Pre-state-issued license plates from 1905 to 1911.
[Fig. 1] A 1910 Franklin car owned by JC Hostetler of The Dalles, Oregon. An undated plate can be seen on the back, possibly #2501 or #2901. Photo courtesy of Oregon Digital.
The first registration certificates issued by the state of Oregon go back as far as 1905, according to the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) archival records. While the state didn’t issue plates to motorists, there were early standards given out so you could display the number the state issued you: the characters had to be at least three inches tall with the letters “ORE” preceding the number. They also had to be light in color on a dark background. This allowed motorists to get creative with how they displayed their registration number and led to the creation of what is known as pre-state or undated Oregon license plates. These numbers were not limited to cars but would have also been registered to trucks and motorcycles.
Most commonly, motorists chose to paint their registration number on their car, but some would create something like a plate with their number on it to hang on the car. Some of these plates were made from wood and leather, while some were made of metal or porcelain. There are likely few examples of leather and wood plates left now that a century has passed since they were created, but a few porcelain examples remain.
[Fig. 2] The lowest numbered example known to exist, this plate was made from porcelain. Photo courtesy of the ALPCA archives and Alan Betts.
Over the first few years Oregon registered cars, the numbers fluctuated until taking off in 1908 as cars became more common and accessible to Oregonians.
Early Vehicle Registration Numbers
1905 | 218 Registrations |
1906 | 142 Registrations |
1907 | 236 Registrations |
1908 | 701 Registrations |
1909 | 1271 Registrations |
1910 | 2493 Registrations |
1911 | 6000+ Registrations |
[Table 1] Data courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation
Starting in 1908, a consistent license plate design was introduced as an option for motorists. A steel plate, roughly 4.5 in by 13.375 in, was produced by a company out of Idaho. Pacific Coast is rumored to be the company that produced these plates, but that is unconfirmed. Between 1905 and 1907, 596 motorists were registered according to state records. The state had not yet adopted the practice of re-issuing the numbers each year, so in 1908, the plates issued started around the number 600. These state-provided license plates were optional and due to this, it is assumed not all numbers were issued on this new license plate. These undated plates were white on maroon, following the early standard of light on dark. The plate was made out of steel, but is two pieces. The back piece is a solid rectangle of steel, but the 'ORE' and numbers were stamped in a thin piece that was wrapped around the back of the plate. Due to their construction, it's not uncommon to find one with the front rusted through. It is rumored that there were also red and black base colors, but at the time of writing, no public examples of these exist outside a black and white photo in an ALPCA newsletter from the early 90’s.
[Fig. 3] An early, original undated plate. This plate was issued on March 26, 1909 to K.H. Burley of McMinnville on his Studebaker. (The Kropf Collection)
[Fig. 4] The last known undated plate to be issued. This plate was issued on May 31, 1911 to A.S. Peterson of Portland. The next day the state began issuing dated 1911 license plates. (The Kropf Collection)
The lowest confirmed number still in existence is #77 (Fig. 2, The Alan Betts Collection), and is a porcelain plate. Based on the number and registration totals, it is likely this plate is from 1905. The owner likely sent back east to a company that produced porcelain plates. The highest known number, #6475 (Fig. 4, The Kropf Collection), was issued to A.S. Peterson of Portland, Oregon (according to the Salem archives). on the last day the undated plates were issued, May 31, 1911. The next day, June 1, Oregon began issuing the first dated plates, the black-on-yellow 1911 license plate.
[Fig. 5] A restored 1911 license plate. (The Kropf Collection)
Records for who these early license plates were registered to are still available if you know where to look. In Salem, Oregon, you can get access to the archives where the book with names and addresses of registrants is kept. Louis Stone, a well-known Oregon collector, at one time, had all that info recorded and was always willing to share the info on your number before he passed away.
The undated, pre-state Oregon is often the last piece for Oregon collectors, due to the relative scarcity, age, and cost, but no Oregon run is complete without one. Do you have one? Share photos of yours by emailing us at info@nwlicenseplates.com!
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