Wikipedia

Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1942

Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1941 Events of 1942 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1943

All of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates dated for the year 1942, and due to metal conservation for World War II, 1943 and 1944 for most states. In 1942, automobile production in the United States was halted for the duration of World War II, and many automobile factories were converted to munitions or other war-oriented industrial manufacturing purposes until 1946.[1][2][3][4]

Most states conserved metal for World War II in some way. Many states stopped issuing front plates, while other states such as Illinois issued license plates made out of soybean fiberboard. Most states either issued plates intended to be revalidated with metal tabs or revalidated license plates with tabs. Some other states, such as Wisconsin, used small plates.

Passenger baseplates

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Passenger  Car  Plates
Image Region Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Alabama Embossed yellow lettering and on black base. "ALABAMA 1942" under registration at bottom center. none 12A 345 unknown Coded by county of issuance:
0A1-234
00A1-234
  Alaska Embossed black lettering on white base. "ALASKA 1942" embossed at bottom. none 1234
  Arizona Embossed black lettering on white base with rounded corners. "ARIZONA 42" embossed at top. "GRAND CANYON STATE" at bottom center.
  Arkansas Embossed orange lettering and rims on black base. "1942" embossed at top; "ARKANSAS" embossed at bottom center. none 123–456 unknown
 

  		California Embossed yellow lettering on black base. "19 CALIFORNIA 41" embossed at top. none 1A 23 45
12 A 345 		unknown Embossed black-on-yellow "19 CALIFORNIA 42" renewal tabs to cover top lettering issued for wartime metal shortages.
  Canal Zone Embossed white lettering on navy base. "1942" embossed at top; "CANAL ZONE" at bottom. none 12345
  Colorado Embossed white lettering and rims on maroon base. "19 COLORADO 42" embossed at top. none 1-12345
12-1234 		unknown County-coded registration
  Connecticut Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "CONN. 1933" embossed in white characters at bottom. none 1234
A123
A/B123 		unknown Issued in blocks by branch office.
 

 

Delaware Two types: (1) Black porcelain-painted enamel on steel with painted white numbers. Renewal tabs for date and year inserted through slots at top right and left.
or (2) Embossed orange numbers on blue base. 		none 12-345
  District of Columbia Embossed yellow lettering and rims on black base. "DIST. OF COLUMBIA" or "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed at bottom; "EX 3-31-42" at top. none 1234
12-345
123–456
  Florida Embossed orange lettering and border on royaL blue background. "19 FLORIDA 42" embossed at top. none 12A3456 unknown County- and weight-class-coded
  Georgia Embossed white registration and embossed orange lettering and rims on navy blue plate. none A12-345 This may be the only 1942 passenger issue with different colors for different embossed lettering.
  Guam
  Hawai'i Embossed white lettering on black base. "HAWAII 1942" embossed at bottom. none A1234
  Idaho Embossed black lettering on white base.
  Illinois Embossed golden yellow lettering on black base plate. "ILLINOIS 1942" embossed at bottom. none 123 456 unknown
  Indiana Dark blue lettering embossed on golden yellow base. none 123–456 unknown
  Iowa Embossed white lettering on navy base. "IOWA – 1942" at top. none 1–2345
12-3456 		County-coded
  Kansas Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "KANSAS '42" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; painted sunflower logos at bottom corners. none 1-12345
10-12345
100–123 		unknown County-coded registration
  Kentucky Black base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom. none 12345 unknown
  Louisiana Embossed white lettering and rims on red base. Pelican logo separator embossed near center. none 12-345
123–456
  Maine Embossed black numbers on beige plate with border line; "MAINE 1942" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers. "VACATIONLAND" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers 12-345
123–456 		1 to approximately 177-000
  Maryland Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MARYLAND" embossed in black block letters centered at top; "3–31" embossed in top left corner and "1942" in top right corner. "DRIVE CAREFULLY" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom. 12-345
123–456 		30-000 to approximately 647-000
  Massachusetts Embossed white numbers on red plate or on dark green plate. "MASS – 42" embossed at bottom. none 12-345
123–456
  Michigan Embossed white lettering on dark green base. "MICHIGAN" embossed at top and "42" at bottom. none AB-12-34 County-coded (AB).
  Minnesota Embossed red lettering and rims on white base. "MINNESOTA 1942" embossed at bottom. 12-345
123–456 		unknown
  Mississippi Blue with embossed yellow lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. none 123–456 unknown Issued in blocks by county.
  Missouri Embossed black lettering and rims on white base. "MISSOURI 1942" embossed at bottom. none 12-345
123–456
  Montana Embossed white numbers on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–42" embossed in white block letters below numbers none 1-12345
10-1234
  Nebraska Embossed red lettering on white base. "NEBRASKA 42" embossed at bottom. none 1–2345
12-3456 		County-coded (12 or 1)
  Nevada Embossed white lettering and rims on blue base. "NEVADA 1942" embossed at bottom. none 123–456
  New Hampshire Embossed green lettering and rims on white base. Embossed forest green numbers on white plate with border line.
  New Jersey Embossed golden yellow numbers on black base. "N.J. 1942" embossed at bottom. none AB 123 County-coded (AB)
  New Mexico Embossed black lettering on white base. "NEW MEXICO" embossed at bottom with Zia sun symbol with two-letter year embossed at left. "LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed at top. 1–234
12-345 		County-coded (1 or 12)
  New York Embossed golden yellow lettering on black base. "NY 42" embossed at top center. none 1A23-45 (and other formats) County-coded.
  North Carolina Yellow base with embossed black lettering. "NORTH CAROLINA 42" at bottom. none 123–456 unknown
  North Dakota Embossed yellow lettering and rims on red plate. "ND" embossed vertically to left and "1942" vertically at right. none 12-345
123–456
  Ohio Embossed forest green lettering on white plate. "OHIO 1942" embossed at bottom. none 123-AB
12345
A-123-B
AB-123 		County-coded in blocks
  Oklahoma Embossed black lettering and rims on white plate. "OKLAHOMA 1942" at top. 1–2345
12-3456 		County-coded (1 or 12).
  Oregon Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "OREGON" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "42" in bottom right corner none 123–456 1 to approximately 495-000
  Pennsylvania Blue lettering on yellow base with blue state map outline. "1942 PENNA" embossed at top center. none A1234
AB123
  Rhode Island Embossed white lettering and rims on black base. "R.I. 42" embossed at bottom center. none 1234
A1234
  South Carolina Embossed golden yellow lettering on jet-black base. "SOUTH CAROLINA 42" embossed at top. none A-1
A-12
A-123
A-1234 		Coded by weight class (A).
  South Dakota Jet-black lettering embossed on golden yellow base. "SOUTH DAKOTA 1942" embossed at top. none 1-12345
12-12345 		County-coded (1 or 12)
  Tennessee Jet-black lettering and rims embossed on state-shaped base.
  Texas Black embossed lettering on gold base. none 123–456
A12-345
  Utah Black on white, "UTAH" at left under "42." "CENTER SCENIC AMERICA" embossed at bottom. A1234 unknown
  Vermont Navy lettering embossed on white base. "19 VERMONT 42" embossed at bottom. none 1–234
12-345
  Virginia Embossed black lettering on white base. "VIRGINIA 1942" embossed at top. none 123–456
  Washington Embossed green lettering on white base. "WASHINGTON 1942" embossed at bottom. none A-12345
  West Virginia Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" embossed in yellow block letters at bottom none 123–456 1 to approximately 349-000
  Wisconsin Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate; "19 WISCONSIN 42" at bottom "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at top 123 456 1 to approximately 775 000 Corners were rounded and plates were revalidated for 1943 with white tabs, for 1944 with green tabs, and for 1945 with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
  Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "WIS" embossed at bottom left, embossed yellow oval with debossed black "1942" at bottom right none A12, A1B, AB1, ABC, 12A, 1A2, 1AB A00 to 9ZZ Issued from late 1942 to late 1943 for World War II metal conservation; revalidated to 1945. Every possible combination of 3 characters was exhausted.
  Wyoming Embossed black numbers and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1942 WYOMING" embossed in black block letters at top none 1–1234
2-A123
10-1234 		County coded (1 or 10)

Non-passenger plates

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Non-passenger  plates  
Image (standard) Region Type Design and slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Wisconsin Bus Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "BUS" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and year A 12 Coded by weight class Weight classes are same as truck/heavy truck
  Cabin Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "41 CABIN 42" at top, "WISCONSIN" at bottom 1234 1 to approximately 1900
  Dealer Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 WIS DEALER 42" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1234 A Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealer
  Farm Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "41 FARM TR'K 42" at top, vertical "WIS" at left 12345 1 to approximately 65000 Some later plates had a "TR'K FARM" caption
  Motorcycle Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "WIS 1942" at bottom 1234 1 to approximately 3000
  Municipal Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; unknown format 1234 Unknown to approximately 8900 Identifiable by a hollow diamond
  Official Unknown format or colors 123 1 to unknown Identifiable by a hollow star.
  Light Private Trailer Embossed black serial on gray plate; "41 WIS TRAILER 42" at bottom, "NOT FOR HIRE" at top A1234 Coded by weight class Weight classes same as truck.
  Heavy Trailer Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "T-L" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and year A 12 Coded by weight class Weight classes same as heavy truck. Issued to all commercial trailers, and issued to private trailers above the D weight class.
  Truck Embossed black serial on gray plate; "41 WIS TRUCK 42" at bottom, "NOT FOR HIRE" at top 12-345A Coded by weight class Serials start at 25-001A. Weight classes are A, B, C, and D.
  Heavy Truck Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "TRK" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and year A 1234 Coded by weight class Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. Light commercial trucks received identical plates in the A, B, C, and D weight classes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN 9781886777002.
  2. ^ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
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