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Indiana Archive
TOTAL KNOWN PORCELAIN VARIETIES: 3
I: PRE-STATES / CITY & COUNTY PLATES
None known.
II: STATE-ISSUED PASSENGER PLATES
The state of Indiana first began issuing plates in 1913. The ordinance was to
become effective as of July 1, and bids to produce the plates were solicited at
the end of April. The Secretary of State estimated that the state might need as
many as 45,000 plates in 1913, and bids were solicited to produce a conservative
initial order of 35,000. Ultimately, Secretary of State Ellingham awarded the
contract in May, selecting the Quayle Enamel Company of Albany, NY from among
seven total bidders. This is the first known contract for porcelain license plates
Quayle ever held. The final product was an attractive yellow and black porcelain
plate that was issued in pairs and varied in length depending on the plate
number. Owners paid from $5 to $20 to register, depending on the horsepower of
their vehicle. The contract stipulated that 25,000 plates be delivered by June 15.
For some reason, however, Quayle had great difficulty supplying the plates on
time and lengthy delays were the result. Although the plates were only good for
six months (July 1 – December 31), owners in Auburn, Indiana didn't receive their
plates until late July. And not until mid-August did a sufficient supply of 15,000-
20,000 plates finally arrive at the Secretary of State's office in Indianapolis for
distribution.
Interestingly, this contract resulted in a breach of contract lawsuit brought
against Oliver A. Quayle and the Quayle Enamel Company in Indiana's Marion
Circuit Court. Filed on August 23rd of 1913, the suit alleged that the plaintiff,
Harry J. Herff, was an agent for Quayle who negotiated the deal with the state of
Indiana to produce the 1913 porcelains with the stipulation that he receive 10% of
any profits gained via that contract. However, after the deal was struck, Herff did
not receive his cut, which amounted to more than $1,100. This lawsuit and
Quayle's inability to get the plates out on time turned out to be just the first in a
string of failures for the troubled Quayle Enamel Company.
On December 10th, the “Fort Wayne News” reported that up to that date, nearly
35,000 passenger plates had been issued, and by the end of the month, 44,715
automobiles had been registered in the state. But after just one year of porcelain
- perhaps due to the disappointment engendered by The Quayle Enamel
Company's inability to supply the 1913 plates on time - the state switched to
embossed metal plates in 1914. As a result, Indiana joined the ranks of Georgia,
Minnesota, New York, Washington, and Wyoming as a state whose
experimentation with porcelain lasted just one year. Notably, however, Indiana is
the only one of these states to issue a porcelain as its very first issue, as all of
the other single-porcelain states adopted porcelain only after their state runs had
already commenced with metal plates.
III: STATE-ISSUED NON-PASSENGER PLATES
MANUFACTURER
By the end of 1913, newspapers reported that some 438 dealer plates had been
issued. Dealers and manufacturers were hit with a heavy registration fee of $25.
For whatever reason, manufacturer plates differed from passengers in that the
size of the plate did not vary depending on the plate number. It is unclear if they
were issued in pairs, but newspaper reports indicate that dealers and
manufacturers could purchase duplicate plates – presumably with the same
number – for a cost of $1 each.
MOTORCYCLE
The Secretary of State overestimated the state’s need for motorcycle license
plates, soliciting bids to produce 10,000 and believing that even more might be
needed before the year was up. As it turned out, just over 6,500 motorcycle
plates were actually issued in 1913, with each cyclist paying a registration fee of
three dollars. Unlike the passenger issues, motorcycle plates carried a "C"
prefix, were issued as singles only and did not vary in length depending on the
plate number.
FURTHER READING
“The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette,” June 13, 1913; June 22, 1913; July 22, 1913;
August 18, 1913
“The Fort Wayne News,” April 26, 1913; June 28, 1913; December 10, 1913;
December 26, 1913
“The Indianapolis Star,” March 24, 1913; April 14, 1912; May 2, 1913; August 12,
1913; August 24, 1913; December 31, 1913
I: PRE-STATES / CITY & COUNTY PLATES
None known.
II: STATE-ISSUED PASSENGER PLATES
The state of Indiana first began issuing plates in 1913. The ordinance was to
become effective as of July 1, and bids to produce the plates were solicited at
the end of April. The Secretary of State estimated that the state might need as
many as 45,000 plates in 1913, and bids were solicited to produce a conservative
initial order of 35,000. Ultimately, Secretary of State Ellingham awarded the
contract in May, selecting the Quayle Enamel Company of Albany, NY from among
seven total bidders. This is the first known contract for porcelain license plates
Quayle ever held. The final product was an attractive yellow and black porcelain
plate that was issued in pairs and varied in length depending on the plate
number. Owners paid from $5 to $20 to register, depending on the horsepower of
their vehicle. The contract stipulated that 25,000 plates be delivered by June 15.
For some reason, however, Quayle had great difficulty supplying the plates on
time and lengthy delays were the result. Although the plates were only good for
six months (July 1 – December 31), owners in Auburn, Indiana didn't receive their
plates until late July. And not until mid-August did a sufficient supply of 15,000-
20,000 plates finally arrive at the Secretary of State's office in Indianapolis for
distribution.
Interestingly, this contract resulted in a breach of contract lawsuit brought
against Oliver A. Quayle and the Quayle Enamel Company in Indiana's Marion
Circuit Court. Filed on August 23rd of 1913, the suit alleged that the plaintiff,
Harry J. Herff, was an agent for Quayle who negotiated the deal with the state of
Indiana to produce the 1913 porcelains with the stipulation that he receive 10% of
any profits gained via that contract. However, after the deal was struck, Herff did
not receive his cut, which amounted to more than $1,100. This lawsuit and
Quayle's inability to get the plates out on time turned out to be just the first in a
string of failures for the troubled Quayle Enamel Company.
On December 10th, the “Fort Wayne News” reported that up to that date, nearly
35,000 passenger plates had been issued, and by the end of the month, 44,715
automobiles had been registered in the state. But after just one year of porcelain
- perhaps due to the disappointment engendered by The Quayle Enamel
Company's inability to supply the 1913 plates on time - the state switched to
embossed metal plates in 1914. As a result, Indiana joined the ranks of Georgia,
Minnesota, New York, Washington, and Wyoming as a state whose
experimentation with porcelain lasted just one year. Notably, however, Indiana is
the only one of these states to issue a porcelain as its very first issue, as all of
the other single-porcelain states adopted porcelain only after their state runs had
already commenced with metal plates.
III: STATE-ISSUED NON-PASSENGER PLATES
MANUFACTURER
By the end of 1913, newspapers reported that some 438 dealer plates had been
issued. Dealers and manufacturers were hit with a heavy registration fee of $25.
For whatever reason, manufacturer plates differed from passengers in that the
size of the plate did not vary depending on the plate number. It is unclear if they
were issued in pairs, but newspaper reports indicate that dealers and
manufacturers could purchase duplicate plates – presumably with the same
number – for a cost of $1 each.
MOTORCYCLE
The Secretary of State overestimated the state’s need for motorcycle license
plates, soliciting bids to produce 10,000 and believing that even more might be
needed before the year was up. As it turned out, just over 6,500 motorcycle
plates were actually issued in 1913, with each cyclist paying a registration fee of
three dollars. Unlike the passenger issues, motorcycle plates carried a "C"
prefix, were issued as singles only and did not vary in length depending on the
plate number.
FURTHER READING
“The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette,” June 13, 1913; June 22, 1913; July 22, 1913;
August 18, 1913
“The Fort Wayne News,” April 26, 1913; June 28, 1913; December 10, 1913;
December 26, 1913
“The Indianapolis Star,” March 24, 1913; April 14, 1912; May 2, 1913; August 12,
1913; August 24, 1913; December 31, 1913
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| Headline announcing that Quayle was selected to make the Indiana 1913 porcelains |
| The Indianapolis Star, May 2, 1913 |
| Headline announcing that Quayle was selected to make the Indiana 1913 porcelains |
| The Indianapolis Star, May 2, 1913 |
| Headline about the breach of contract suit brought against the Quayle Enamel Company regarding the 1913 Indiana porcelains |
| The Indianapolis Star, August 24, 1913 |
| Note the difference between an original issue (#93) and a re-issue (#7). This #7 plate was a replacement plate made up at some point early in the manufacturing process when the three-digit plates were being produced. The original #7 was probably accidentally skipped or destroyed in the factory and a new one was produced as a replacement. |
