pl8ster.net :: Maine License Plates

This is one of four types of Maine Public Utilities Commission truck plates issued between the mid-1930s and 1971. This is the Interstate variant; more information is forthcoming. I will post other MPUC variations as I add them to my collection.

This is a fairly rare four-plate set from a single dealer - no idea if this is all of the plates alloted to this dealer or not. Plates C and D are unused, plate B has some bolt hole wear, and plate A has the bulk of the wear. The S over V prefix Dealer plate denoted a Snow Vehicle dealer until 1970. If these were 1970 plates, they would be Equipment Dealer plates, and the S over V would denote a Service Vehicle. The SV legend is still in use today, though the plates are now red on white, and the serial is now in a 123SV4 format, with the SV being the same size as the suffix letters used at left.

This plate is no longer in my collection (traded for the one on my #35 page. They still use this same format, but with just "MAINE" centered at the top, and a MUNICIPAL legend at the bottom. They don't use validation stickers anymore, either.

These plates are issue to vehicles owned by the Maine Turnpike Authority, and have changed little since this 1980 version; current plates have a larger "TPK" prefix and just "MAINE" between the top boltholes.

These plates are issued to vehicles owned by the University of Maine System, and are generally only seen on or around the various University of Maine campuses. This is actually the first number of this type issued.

This is just a nice example of a 1987-1999 Commercial plate, with a slight bit of overpaint, judging by the ever-so-slightly fatter numbers. These plates are, in fact, issued to commercial vehicles, which can include just about anything used for commercial purposes. Current-base plates have a "COMMERCIAL" legend between the lower boltholes.

This is an older die-style Veteran plate, obviously, and you can see that they went all-out on this design. Maine now issues nicely-done stickers, representing the various comabt theaters and military branches, that are placed over the big red V.

This is the first Conservation plate, predating the Loon by almost twenty years. These plates were issued from 1975 to 1980 and most often had letter prefixes; the first plate (no letter prefix) was a Commission plate, and the second plate was a Department of Forestry plate (F prefix). Other prefixes that were issued include L = Land Use & Resources, G = Geology, PR= Parks & Recreation, and PL = Public Lands (the only other type I've actually seen - Dave Nicholson has one in his collection).
The splotchy paint you see is from the manufacturing process. The Commission plate looks to have never been put on a vehicle. The Forestry plate has definitely been used, judging by the slight discoloring of the background and faint marks around the bolt holes. One can only wonder if the discoloration is due to sun exposure, or being close to a forest fire.

This is a plate that would be issued to a state-owned vehicle. This is one of the few Maine types where you will actually see a leading zero in a registration number.

This is an interesting plate. These plates were issued to 'honey wagons' - those trucks that go around pumping out septic tanks. Supposedly, a very limited number of these were ever issued.

Here's another non-passenger plate that is no longer issued. I believe these plates were absorbed into the 'Trailer Dealer' base sometime after 1980.

Pretty basic 'Farm' plate here, but Maine being my home state, I'd like to display as many types as possible.

These plates used to be issued for 20 years, but now I understand they may issue these to all tractor-trailer trailers and that the Long-Term Trailer plates have been discontinued. Stay tuned. I can tell you that the first two digits correspond to the year of expiration.

By May 1, 2003, when this optional plate became available, Maine was starved for a new optional issue. The chickadee plate was almost four years old and the last optional issued - the University plate - was issued eight years prior. Proceeds from the extra fees associated with this plate benefit the Maine Lobsterman's Council. Numbering started at 100-AAA and is slated to end at 999-ABZ. As of October, 2007, plates are into the ABR series.
Believe it or not, this plate is NOT on one of my vehicles, though I was able to make sure it stayed close to home on a neighbor's vehicle.

This type, introduced in October 2006, is for a vehicle that is at least 30 years old but made after 1948, or a vehicle that was manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle from the same period. These plates are issued along with Antique Auto (vehicle at least 25 years old), Street Rod (modified or replica vehicle, pre-1949) and Horseless Carriage (pre-1916) plates.

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	This is one of four types of Maine Public Utilities Commission truck plates issued between the mid-1930s and 1971. This is the Interstate variant; more information is forthcoming. I will post other MPUC variations as I add them to my collection.
	This is a fairly rare four-plate set from a single dealer - no idea if this is all of the plates alloted to this dealer or not. Plates C and D are unused, plate B has some bolt hole wear, and plate A has the bulk of the wear. The S over V prefix Dealer plate denoted a Snow Vehicle dealer until 1970. If these were 1970 plates, they would be Equipment Dealer plates, and the S over V would denote a Service Vehicle. The SV legend is still in use today, though the plates are now red on white, and the serial is now in a 123SV4 format, with the SV being the same size as the suffix letters used at left.
	This plate is no longer in my collection (traded for the one on my #35 page. They still use this same format, but with just "MAINE" centered at the top, and a MUNICIPAL legend at the bottom. They don't use validation stickers anymore, either.
	These plates are issue to vehicles owned by the Maine Turnpike Authority, and have changed little since this 1980 version; current plates have a larger "TPK" prefix and just "MAINE" between the top boltholes.
	These plates are issued to vehicles owned by the University of Maine System, and are generally only seen on or around the various University of Maine campuses. This is actually the first number of this type issued.
	This is just a nice example of a 1987-1999 Commercial plate, with a slight bit of overpaint, judging by the ever-so-slightly fatter numbers. These plates are, in fact, issued to commercial vehicles, which can include just about anything used for commercial purposes. Current-base plates have a "COMMERCIAL" legend between the lower boltholes.
	This is an older die-style Veteran plate, obviously, and you can see that they went all-out on this design. Maine now issues nicely-done stickers, representing the various comabt theaters and military branches, that are placed over the big red V.
	This is the first Conservation plate, predating the Loon by almost twenty years. These plates were issued from 1975 to 1980 and most often had letter prefixes; the first plate (no letter prefix) was a Commission plate, and the second plate was a Department of Forestry plate (F prefix). Other prefixes that were issued include L = Land Use & Resources, G = Geology, PR= Parks & Recreation, and PL = Public Lands (the only other type I've actually seen - Dave Nicholson has one in his collection). The splotchy paint you see is from the manufacturing process. The Commission plate looks to have never been put on a vehicle. The Forestry plate has definitely been used, judging by the slight discoloring of the background and faint marks around the bolt holes. One can only wonder if the discoloration is due to sun exposure, or being close to a forest fire.
	This is a plate that would be issued to a state-owned vehicle. This is one of the few Maine types where you will actually see a leading zero in a registration number.
	This is an interesting plate. These plates were issued to 'honey wagons' - those trucks that go around pumping out septic tanks. Supposedly, a very limited number of these were ever issued.
	Here's another non-passenger plate that is no longer issued. I believe these plates were absorbed into the 'Trailer Dealer' base sometime after 1980.
	Pretty basic 'Farm' plate here, but Maine being my home state, I'd like to display as many types as possible.
	These plates used to be issued for 20 years, but now I understand they may issue these to all tractor-trailer trailers and that the Long-Term Trailer plates have been discontinued. Stay tuned. I can tell you that the first two digits correspond to the year of expiration.
	By May 1, 2003, when this optional plate became available, Maine was starved for a new optional issue. The chickadee plate was almost four years old and the last optional issued - the University plate - was issued eight years prior. Proceeds from the extra fees associated with this plate benefit the Maine Lobsterman's Council. Numbering started at 100-AAA and is slated to end at 999-ABZ. As of October, 2007, plates are into the ABR series. Believe it or not, this plate is NOT on one of my vehicles, though I was able to make sure it stayed close to home on a neighbor's vehicle.
	This type, introduced in October 2006, is for a vehicle that is at least 30 years old but made after 1948, or a vehicle that was manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle from the same period. These plates are issued along with Antique Auto (vehicle at least 25 years old), Street Rod (modified or replica vehicle, pre-1949) and Horseless Carriage (pre-1916) plates.