1915 License Plate Bracket

[Original Smith]

Did Neverout or anyone else made a license plate extension to fit a longer plate than the stock Ford issue?

[Chris Instness]

I would also be interested to know this. The mounting holes on a 1915 bracket do not line up with the holes on an original CAL 1915 plate. The other problem I have encountered with the larger plate is the exhaust pipe blows right on the back corner of the plate. I have considered making my own adapting bracket to not only solve the problem with the mounting holes, but also to relocate the plate down and to the left away from the exhaust pipe. If an era correct accessory was available I would prefer that.

[Rich Eagle]

This 1912 iron Neverout is 11 3/4 overall slot width. I don't know what standard ones are.

[Original Smith]

Thanks for getting back to me. Same problem here.

[Original Smith]

A 1915 Ford license plate bracket is a separate unit bolted to the side of the lamp bracket. My question is there a license plate extension available for longer license plates as pictured above?

[RajoRacer]

I've not seen any type of extension for that bracket - I have several different accessory plate holders but none that have the "threaded stud" Larry's referring to.

[Steve Jelf]

I didn't know whether an extension exists or not, but I knew that if it did it would take me forever to find it, and it would be expensive, so I made my own.

[hull 433]

The same issue has been coming up over here. The 1915 California plates do not fit the Ford-supplied 1915 bracket.

The 1916 California plates are smaller, and I think the state's network of Ford dealers may have lobbied for this in some way. With nearly half the cars in the state Fords, they had considerable clout. Auto supply stores advertised license brackets for Fords, but with no clear evidence for the rear bracket design, if any.

[hull 433]

Plate standardization was becoming a serious topic by 1915.

This article from December 1915 describes how standardization committees were moving towards establishing standards for both license plates and mounts, which would in theory be adopted by all domestic manufacturers. They wanted plates to be simple to put on, held securely, clearly visible and illuminated, and easily read, regardless of state, and that this would come into use by 1917 or so.

[Kerry]

Canadian Ford 12" long, mounts on the early body mount for the 15 tail light.

[Erik Johnson]

My father has been collecting license plates for 70 years and, even though I am not a collector, I've been fully immersed since I was born.

The most common period solution was to simply punch or drill extra holes in the license plate so it could be mounted on the bracket. This wasn't always pretty, especially when done haphazardly to a porcelain license plate. (Also, extra holes in antique license plates typically reduce their value.)

Solutions as to not damage and devalue the license plate:

Mount the plate on a thick piece of sheet metal that is taller than the plate and drill two holes where needed on that sheet metal backer that correspond with the slots on the bracket.

or

Make a thin wood backer that is the same size as the plate. Drill two countersunk holes in the wood backer and install it on the license plate bracket with machine screws and nuts. Mount the license plate on the wood backer with wood screws.

(When the State of Minnesota issued aluminum plates from 1912 through 1917, they advised motorists to mount them on wood.)

[KimDobbins]

This one will fit

[Original Smith]

Kim: You have missed the point. That early bracket doesn't apply to a 1915!

[Chris Instness]

Just a follow up to Larry’s question.
I am yet to find an era bracket to solve the issues with mounting a 1915 CAL plate to a 1915 bracket, so I made my own. Very simple, but effective. It is strap aluminum riveted together. It also centers the plate with the tail lamp and moves it away from the exhaust pipe.