The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk License Plate Brackets

When I bought my ’41 out of a barn it had a front plate bracket. Then when I purchased replica rear lights the left one came with a plate bracket. My question is, What would have been supplied originally? Did some states require both front and back plates in ’41? (I know Michigan required only rears) Did Chevy supply front and back or just front or back brackets as was required by the individual states?

Even though the state may have only required a rear plate, I'm bout 95% sure the truck would have come with a front and rear bracket.
DG

I sort-of agree with Denny. Since many, if not most States, required front and rear plates it would make sense that the vehicles would come with brackets for both.

When I got my truck, that was produced in Baltimore, it had front and rear YOM 1941 Maryland plates on it. Interesting question nevertheless.

California has always used both plates. You can get a ticket if you don't have your front plate on the vehicle.

I only need one plate and LEGAL in CA, ONLY if you have a 45 or 46 and running a DMV cleared 'Year of Manufacture' plate. In CA this is the one loophole allowing a single plate on a car or truck, I keep the DMV book in the glove box as most PD and CHP's are not aware of this. But, I have never been stopped.

And Im sure Chevy supplied both brackets.

I think one variable is that a rear bumper was not standard during these years. Rear plates probably would have been attached under the box or on the frame without a bracket.

FACTORY SET UP STOCK.YOU HAD FRont&rear plate brackets.over as out.IF YA EVER NOTICED THE FRONT SPLASH PAN HAS TWO HOLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE.THIS IS FOR THE PLATE BRACKET. LET'S NOT GO OVERBOARD ON THIS SIMPLE THOUGHT.WHAT IT IS. IS WHAT IT IS.SHOWING THIS TRUCK???????.IF NOT WHO CARES WHERE THE PLATE BRACKET IS.

I thought we're talking about rear plates...where do they go if you don't have a rear bumper & bumper brackets?

I thought the rear plate was always under the left rear tail light

Mine came under the left rear brake light on a 1951. I don't have a rear bumper on the firetruck.

The 41 has the rear plate standing up just above the left rear tail light. Every time I walked behind mine I snagged my pants and bent the plate, now it's in the center of my bumper.

But J, That's not what it was originally from the factory!!!!
Denny Graham

Denny, Yeah I know but I quit worrying about "the factory" years ago, now doing what works for ME!
Cheers
JM

Denny and J -- I too "twang" my rear plate with my right leg in the pocket area. It's mounted on the rear left under the tail light. Looks good there but is prone to rubbing the skin, especially while parked in the garage. I agree that if you ain't showing it what does it really matter?

Don

Twang !! (ouch) Yes, I have just found out how far the plate sticks out. Mounted my plate http://family.webshots.com/photo/2927555650101330996hlmsOj today. The first on the truck since ’72, that’s 37 years. Also took it on its first road trip, all of 4 miles, and nothing fell off !!

Congrats on your road trip Kip. How many states parts are in the truck now? Here's an alternate location to mount the license plate and save your pants.
Dan

Hi Dan:

The truck now has parts from 18 states and Canada. I was going to take it on the expressway today to see what it was like at around 50 or 55 MPH, but a fishing trip got in the way. Maybe tomorrow.

I do like the center plate mount, maybe one f these days I’ll move it

I got tired of hitting my leg on the plate so I got a 54 bumper with the center dropped section for the plate. I only had to get a license mount to go with it. I think it looks better , but thats only my opinion. The purists dont like mixing parts from other years- its not "factory correct". LOL.

Kip - That plate sure looks sweet on that ride. Do you get another metal each time you get dinged by it? It's really great that your truck has hit the road. It sure looks nice. Your plate collection looks a lot like mine also, at least from what I can make out in the photo. I've got every plate since my wife of 38 years met mounted in my garage.

Chev46 - That's a nice YOM Texas plate you've got there and the location looks good. Jack & Tom look good in the front also. Is the cargo legal? What a nice looking truck. You guys really inspire me and make me feel guilty by letting my '41 sit on jack stands in the garage again.

I guess I'll have to put up a photo of my plate mounted. I'll make that a priority tomorrow.

Don:

My plate collection goes back to 1913 (Michigan’s standard plate started in 1910). I’m missing ’10, 11’ 12 & a couple of the half year plates issued during the depression. Most have been found in trash piles of abandoned farms. Turns out that the oldest ones were porcelain coated so the best preserved.

Thanks for noticing, but I don’t think they give those out for license plate dings.

Sounds like a nice collection of plates and a lot of dump diving. Pretty cool about the porcelain ones lasting--at least something does today.

About the ding... I hope you took my attempt a humor as it was meant. That plate is really sharp looking and the metal certainly enhances it.

Don

Don:

Not many know what that is these days. Certinally no offence was taken.

As it turns out, throughout the entire rebuild the truck only bit me twice and those were very minor wounds. After spend 35 years in Ford foundries I guess all the safety talks soaked in

Don -- Frankly, I'm shocked. It matters to *me* -- A lot. Now I will be up all night worrying about *your* incorrect license plate location.

Sigh. I had such high hopes for you...


John

We always used Dupont's TAKE TWO safety course.

"TAKE TWO" means that a person can work more safely by taking just two minutes to think through a job before getting started.

T - Talk: Have I talked to everyone involved with this job?
A - Action: Do I know the proper actions I need to follow to do this job safely?
K - Knowledge: Do I have the proper knowledge to do this job safely?
E - Equipment: Do I have the proper equipment, including proper personal protective equipment, to do this job safely?

It all sounds a bit corney at first but once everyone is onboard all you have to do is hold up two fingers and the safety aspects are reinforced.

Unfortunately, these days I seem to take 10, as in hours, and don't do the job at all.