Dosmo Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 I am considering buying this license plate from someone I know quite well. The seller says that the plate is 100% original and has never been repainted. After expressing interest in the plate, he told me to take it home and we'd work out the price for the plate. His house is quite dark, interior lighting is terrible. His eyesight is, I suspect, not all that good, as he is in his mid '80s. After getting the plate into some decent lighting, I'm having doubts about the claim of originality with this plate. I see what appear to be fingerprints in the whitish paint on the numbers. After mentioning this to him, he claims that it is common to see smudges on these old plates, and that the things I'm seeing are normal, to be expected. I don't want to argue with him, and I'm certainly no expert on these items. So, I'm throwing it out here. I'd like opinions are whether or not this is likely to be an original plate, and whether or not smudges/fingerprints like this are to be expected on an un-restored one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 In the first place, those in spite of the appearance, are not fingerprints. They are the result of the painting process leaving thick spots of wet paint that wrinkle as the volatile vapors evaporate out of the drying paint. Certain paints including some "sign painter's" paints are made to be fairly thick so as to not run. The paints used for license plates in those days were similar. It most likely is very original. (However, I am not a license plate expert either?) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 12 minutes ago, wayne sheldon said: In the first place, those in spite of the appearance, are not fingerprints. They are the result of the painting process leaving thick spots of wet paint that wrinkle as the volatile vapors evaporate out of the drying paint. Certain paints including some "sign painter's" paints are made to be fairly thick so as to not run. The paints used for license plates in those days were similar. It most likely is very original. (However, I am not a license plate expert either?) Yes, I agree 100% with Wayne. Looks original to me. (Not a license plate expert either) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Years ago I had a pair of 1924 Mass dealer plates I picked up that were still in the original wax envelope, they put a piece of card-paper Between the plates and it also left a similar impression in the paint. I too believe it looks original, and in new condition which is astounding... GR8-PLT as our state says about the vanities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 (edited) I am thinking it is an original. If you go here, you can see other original 1951 Tennessee plates that have the same sort of diagonal markings. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1951_Tennessee_license_plate.jpg Edited December 2, 2020 by keiser31 (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Not an expert either but I would vote it as an original. I’ve seen those marks on other license plates I have owned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Why don't you ruin its originality by touching up the rust spots on the white border? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tate Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 I don’t claim to be an expert in License plates but have collected them for a fair amount of years along with my father who has collected them for many many years and who is in my opinion an expert in license plates. So to add my humble opinion I would say they are certainly original paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 During manufacturing (at the prison...) the paint may have been applied by dipping the plate in paint and the lines resulted from pulling the license plate out of the vat. A friend is into old Lionel trains and he showed me similar-looking lines on the toy railroad cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 12 minutes ago, ejboyd5 said: Why don't you ruin its originality by touching up the rust spots on the white border? My reason for the original post was to gather some opinions regarding the originality of the plate. I'm not sure what your comment implies, but I have no intention of altering the plate in any way. My primary interest in the plate was due to the seller's claim of originality. I have no idea where you're coming from with your comment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bollman Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Desirable plate, one of the most sought after. As the story was told to me, it was the only year they used orange and white. The governor picked the colors to honor UTenn it is their schools color. Then they won the football championship that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 (edited) The one "expert" that you will have to convince is the lady at the counter at the DMV that is having a hard time all day telling customers why she can't process an application because of many different reasons. My plate was rejected by such a lady. When I asked for the supervisors opinion, she said "what did the other lady say', I told her that she said it was no good. Then it's no good came the reply. Edited December 2, 2020 by Roger Walling (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Definitely original! I have seen some Alberta plates from the 1960's where the original paint had dried in that same texture in the paint on the raised areas. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Our experts have spoken. If you like the plate and have a 1951 automobile to display it on, buy it and be happy. Then pay the man who saved it for 69 years and thank him for sharing with you. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickelroadster Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 You also have to realize who made these plates. They probably didn't have the best quality control in the big house. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Stooksberry Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 If this plate is available I am very interested in it and yes it is original Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom99 Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 As a license plate restorer, and collector, I would say, that plate appears to be original. I've seen several plates, with the same defects, as that one has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share Posted January 18, 2021 7 hours ago, Austin Stooksberry said: If this plate is available I am very interested in it and yes it is original The plate is not for sale, but I appreciate your input. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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