| Why
would anyone collect bottle caps, string, cards, matchcovers,
dirt, or a million other variations of collectibles? For fun!
Not only that, but how many hobbies can boast pieces with
a myriad of colors, designs, origins, types, sizes and materials
comparable to license plates? And license plates are still
one of the more affordable hobbies going!
Where do I get the plates?
Well, when I started out, I used to peruse
the junkyards looking for plates, but the days of walking
away with free plates from junkyards is long past. Most yard
owners lean toward charging for everything they possibly can,
and they really haven't got a clue as to the value of junked
plates. You might find 20 plates in a day of yard searching,
only to find some yard boss trying to charge you $5 a pop
for $1 or $2 tags.
Another great way to get some plates is to
write to Department of Motor Vehicles offices around the US,
Canada and the Territories. There are still some places that
will send you some sample plates for nothing, although most
will charge a nominal fee - usually a few bucks, up to around
$10, and rarely, a little more.
I've gotten some good stuff from the DMVs,
and I've never yet had a really accurate address for any one
of them. For your first letter writing attempt, try a one-per-state
batch of letters, explaining that you're a plate collector,
and you're looking for some plates to start your collection.
A generic address like "Department of
Motor Vehicles, Sample License Plates, Capital City, State,
Zip" has proven to me to be adequate to garner an almost
100% response rate!
Probably the best way to get plates, is to
run some ads describing what you're looking for. A good want
ad can generate some nice additions to anyone's collection
in no time. Just be sure to start small, and work your way
up - attempting to compile an overly difficult collection
can lead to frustration, and next thing you know, you've given
up.
What do I collect?
Most novice plate nuts that I've known have
started out with the old "one per state". It's an
interesting set, with a lot of color and variety, and with
a little successful begging and some leg work, you can whip
up a decent set for around $150, and sometimes even less!
Talk to friends and relatives in others states, as they can
usually help, and like I said - the letters to the DMVs don't
hurt either!
The first 40 or so plates will come without
too much trouble, then you can work on the last group to finish
off the set. These usually are comprised of Alaska, Hawaii,
D.C., Wyoming, Montana, Vermont (?), Nevada, and some of the
other less populous states. When this is finished, why not
finish off Canada? Just ten provinces and two territories,
and your have a nice US / Canada set on the wall!
BIRTHYEAR SET - Similar to the "one per
state" set, but go for each state - only from the year
you were born! Depending on whether you're a spring chicken
or a crusty codger, this collection can be a snap or a real
nightmare! I've finished a complete set of 1937 plates for
my parent's bar/rec room that's a real sight to behold, but
plates of this vintage can run any where from $12 to $20 for
the commons, up into the hundreds of dollars per plate. I
have US and Canada, and most of the territories and some countries,
and believe me, some were more than a little tough to turn
up.
I have a mint 1937 Yukon plate in my collection,
and with only 115 cars registered in the Yukon that year,
you can bet that was a toughie! But if your birthyear is 1965
or so, it's not too bad of a set to compile, and there's lots
of interesting colors and slogans. If you were born during
a war year - beware! These sets can be nearly impossible to
complete, due to many state and provincial governments not
issuing new license plates to save scarce "war metal".
Birthyears from 1943 and 1944 are especially
difficult, with many states and provinces using restamped
plates, windshield stickers, small metal date tabs - or no
plates at all.
TYPE SET - Pick a type - any type! Are you
a school teacher? Try collecting School Bus plates! Truck
Driver? Go for a set of Apportioned plates.... There's a long
list of non-passenger types of plates available that are (or
were) issued in all fifty states. I know a collector who only
collects Taxi plates.
A fifty state set of these is pretty impressive,
and if you pick a type that not many people will be interested
in, you'll be able to find examples to buy at a reasonable
price! There are also typesets that are a little more difficult,
due to either scarcity of the issues (like Governor #1 plates,
or Medal of Honor winners), or because of their popularity
(Ham Radio plates, Antique Car, Handicapped).... it's up to
you - pick a type and GO FOR IT!
ERROR PLATES - OK, I'll admit it - I just threw this in error
and invert plates because I collect them. But if you have
the patience, it's an interesting sub-category. Look at error
coin or stamp collecting - it's one of the bigger hobbies
going!
STATE TYPE SET - Sort of a variation of the
standard Type-Set, a State Type Set would consist of an example
of each and every type plate that is in use in ONE state.
Say you're from Mississippi.... start with a passenger, then
a motorcycle - work your way through all the trucks, taxi
and oddballs types, right down to the Governor, Senator and
House issues! Some are tough, some are easy - but a great
display if you can pull it off!
FOREIGN PLATES - This is a whole new ball
game, and you'll have to be ready to do your homework, as
well as to be willing to take the "good with the bad"....
for every fancy "American style" foreign license
plate, there's probably three non-descript all numbers/letters
license plate, that to the untrained eye, is just another
boring foreign.
But if you're really into it, this can be
one of the most enjoyable types of license plate collecting.
Putting together a complete set will, at the very least, be
a lifelong quest, but the plates can be very exotic, colorful
and interesting. If you're really thinking about collecting
the foreign stuff, drop me a line - I'll be glad to help you
out!
THE REST OF THE RABBLE - You name it, you
can collect it. One-per-state from the 1920's.... Vanity Plates
with family members names.... low numbered license plates....
porcelain license plates.... PINK license plates.... plates
from Africa.... Dealer Plates .... Movie/TV prop license plates....
Antique Car issues .... bicycle plates .... Samples .... it's
never ending. Just don't overextend yourself, and be patient!
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