Soybean based License Plates

Soybean based License Plates

WWII era license plates are different from the plates today.  Due to all metal being allocated for war purposes during the World War II years and a few years after, states had to produce their license plates out of alternative materials. Some states, including Illinois, used a soybean-based fiberboard to make license plates. It is said that these plates were popular among goats who enjoyed eating them. WWII era plates in good condition, such as the examples on display at the museum, are highly collectible, because the plates were fragile and usually became warped and battered. Not only were the plates made of an alternative material, WWII plates are also smaller than the standard-size plate.  In Valentine’s collection, the WWII era plates all have the same number: 72 920.