|
British
Columbia Commercial Truck License Plates
1952 - 1954
|
This
plate was rejected due to a defect under the five in
"52". |
The ill-fated Totem base! A striking plate in terms of its auluminum design, but totally ill-suited to British Columbia's rugged climate and one that was ultimately done in by its poorly conceived renewal tab system. Originally intended to last for a period of five years, the plate was abandoned within 18 months and while the passenger plates would be renewed by tab in 1954, the Commercial series was issued a whole new license plate made of metal instead of aluminium in 1954. |
Due to space constraints, the Commercial base was also required to use a separate design to that of passenger license plates. While their was space for the thunderbird totem, the maple leaf had to be dropped in order to leave enough space for the registration number.
| |
| 1952 |
1-digit |
2-digit |
3-digit |
Issuing
Statistics |
Initial Series:
|
C1 to C90-000 |
Registered:
|
80,842 |
Over-run:
|
Not applicable |
Issued:
|
Pairs |
Manufacturer:
|
Oakalla Prison |
Dimensions:
|
335 mm x 137 mm |
Material:
|
Aluminium |
Comments:
|
* Estimate / Unconfirmed |
|
|
|
5-digit
(10,000 block) |
|
 |
|
 |
5-digit
(60,000 block) |
5-digit
(70,000 block) |
|
Distribution Info - 1952 |
Victoria:
|
C1 to C13-000 |
(13,000) |
Abbotsford:
|
C13-001 to C14-300 |
(1,300) |
Alberni:
|
C14-301 to C15-350 |
(1,050) |
Ashcroft:
|
C15-351 to C15-625 |
(275) |
Atlin:
|
C15-626 to C15-700 |
(75) |
Barkerville:
|
C15-701 to C15-850 |
(150) |
Burns Lake:
|
C15-851 to C16-900 |
(1,050) |
Chilliwack:
|
C16-901 to C19-100 |
(2,200) |
Clinton:
|
C19-101 to C19-375 |
(275) |
Courtenay:
|
C19-376 to C20-525 |
(1,150) |
Cranbrook:
|
C20-526 to C22-325 |
(1,800) |
Creston:
|
C22-326 to C23-175 |
(850) |
Duncan:
|
C23-176 to C24-675 |
(1,500) |
|
Fernie:
|
C24-676 to C25-375 |
(700) |
Golden:
|
C25-376 to C26-100 |
(725) |
(Field):
|
C26-101 to C26-175 |
(75) |
Grand Forks:
|
C26-176 to C26-675 |
(500) |
Greenwood:
|
C26-676 to C26-975 |
(300) |
Kamloops:
|
C26-976 to C28-975 |
(2,000) |
Kaslo:
|
C28-976 to C29-150 |
(175) |
Kelowna:
|
C29-151 to C31-250 |
(2,100) |
Lillooet:
|
C31-251 to C31-475 |
(225) |
(Bralorne):
|
C31-476 to C31-625 |
(150) |
Merritt:
|
C31-626 to C32-000 |
(375) |
Mission:
|
C32-001 to C34-000 |
(2,000) |
Nanaimo:
|
C34-001 to C36-500 |
(2,500) |
|
Nelson:
|
C36-501 to C38-000 |
(1,500) |
(Salmo):
|
C38-001 to C38-100 |
(100) |
(Castlegar):
|
C38-101 to C38-200 |
(100) |
New Denver:
|
C38-201 to C38-425 |
(225) |
(Nakusp):
|
C38-426 to C38-650 |
(225) |
New Westminster:
|
C38-651 to C43-850 |
(5,200) |
(Cloverdale):
|
C43-851 to C45-150 |
(1,300) |
(Haney):
|
C45-151 to C46-150 |
(1,000) |
Oliver:
|
C46-151 to C46-900 |
(750) |
Penticton:
|
C46-901 to C48-500 |
(1,600) |
(Summerland):
|
C48-501 to C48-750 |
(250) |
Pouce Coupe:
|
C48-751 to C51-250 |
(2,500) |
Powell River:
|
C51-251 to C51-900 |
(650) |
Prince George:
|
C51-901 to C53-900 |
(2,000) |
|
Prince Ruppert:
|
C53-901 to C55-000 |
(1,100) |
Princeton:
|
C55-001 to C55-550 |
(550) |
Quesnel:
|
C55-551 to C56-450 |
(900) |
Revelstoke:
|
C56-451 to C56-850 |
(400) |
Rossland:
|
C56-851 to C57-250 |
(400) |
Salmon Arm:
|
C57-251 to C58-250 |
(1,000) |
Smithers:
|
C58-251 to C59-000 |
(750) |
Trail:
|
C59-001 to C60-500 |
(1,500) |
Vancouver:
|
C60-501 to C80-500 |
(20,000) |
Vernon:
|
C80-501 to C82-800 |
(2,300) |
(Armstrong):
|
C82-801 to C83-050 |
(250) |
(Enderby):
|
C83-051 to C83-300 |
(250) |
Williams Lake:
|
C83-301 to C84-050 |
(750) |
Stock Room:
|
C84-051 to C90-000 |
(5,950) |
|
While plates issued in 1952 were re-validated in 1953 with renewal tabs (see below), approximately 12,000 additional plates were required for new registrations in 1953. These plates are easily identifiable by the absence of the "52" date above the thunderbird totem on the right side of the plate. That the totem was retained is odd given on similar plates issued for passenger vehicles in 1953, the "52" date and totem were both dropped.
| |
| 1953 Base |
C90,000 block |
C91,000 block |
C92,000 block |
Issuing
Statistics |
Initial Series:
|
C90-001 to CA2-000* |
Registered:
|
86,065 |
Over-run:
|
Unknown |
Issued:
|
Pairs |
Manufacturer:
|
Oakalla Prison |
Dimensions:
|
335 mm x 137 mm |
Material:
|
Aluminium |
Comments:
|
* Estimate / Unconfirmed |
|
|
C93,000 block |
C94,000 block |
C95,000 block |
|
|
|
C99,000 block |
CA0 block |
CA00 block |
CA000 block |
 |
|
Both renewals and new registrations in 1953 were issued white-on-blue tabs for validation purposes. While this was applicable for both passenger and commercial vehicles, due to the space constraints on the Commercial base, the tab issued for Commercial plates is narrower, does not include the thunderbord totem and also has a notch to accommodate the "A" in "BRITISH COLUMBIA". |
While passenger tabs were numbered from 1 to 335,000, the commercial tabs started at 400,001 and went through to 485,000. These numbers have been stamped into the tabs at the lower right corner. |
| 1953 Tab |
|
|
|
|
Issuing
Statistics |
Initial Series:
|
400001 to 485000* |
Registered:
|
86,065 |
Over-run:
|
Unknown |
Issued:
|
Pairs |
Manufacturer:
|
Oakalla Prison |
Dimensions:
|
TBD |
Material:
|
Aluminium |
Comments:
|
* Estimate / Unconfirmed |
|
|
Distribution Info - 1953 Tabs |
Victoria:
|
400001 to 412500 |
(12,500) |
Abbotsford:
|
412501 to 414000 |
(1,500) |
Alberni:
|
414001 to 415000 |
(1,000) |
Ashcroft:
|
415001 to 415300 |
(300) |
Atlin:
|
415301 to 415350 |
(50) |
Barkerville:
|
415351 to 415475 |
(125) |
Burns Lake:
|
414576 to 416575 |
(1,100) |
Chilliwack:
|
416576 to 418275 |
(1,700) |
Clinton:
|
418276 to 418525 |
(250) |
Courtenay:
|
418526 to 420025 |
(1,500) |
Cranbrook:
|
420026 to 421725 |
(1,700) |
Creston:
|
421726 to 422525 |
(800) |
Duncan:
|
422526 to 423925 |
(1,400) |
|
Fernie:
|
423926 to 424525 |
(600) |
Ganges:
|
424526 to 424700 |
(175) |
Golden:
|
424701 to 425125 |
(425) |
(Field):
|
425126 to 425200 |
(75) |
Grand Forks:
|
425201 to 425700 |
(500) |
Greenwood:
|
425701 to 425925 |
(225) |
Kamloops:
|
425926 to 427725 |
(1,800) |
Kaslo:
|
427726 to 427875 |
(150) |
Kelowna:
|
427876 to 429675 |
(1,800) |
Lillooet:
|
429676 to 429750 |
(75) |
(Bralorne):
|
429751 to 429825 |
(75) |
Merritt:
|
429826 to 430125 |
(300) |
Mission:
|
430126 to 431325 |
(1,200) |
Nanaimo:
|
431326 to 433525 |
(2,200) |
|
Nelson:
|
433526 to 434725 |
(1,200) |
(Castlegar):
|
434726 to 435075 |
(350) |
(Salmo):
|
435076 to 435275 |
(200) |
New Denver:
|
435276 to 435500 |
(225) |
(Nakusp):
|
435501 to 435725 |
(225) |
New Westminster:
|
435726 to 440725 |
(5,000) |
(Cloverdale):
|
440726 to 442225 |
(1,500) |
(Haney):
|
442226 to 443025 |
(800) |
Oliver:
|
443026 to 443625 |
(600) |
Penticton:
|
443626 to 445125 |
(1,500) |
(Summerland):
|
445126 to 445475 |
(350) |
Pouce Coupe:
|
445476 to 447875 |
(2,400) |
Powell River:
|
447876 to 448425 |
(550) |
Prince George:
|
448426 to 450325 |
(1,900) |
|
Prince Ruppert:
|
450326 to 451275 |
(950) |
Princeton:
|
451276 to 451725 |
(450) |
Quesnel:
|
451726 to 452625 |
(900) |
Revelstoke:
|
452626 to 452975 |
(350) |
Rossland:
|
452976 to 453175 |
(200) |
Salmon Arm:
|
453176 to 454075 |
(900) |
Smithers:
|
454076 to 454725 |
(650) |
Trail:
|
454726 to 456025 |
(1,300) |
Vancouver:
|
456026 to 474025 |
(18,000) |
Vernon:
|
474026 to 476325 |
(2,300) |
(Armstrong):
|
476326 to 476650 |
(325) |
(Enderby):
|
476651 to 476975 |
(325) |
Williams Lake:
|
476976 to 477625 |
(650) |
Stock Room:
|
477626 to 485000 |
(7,375) |
|
Shown below is example of the Commercial tab (left) versus the Passenger tab (right): |
.jpg)
1953 Commercial Tab |
.jpg)
1953 Passenger Tab |
Following the decision to abandon aluminium license plates, the 1954 Commercial plates were stamped in the same design as the 1952 base, but this time on metal. The colours used on the plates were the same yellow-on-black as was used on the 54 tabs issued to passenger vehicles. |
| 1954 |
1-digit |
2-digit |
|
Issuing
Statistics |
Initial Series:
|
C1 to C90-000 |
Registered:
|
91,806 |
Over-run:
|
Unknown |
Issued:
|
Pairs |
Manufacturer:
|
Oakalla Prison |
Dimensions:
|
335 mm x 137 mm |
Material:
|
Metal |
Comments:
|
* Estimate / Unconfirmed |
|
|
|
5-digit
(10,000 block) |
5-digit
(20,000 block) |
|
5-digit
(40,000 block) |
|
|
|
5-digit
(80,000 block) |
5-digit
(90,000 block) |
|
|
Distribution Info - 1954 |
Victoria:
|
C1 to C12,500 |
(12,500) |
Abbotsford:
|
C12-501 to C14-000 |
(1,500) |
Alberni:
|
C14-001 to C15-000 |
(1,000) |
Ashcroft:
|
C15-001 to C15-350 |
(350) |
Atlin:
|
C15-351 to C15-400 |
(50) |
Barkerville:
|
C15-401 to C15-500 |
(100) |
Burns Lake:
|
C15-501 to C16-375 |
(875) |
Chilliwack:
|
C16-376 to C18-375 |
(2,000) |
Clinton:
|
C18-376 to C18-725 |
(350) |
Courtenay:
|
C18-726 to C20-650 |
(1,925) |
Cranbrook:
|
C20-651 to C21-450 |
(800) |
Creston:
|
C21-451 to C23-200 |
(1,750) |
Duncan:
|
C23-201 to C24-750 |
(1,550) |
Fernie:
|
C24-751 to C25-425 |
(675) |
|
Ganges:
|
C25-426 to C25-600 |
(175) |
Golden:
|
C25-601 to C26-375 |
(775) |
(Field):
|
C26-376 to C26-375 |
(125) |
Grand Forks:
|
C26-501 to C26-500 |
(750) |
Kamloops:
|
C27-251 to C29-750 |
(2,500) |
Kaslo:
|
C29-751 to C29-925 |
(175) |
Kelowna:
|
C29-926 to C31-875 |
(1,950) |
Lillooet:
|
C31-876 to C32-125 |
(250) |
(Bralorne):
|
C32-126 to C32-275 |
(150) |
Merritt:
|
C32-276 to C32-625 |
(350) |
Mission:
|
C32-626 to C33-775 |
(1,150) |
Nanaimo:
|
C33-776 to C36-025 |
(2,250) |
Nelson:
|
C36-026 to C37-375 |
(1,350) |
(Salmo):
|
C37-376 to C37-600 |
(225) |
|
(Castlegar):
|
C37-601 to C37-975 |
(375) |
New Denver:
|
C37-976 to C38-200 |
(225) |
(Nakusp):
|
C38-201 to C38-425 |
(225) |
New Westminster:
|
C38-426 to C44-425 |
(6,000) |
(Cloverdale):
|
C44-426 to C45-925 |
(1,500) |
(Haney):
|
C45-926 to C46-775 |
(850) |
Oliver:
|
C46-776 to C47-475 |
(700) |
Penticton:
|
C47-476 to C48-975 |
(1,500) |
(Summerland):
|
C48-976 to C49-325 |
(350) |
Pouce Coupe:
|
C49-326 to C52-125 |
(2,800) |
Powell River:
|
C52-126 to C52-700 |
(575) |
Prince George:
|
C52-701 to C55-400 |
(2,700) |
Prince Ruppert:
|
C55-401 to C56-150 |
(750) |
Princeton:
|
C56-151 to C56-600 |
(450) |
|
Quesnel:
|
C56-601 to C57-750 |
(1,150) |
Revelstoke:
|
C57-751 to C57-850 |
(100) |
Rossland:
|
C57-851 to C58-025 |
(175) |
Salmon Arm:
|
C58-026 to C59-025 |
(1,000) |
Smithers:
|
C59-026 to C59-825 |
(800) |
Terrace:
|
C59-826 to C60-300 |
(475) |
Trail:
|
C60-301 to C61-850 |
(1,550) |
Vancouver:
|
C61-851 to C82-850 |
(21,000) |
Vernon:
|
C82-851 to C84-950 |
(2,100) |
(Armstrong):
|
C84-951 to C85-200 |
(250) |
(Enderby):
|
C85-201 to C85-450 |
(250) |
Vanderhoof:
|
C85-451 to C85-875 |
(425) |
Williams Lake:
|
C85-876 to C86-725 |
(850) |
Stock Room:
|
C86-726 to C90-000 |
(3,275) |
|
© Copyright Christopher John
Garrish. All rights reserved.
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