Another set of six Long Island Motor Parkway license plates has been discovered
Six more Motor Parkway license plates have been discovered, once again, by the family of Philip Rothblum.
A collection of six Motor Parkway license plates was recently rediscovered again on Long Island. This is believed to be the second largest number of Motor Parkway license plates found in one collection in over 50 years. The largest previous lot of seven plates also came from the Philip Rothblum collection back in 2022. Overall, 13 Motor Parkway license plates have been discovered from the Rothblum collection.
Among the most sought-after pieces of Vanderbilia are the porcelain Motor Parkway license plates. From 1912 to 1937, an estimated 7,400 Long Island Motor Parkway license plates were manufactured including 6,700 regular plates and 700 golf club plates. However, 97+ existing original plates have been documented.
The definitive article on Long Island Motor Parkway license plates is the article The License Plates of the Vanderbilt Long Island Motor Parkway by my favorite co-author Al Velocci published in the Spring 2000 issue of the Long Island Forum.
Below is the background on the recently discovered collection.
Howard Kroplick and Greg O.
Original location of the plates
The overall 13 Rothblum license plates were originally found on the former property of the Massapequa Lodge located on Hicksville Road, now in Bethpage.
The Massapequa Lodge and remnants of the Motor Parkway could still be seen in the late 1960s.
Courtesy of Ron Ridolph and Nassau County Police Department archives.
In 1969, real estate developer Philip Rothblum purchased the property and developed a residential apartment complex.
The complex is now a cooperative community called Crescent Woods,
Rediscovery of the plates
"A passionate skier, biker, hiker, and steel sculptor, as well as an avid art lover, philanthropist, and optimist", Philip Rothblum passed away at the age of 98.
The first seven plates in 2022 were found by his family in his office. The family did not know what the plates were or their value. After making contact with me, I emailed the family information on the plates and their market value and recommended that they place the plates on Ebay. In the end, the family and I agreed on a price for the collection.
The family located another six plates and reached out again bringing a total of an amazing 13 plates from one collection.
The Six Newly-discovered Motor Parkway License Plates
1928
1928
1929
Of note on this plate is its extremely high and rare 4-digit number.
As per Al Velocci, 1929 was the largest order for a single year of plates, with 1,250 plates ordered that year. Obviously, 1929 was the most popular year for traveling on the Motor Parkway. Of the other known 1929 plates, only one other is higher at #1162 of 1250.
1931
As documented by the 1903 list of license plates, it is likely the #384 plate was owned by financier E. F, Hutton, who lived in the Hillwood mansion in Brookville, now LIU Post.
1931
1932
Comments
Awesome find Howard There are several other names on the list that should be highlighted I’ll work on it and get back to you JeRita
How come it said 7 were found instead of 6?
Howard Kroplick: Good catch! Overall 13 Motor Parkway license plates have bee discovered from the Rothblum collection.
Very nice
Nice find Howard! With over 7,000 produced I’m sure there are more to be discovered.
Howard, Congratulations on the latest additions to your Motor Parkway plates collection. This new find has a plate though not specifically a separate edition, has what i would call a distinct “category “. I’m referring to the 1929 plate numbered 1086. That year Kienzle ordered 201 plates numbering 1000-1200. These plates were not issued to the general public. Kienzle referred to them as “pass” plates. These were issued at no cost, to local politicians, police officials, fire chiefs, hospitals, family members, bankers, attorneys and good friends, all not regular users of the Parkway. Even I was surprised to learn that Queens County Highway Engineers for a couple years were issued free Motor Parkway plates. I believe that only one other plate of this type exists. Looking forward to when you incorporate them into your collection. Al.
What will become of those plates?
Howard Kroplick: They were purchased for my collection.