberta Motor Association members. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Florida has baziliions of dfferent plates but the Florida city/town plates I do not think were for cars, look more like street signs to me. In addition to the state issued plates anyone can have any plate on the front (well a LEO got bothered my Florida car had a valid Texas front plate), are shops that will make anything you want (and usually have a gaggle of YOM plates). And then there were the 1972 "Arrive Alive" plates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 9 minutes ago, padgett said: Florida has baziliions of dfferent plates but the Florida city/town plates I do not think were for cars, look more like street signs to me. Nope. Much too small for street signs. These are the size of license plates (but not as tall), and it's well known that they are license plate toppers. They are documented in vintage photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 (edited) While not a City plate - I always had State plates on the front of the cars when they were down in Florida (I would think circa 1950's to 1960's) Edited June 25, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 White on dark blue was 1956 and repeated a coupla times in the 60s. Each had a different border or no but is hidden by the frame. Point is shops abound that will make any (front) plate or tag plate you want. Is often on the front grill or a small plate on front to identify the town, development, or club you belonged to. Particularly prized was the Everglades Club grille badge that told Bunny it was OK to park (and parking on Worth Avenue in the season was always chancy). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Of course, but 1935Packard was specifically asking about the stamped-steel booster tags made in the 1920s and used throughout the 1930s. The cast aluminum toppers have been reproduced ad naseam, which is why I never had any interest in them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 West, the Palm Beach and W. Palm Beach have a home here should you decide to sell them.......or maybe trade them for a ride in something interesting? 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Yup. VA-NC "county strips" showed you had paid the county, town or city tax on your vehicle. Early 70s many VA localities started using a windshield decal which had to be placed to the left of the state inspection sticker which in those days was at the lower center of the windshield. Only in last 3 years did VA move it to lower left corner. Seems their center location was interfering with some of the sensing technology in newer cars... The stamped steel plates were interesting and seems there was no standardized size for them. Some had a slogan in addition to the locality name. The decals were fantastic as they allowed a little more "personalization" as in Halifax County had a tobacco plant on their decal. Danville City had the "Gibson Girl" as she was born in that city and was Lady Nancy Astor's sister. Then they got boring and only showed a local gov't seal. Now we don't get anything for our local vehicle tax money except a receipt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Perkins / Mn Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 (edited) I have had this one for years.....repainted it when I got my first car to put it on (1969). I have only seen one other but several people have told me they are quite common. The year is 1931. Edited June 25, 2020 by Jeff Perkins / Mn (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Again, a tax tag. Not a booster tag. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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