1938 license plate bracket (rear)

[Matt Givler]

Enough Northstar woes, does anyone have a picture of the rear bracket that mounts the license plate bracket to the tail light casting?   I am missing mine and am guessing it might not be to hard to make.  It's model 6519, a four door sedan.
Thanks.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Matt,

Are you talking about the insert that goes into the tail light housing and is a "T" to hold the license plate (this part is the same for small and large series cars)?

If so I can take a picture off the one on my 38 65 series, that is off the car.

John Washburn

[Matt Givler]

It is whatever bolts to this part of the tail light housing.  Sheet metal?

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Matt,

Just as I suspected.

The straight piece goes on the bottom and is fastened by the two holes in the bottom of the unit.

There is a piece that goes up and is adjustable, with a hook to hold the license plate in place.

Will send a picture to your email address... It is also illustrated in the Master Parts Book.

John Washburn

[Glen]

Is the 60 series different from the 75 series?  What I found on my 38-7519 was a hook on the bottom where the two screws are, a vertical piece with a hook on the top and the cross bar is bolted to the vertical piece.  The top holes on the license plate is bolted to the cross bar. 

I can’t lay my hands on the vertical or the cross bar.  Below are a picture of the lower hook and a copy from the master parts book.  It says it is fro the series 38 60 and typical of 37-50, 60, 65, 70,75,85, 38-50. 

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Matt,

The picture shows the parts you need. The long license plate holder goes on the bottom of the mounting. The other piece mount vertically and clamps of the top of the license plate.

Hope this helps

John Washburn

[Mark Lowery]

John,
While we are on the topic, are these properly finished in black, or the body color?  If black, gloss or chassis (matte)?

Mark Lowery, CLC #25216

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Mark,

Sorry, I can only guess.

I powder coat the brackets with a nice shinny black, and on the front same for the license plate arm. They get a lot of bugs and dust so I like the powder coating - lasts.

Of course on the rear you never see them unless you look behind the license plate.

So if you figure it out let me know.

John Washburn

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

John's pieces would be painted black.  Any traces I have seen are not glossy black but not flat either.  I think the most accurate would be semi-black.  I like to use base coat with no clear.  It seems to have about the right sheen.  Glen's picture shows the set up to use with the accessory license frame.  These are the round stainless steel pieces that fits around the license plate.  In addition with this set up you need the hook piece, screw and square nut from John's picture but not the Tee piece.  The frame just sets in the hook in Glen's picture.  The screw is chrome.  The hook in Glen's picture is chrome.  The front is similar hardware except it is mounted on an arm that bolts to a bumper bolt.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Brad,

I wonder if the "T" piece was just for the front, that is what I took it off on my 38 65 series?

Most looking in the back garage is required, but not tonight.

John Washburn

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Brad,

As always when I am confused I go to the Master Parts Book...

In Group 14, #14.1950 it show the T bar for the rear license bracket part #1426355. This is what I showed in the picture.

It indicates that it fits 1938 series 50, 60, 60S, 65, 75, and 90.

The only note is:
(*14.1990)  When used on cars previous to 1938 Series, also use 2 screws 173117...

Let the discussion continue (or is that the beatings)...

John Washburn

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

John,
What you showed in the picture is correct for many factory rear license plate applications. What Glen showed is actually part of a accessory license plate frame kit. The picture from the MPB is, of course, factory. The instruction sheet I have says to remove the bar & install that lower cradle for the license frame. Many front holders use the same bar setup as the rear. I've seen differences in width on the verticle adjustment "hook" .
As for color, they were never body color but a semi-gloss or satin black finish.
HTH, Bob

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Brad and Bob,

Got my new Horseless Carrage License plate today, for the 1937 LaSalle,  from Colorado, so had to take the front and rear plates off. Cost for 5 years is reasonable $15.00, but if I remember correctly when I got my license plates in Monroe, Washington the Horseless plates were good for life.

Anyway, when I took the front plate off there was the adapter Bob was talking about. I knew I had seen it somewhere . Did not realize this was an aftermarket/dealer option.

Since Colorado only provides one plate for the rear of the car, plan to put an original 1937 plate from California. I found this in my first house when I lived in San Francisco (found 2 1937, 2 1938, and 1 1939 California's Worlds fair plate in the sand under the house). This car came from a Doctor in Livermore, California. The plate is used but should do the trick. Is two inches longer than what is now standard.

Of course I also looked at a 56 convertible Bob had for sale in the 70's, was to much of a restoration for me at the time.

Life is good