The automobile was patented by a man named Selden in the late 19th century. Most car makers paid him a royalty & were supplied a plate with raised lettering & a stamped number indicating the fee had been paid. (Henry Ford fought him until the patent was weeks from expiring.)
These plates have been reproduced by casting new ones from an original pattern. The back is, as you would expect, smooth but the front is very correct. The repros have no stamped numbers so you can stamp them to match the car if you know the number. I have used both originals & repros & once installed you can not tell the difference. The carrier plates could be cast in aluminum. You might have to live with an incorrect ser. no. or leave the number blank & stamp the correct number if it is important in your area.
The picture with no background is an original reverse stamped plate, the other is a new casting.
Last edited by Jack Innes; 12-12-12 at 05:26.
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12-12-12, 05:19
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