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1920 Indian 1000, plate number 5766

From 1912 to 1920 Ontario made flat metal motorcycle plates. The numbers and crest were silk-screened without any embossing. They were issued in pairs starting in 1917 – one for the rear of the motorcycle (one-sided graphic), while the front plate was mounted parallel over the front tire and was a two-sided graphic. Very few of these exist today as motorcycle registrations were very low during this era. Below are the known motorcycle plates from this decade.

1912 Plates Known: 3

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1912197Unknown Private CollectionSold on ebay in 2018.
1912664Unknown Private CollectionPictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
1912842Known Private CollectionMatt Embro spotted being used on a 1912 YOM motorcycle.

1913 Plates Known: 2

YearPlate NumberOriginal RegistrationOwnershipDetailsPicture
191399Archie Shuttleworth, 1545 Dundas Street, Toronto, OntUnknown CollectionPictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19132426No record (late year registration)Jeff Francis CollectionImage courtesy of Eric Taylor

1914 Plates Known: 7

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
19141965Unknown private collectionImage courtesy of known collector
19142175Unknown Private CollectionPictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19142356Unknown Private CollectionFor sale on ebay October 2020.
19142632Unknown Private CollectionSold on ebay in 2018.
19142744Known Private CollectionFor sale by Patterson at Barrie Flea Market c2000. Image courtesy of Jon Upton
19143317Joe Sallmen CollectionImage courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19143601Eric Vettoretti Collection

1915 Plates Known: 5

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1915617Known Private CollectionFor sale by Patterson at Barrie Flea Market c2000. Image courtesy of Jon Upton. Also pictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
1915985Eric Taylor CollectionImage courtesy of Eric Taylor.
19151908Eric Vettoretti Collection
19151933Jeff Francis CollectionImage courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19153137Unknown private collectionImage courtesy of known collector

1916 Plates Known: 4

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1916167 (Speculated)Known Private CollectionImage provided by owner. Could also be a 1912 given the white colour on the back of the plate. Inconclusive.
19161443Known Private Collection
19162465Unknown Private CollectionPictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19164555Eric Vettoretti Collection

1917 Plates Known: 5

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
19171185Known Private CollectionBack plate. For sale by Patterson at Barrie Flea Market c2000. Image courtesy of Jon Upton.
19172123Joe Sallmen CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19173260Jeff Francis CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19173431Unknown Private CollectionBack plate. Pictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19174479Eric Vettoretti CollectionBack plate.

1918 Plates Known: 12

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1918726Krystian Kozinski CollectionDouble sided front plate.
1918969Unknown Private CollectionPair pictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19181587Eric Vettoretti CollectionBack plate.
19182806Unknown Private CollectionBack plate. Internet Image
19182863Martine Stonehouse CollectionBlack plate
19182863Keith Murphy CollectionDouble sided front plate.
19182899Known Private CollectionPair; image courtesy of owner
19183414Jeff Francis CollectionImage courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19184510Unknown Private CollectionDouble sided front plate. Sold on ebay in 2017.
19185519Known Private CollectionDouble sided front plate. Image courtesy of owner

1919 Plates Known: 21

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1919133Unknown Private CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Terry Ellsworth. Sold on ebay in 2013.
1919268Known Private CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of owner
1919707Known Private CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of owner; reverse side Gary Irish
19191152Don McNeill CollectionImage courtesy of Don McNeill
19192023Known Private CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of owner
19192319Known Private CollectionPair. Image courtesy of owner
19192538Unknown Private CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Gary Irish
19192654Texas MacDonald CollectionBack plate
19193349Martine Stonehouse CollectionFront plate
19193349Bruce Madge CollectionBack plate
19193749Joe Sallmen CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19194956Unknown Private CollectionDouble sided single. Pictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19195617Dave Steckley CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Dave Steckley
19196076Jeff Francis CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19196117Eric Taylor CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Eric Taylor
19196154Eric Vettoretti CollectionBack plate.
19196173Derrick Andersen CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Krystian Kozinski
19196182Jon Upton CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Krystian Kozinski
19196195Keith Murphy CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Keith Murphy
1919 Henderson motorcycle with plate number 1414

1920 Plates Known: 12

YearPlate NumberOwnershipDetailsPicture
1920679William Loftus CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of William Loftus
1920812Unknown Private CollectionBack plate. Sold on ebay in 2017.
19201217Terry Ellsworth CollectionDouble sided single. Image courtesy of Terry Ellsworth
19201291Unknown Private CollectionDouble sided single. Pictured, pg 41 Ontario License Plates – A Century of History by (Sallmen)
19202405Unknown Private CollectionDouble sided single. Sold on ebay in 2014. Image courtesy of Worthpoint.
19203349Eric Vettoretti CollectionDouble sided single
19204700Known Private CollectionDouble sided single. Image provided by owner
19205938Joe Sallmen CollectionImage courtesy of Joe Sallmen
19206238Unknown Private CollectionBack plate. Image courtesy of Jon Upton. Taken in Acton.
19206347Known Private Collection
1918 Harley Davidson owned by the City of Ottawa, plate number 1740