License plate collecting with the Wizard

From the info I've picked up on this topic, early Nevada plates were "flat" pieces of metal with the lettering silk screened on top. They were not "embossed". Given their rarity, I would think this would make them prime targets for counterfeiting.

The ebay seller seems to be an upright dealer, but it sure seems sketchy.

I sent him a message and he replied that he has a 14-day return policy. My plan is to bid high and return it if it seems counterfeit upon closer inspection. Here is his full reply:

Quote: plateman

I believe the plate to be authentic. What makes you think that it is something other than that? This was part of a collection of plates that I got last year that included 2 1918 Nevada license plates.

My return policy is 14 days after the buyer receives the plate.

John

Quote: Ayecarumba

From the info I've picked up on this topic, early Nevada plates were "flat" pieces of metal with the lettering silk screened on top. They were not "embossed". Given their rarity, I would think this would make them prime targets for counterfeiting.

That's true. They were flat pieces of metal from 1917 to 1922. The only years I have in that range are the 18, 21, and 22. As I think I mentioned, between the small population of the state at the time and poor quality metal and paint, those years are difficult to get in decent shape. Most I've seen for sale were extremely rusty.

Having done this for a living for a long
time, I'm good at spotting repop's. The
one on Ebay looks authentic to me. It's
very hard to distress a reproduction and
make it look like the Ebay plate. It looks
like black porcelain, and all the repro's
look painted. The edges of the Ebay
plate look exactly what 100 year old
porcelain is supposed to look like. Look
at the left side. All porcelain signs and
plates were first coated with white enamel,
then the upper layer was added.
You can see the upper black layer has
worn off and the white layer is visible
below. Very common on old porcelain.

It is disturbing that a repop with the
exact numbers is out there. What it
tells me is, it's a very rare plate and
there just aren't many others out there
to copy from. This might be worth more
than you think.

Thanks, EB, for your professional opinion.

I assume what happened is, this plate has
been on the internet before. Somebody
captured the image and fashioned their
repro on it. There probably aren't that
many 1917 Nevada plates out there to
copy from.

The porcelain process is very expensive.
The enamel is infused with crushed glass.
Each layer is fired in a hot oven to melt
the crushed glass and get the glossy finish.
The result is a surface that can be outdoors
for a hundred years and still look good.
If a porcelain sign or plate is kept inside,
it will still look as good as new 1000 years
from now.

How long should a license plate last in good condition? Typically ordinary, everyday items aren't built to last long. Some last a very long time only by virtue of cheap durable materials being suitable and available.

Quote: Nareed

How long should a license plate last in good condition? Typically ordinary, everyday items aren't built to last long. Some last a very long time only by virtue of cheap durable materials being suitable and available.

You open up a can of worms with that question. Before the Internet people bought and sold license plates often through the newsletter where the buyer would grade his plates. It would be an understatement to say that standards varied significantly from person to person. There was also quite a bit of grade inflation through the years. A so-called "good" plate was probably covered in rust, bent, and had extra holes. It got to the point where even a "very good" plate was below average. Collectors from the south-east were notorious for having soft grading standards. With the Internet, it became easy to send pictures of plates so seldom does anyone even need to put a letter grade on a plate any longer, fortunately.

To answer your question, leniency was definitely given as a plate got older. So, as long as you didn't touch a plate, it would actually go up in rating, because they get graded on a curve. Leniency was also given to state/year combinations made from poor materials. The Maryland 1910 is a classic example. A terribly made plate.

I hope that answers your question.

Wiz, do you ever speculate? Or, to clarify since I may not be using that word properly, do you try to find plates of today that will be worth something down the road?

Personally, I can't think of an avenue for this. But, seeing how (especially) the very new plates have all gone to hell within <5 years as the screen or film peels right off, I do think and wonder what, if anything, should be sought out and kept for a rainy day when I'm 95yrs old.

Just curious. While I'm only slightly interested in plates themselves, I am a car guy and think back to sooo many things which, at the time, had the value of a candy bar whereas today, their value can buy a house.

Wonder if autonomous cars will be separately licensed, and if early versions of those plates.... I've said too much ><

;)

Quote: Wizard

You open up a can of worms with that question.

I only ask good questions. It's a side effect from having lightly studied philosophy in my teens :)

Quote:

To answer your question, leniency was definitely given as a plate got older. So, as long as you didn't touch a plate, it would actually go up in rating, because they get graded on a curve. Leniency was also given to state/year combinations made from poor materials.

I was thinking more along the lines of what the people who make plates do. For example, plates on delivery vehicles in Mex City are changed every two years. You might think those plates would be made with cheaper materials, less able to withstand time and the elements. but it's cheaper to make them the same way as the majority of other plates. So they're the same, though they are recycled sooner. (BTW they change the numbers, too, not just the physical plates).

Quote:

The Maryland 1910 is a classic example. A terribly made plate.

I think you've mentioned that one before. What was it made of? Tin?