Military Post License Plate Material Question

[crayj]

At any time were military license plates ever made of a composite material?  I know that WWI / WWII plates and toppers were made out of stamped steel, but were they 

ever made out of a material other than steel (or aluminum) ?

 

Thanks, cj

[The Rooster]

I dont know about military plates during WW2.

But civilian plates were made out of soybeans.

I have a couple here somewhere.

And they are Illinois plates.

 

"During World War II, particularly in the state of Illinois, license plates were made from a soybean-based fiberboard material due to metal shortages, meaning they were essentially "license plates made out of soybeans"; this was done to conserve metal for the war effort.  "

 

Heres a great link.

 

[crayj]

Thanks Rooster, A very interesting thread, I had no idea that my description of "composite" was actually soybean paste...

 

[The Rooster]

On 11/17/2024 at 4:23 PM, crayj said:

Thanks Rooster, A very interesting thread, I had no idea that my description of "composite" was actually soybean paste...

 

In Illinois they were having problems with cows eating the plates!

 

https://www.greatfallshistorymuseum.org/blog/soy-license-plates