Vanderbilt Cup Races

In both cases I think the right one is the original. The difference being the “rounded” mounting grommet on the rear vs the “cut” grommet on the left side plates.

I agree with Brian C. on the fronts but can’t speak to the rears w/o seeing a known real one.  My instant feeling was because the left or “new” ones show no wear around the grommet heads whereas all “old”’ ones (or, at the very least, original ones that were mounted) do.  Sam, III

My thoughts are the same as Brian above. There’s probably other clues to know a real or fake plate. I read Al’s article from 20 yrs ago in the Long Island Forum. Wonder if anyone has the ‘disc plates w/ 2 mounting holes’?

The font on the #20 is wrong. The authentic number #25 plate from 1935 uses the font copperplate.

Ditto to all the above. Sad to see people are pushing garbage for profit. This is nothing new.

Brian D, that would be interesting to see

1930 plate is genuine, the purchaser realized this I’m sure. 1935 plate has all the signs of a fake, plus it’s bid is $26. Some of the markings on the reverse look to be made with a center punch & hammer. Fakers are stuck using new grommets, old grommet would crumble with installation. I don’t really go on eBay, but I wonder if it’s just one individual reproducing plates?

All super interesting and useful—but someone who knows for sure please tell us which are the genuine items and which are the fakes!

oh, Oh
So maybe my LIMP Plate with mt street address number isn’t an Original? ????

thank you for all the information and the photographs Howard, as well as the advice you provided to my friend who was interested in the LIMP plate that sold . He grew up on long island and always wanted one of those plates and now owns one. Life is short so sometimes you have to step up to the plate ( no pun intended) and get what you have always wanted before it is to late. Happy Father’s Day , may you have many many more of them . I look forward to the day when we can all once again have Motor Parkway clean up crew events, and perhaps meet at the Waterfront Garage sometime to exchange hellos in person and experience the warm friendships that we have developed all due to our interest in long island history and a paved road of long ago. Keep well all, we are together in spirit as kindred souls.
Walt Gosden
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Howard Kroplick

Walt, thanks so much for the kind words and optimistic forecast!

Despite the lack of Roman numerals, I thought you might like this Sam III.

Thanks, Brian!  My grandfather pulled strings to get (NY) XX 17, as did my father to get XX 18 (the XX-series was supposedly reserved for legislators).  My classmate’s father had XX 19.  I moved heaven and earth to secure (NY) SB III and, after Dad died, to get XX 18.  For Mom’s car, at one point, we had 18 SB.  Somewhere I have a pic of THREE cars in the driveway with XX 18 [mine, my old ‘49 Chrysler, and mom’s with (PA) XX 18]!  I hated to give up SB III when we moved up here but almost immediately snagged (MA) SB III..  Tradition (60 years+)!  Sam 123

Art, Yes, the Nassau Light and Power Company moved to Glenwood Landing in the spring of 1904 but they retained the property in Roslyn. Today, at the south east corner of Willis Ave. and the South Service Rd. of the LIE is the National Grid complex that stretches east ward to the LIRR. This is whats left of what was originally the Roslyn Light and Power property which, prior to the construction of the LIE, stretched northward all the way to today’s Power House Rd. Prior to the building of the LIE,  that section of the roadway from Roslyn Rd. west to Shelter Rock Rd. was generally referred to as Power House Rd. Today Power House Rd. stretches from Roslyn Rd. west ward to Mineola Ave. East of Mineola Ave. it becomes Old Power House Rd. and continues west ward beyond the split at the beginning of the north service rd of the LIE. The last couple hundred feet is unpaved, reaching to Christopher Morley Park.

Thanks Howard for the alert on fake plates being sold online. Speechless, and have choice words about the practice. Thanks for the update

Currently on eBay. Real or fake? Seeing rust is orange on back makes me strongly believe it’s a fake.

George, difficult to tell. However, the creme-colored back makes me suspicious. Moreover, the plate was never recorded in the Long Island Motor Parkway Porcelain Plate Census.
https://porcelainplates.net/LIMP_census.html
https://porcelainplates.net/images/Long_Island_Motor_Parkway_NY_1933_25.jpg

Personally, I would not place a bid on this plate.

Howard

Thank you for insight. I’m going to pass on it.

George, here is the response from the person selling the plate when I asked about its authenticity:

“I have had the plate 40 years. It came from my father who was a classic car collector. The plate came off of one of the cars he had. It probably came off a 1932 Plymouth or a Ford model a. Also the wear marks are consistent with other plates I see online, with the rusted grommets.”

I’m not saying it’s a fake. I asked the gentleman who runs the sight for his input on it. You’ve obviously seen his response. So I believe you are addressing the wrong individual here. You must understand the amount of fraud with signs and plates? I certainly hope it’s real!