Many of you probably already know that my husband, Michael, letters company trucks, does vehicle graphics and makes business signs. If you’re curious to see some of the kind of work he does, you can click on ‘Photography & Lettering’ in the menu above, and look to the bottom of that drop down menu, for ‘Truck Lettering’ and ‘Vehicle Graphics.’
Well, an interesting sideline that he has gotten into over the years, is refurbishing older Massachusetts license plates.
Our own state of Massachusetts here, is actually the very first state in the United States, to issue motor vehicle license plates. It used to be that the plates only needed to be displayed on the back of the vehicle. Over the years, the state has been proactive in enacting laws regarding the registration and inspection of motor vehicles. The vehicle’s license plate(s) are assessed as part of the required vehicle inspections, and if the plates are old and/or damaged and are deemed unreadable by at least 60 feet, the vehicle owner is required to get new plates, before it receives a passed inspection sticker.
If a motor vehicle has been issued front and rear license plates, which is typical, the vehicle must display both license plates issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles on the front and rear of the vehicle. Older plates that have the green lettering, which were the former standard and issued as a single plate, must only be displayed as that one plate on the back of the vehicles. In 1988, Massachusetts began issuing red-lettered plates, which are issued as a set of two. If the newer red-letter plates are issued to the vehicle registrar, both must be displayed on both the front and back of the vehicle. However, the single green-lettered plate is acceptable by law, for as long as it is readable.
It is for this reason, that Michael has refurbished an increasing amount of green-lettered plates. There are a host of reasons why some vehicle owners want to keep their older plate, for as long as possible. For some, it is just a somewhat sentimental reason. One 50-something year old man told Michael that he has had the same license plate since he was 18 years old, and he just doesn’t want to give it up. Others own hot rods, antique vehicles, or other show cars, and there is no place for a front plate, nor do they want it to ‘blemish’ the look of their car. Whatever the reason, if the plate is indeed salvageable, Michael is happy and capable of restoring them to their former beauty, if hired to do so.
Because it is a service he provides to aid in providing income for his family, he asked that I not show the whole step-by-step process. Still, I thought it might be an interesting little post, to share with you all the before and after of just one of his green-lettered Massachusetts license plate restoration jobs.
The condition of this particular plate when he received it, was a hot mess.
So the first thing he needs to do is clean it off and start from scratch.
Here it is, stripped down to the bare metal. It’s still a little beat up and whatnot, but a good new place to start.
All restored. It is reflective as needed as well, just as they were originally.
What do you think?
I am aware and amused, that he is often needing to clean things up and make them look like new, while I spend some of my days working to make things look old, beaten up and quite used.
Have you ever had license plates that meant something to you? Have you ever been sad for the to need to get new ones, or was it exciting? And what I’d really love to know, is do you like the look of your state’s plates? I’m not going to name names (of states, that is), but I’ve seen some ugly ones! I can’t much complain about ours. You?
. . . . . .
UPDATE: Since the creation of this post, and as a direct result of it on the internet, we been contacted by numerous people seeking this service from Michael, and Michael in turn has refurbished many, many more plates since. Every one has expressed great satisfaction with their finished plate, upon return.
If you are looking to have your license plate refurbished, please contact Michael at his e-mail address: Alphbtman@aol.com
Wow! What a transformation! And yes, it is funny that you spend your days making things old, while he does the opposite! (I loved the green plates when I was living in Boston, so I’d be in the camp that doesn’t want to give them up!)
Isn’t it quite the transformation, Laura K?
So you had a car when you lived in Boston, huh? Surely you took the T, sometimes. I rode the T every day, for 3 years, while attending art school in Boston.
Thanks as always, for stopping by. Makes me : ).
Actually, we never had a car until we moved to our current location! All the time in Boston and then Philly, we either walked, took the T or the bus. I rode the T daily for many years while going to school in Boston and then a job thereafter! (I just liked the look of the green & white plates when I lived there!)
Oh ok, see, that does not surprise me much, Laura K. You don’t really need a vehicle most times in Boston, and I know parking is so limited too. You know what? Since I couldn’t afford a car in my senior year of high school, and then went to art school in Boston from there, I did not even bother getting my license until I was 21! I was terrified learning to drive by then, but got comfortable quickly enough to get a speeding ticket on the Mass Pike, only 4 months later. LOL
Love it! Nice work, Michael!
Hi Rene!
I thought of your father, typing this post, and his ’39 Ford. Michael said he had antique plates on that though, in black and white.
Thanks for dropping by for a peek. XO : )
Wow! Looks brand spankin’ new!
I know, right, Jen? Which really points to suspicion, since green lettered plates haven’t been issued in years. (Things that make you go, “Hmmmmm.”) But, it’s readable from at least 60 feet! It’s just kind of, . . . . . .cleaned up! ; )
Thanks for the the comment.
Hi,
I happen to find this website by searching the internet for license plate refurbishing and came across this. What a nice familly. You can see the love in this household which is awesome to see. I see the work Michael the husbancd did on an old plate and how he made that look brand spanking new. I would like him to do this for my plate. I have had my plates for 20 years and dont want to give it up, because when you turn in plates that are faded you don’t get the same number back, they issue you a new number, plus I have vanity plates that I want to keep the way the were back from when I first got them. How do I reach Michael to see if I can bring him this project. is there a phone number I can call. Thanks for any info someone can give me. great work they do. Sincerely , Nancy
Hi Nancy – Thank you for your kind words.
You story is similar to why many would like their plates refurbished.
Please email Michael at this address: Alphbtman@aol.com
No need to repeat all you’ve said here on the blog, as he will read it. But by emailing him, he will be able to reply to your email with the information that you are requesting, to get your plate refurbished quickly. I’ll tell him to expect that email from you.
Thank you for your visit to our family blog.
Laura Richard
House Of Joyful Noise
I have been looking fo this type of service for a long time!
I’ve e-mailed Michael – hope he gets it!!!
Hi Walt! – Yes he did mention he got your email. I believe he’ll be getting back to you this evening.
Thanks! – Laura
Nice work! I just got rejected while getting an inspection sticker because of a degraded green plate. The tech at the station stated that refurbishing a mass green plate was in fact illegal. Just saying….
Hi Mason -
Thanks for the compliment on our work. : )
We have researched the legality of the manner in which we are refurbishing these plates, and have yet to find any information that confirms that it is illegal to have a refurbished green plate. What the information HAS stated is that the RMV wants to replace plates that are damaged, worn or generally not clearly readable from a distance of 60 feet. They definitely frown upon people touching up their own plates using paint, nail polish, and other mediums that are not suitable. The reason for that, is because those mediums are not reflective at night.
The refurbishing that we do meets all of the same required specifications of a brand new green plate. The entire background and numbers/letters are in fact reflective and can be easily read at night beyond the required distance. After refurbishing, these plates are as good as a brand new green MA plate.
The RMV is encouraging all inspection stations to fail vehicles with old, illegible and damaged plates, for public safety reasons, as well as not being able to be seen well on toll and security cameras. Which is perfectly understandable, and we are on the same page as they are, to keep worn out plates off of the road. There are many people who are very attached to their green plates for various reasons. Our refurbishing is very high-quality restoration of the original plate appearance. Nothing is being altered!! (Which is indeed illegal). Of the countless green MA plates we have refurbished and restored to their original appearance thus far, not one client has contacted us and said their vehicle was rejected for their refurbished plate. This communicates to us that even the inspectors cannot tell the difference. So, we are sorry your vehicle was rejected due to the poor condition of your plate. If you would like us to refurbish it for you, and see how it goes, we’d be happy to serve you.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Mike, Thank you so much ! I couldn’t be happier with my license plate . So glad I reached out to you on this website . What a fanstatic job you did. Well over my expectations. Your really made this plate look brand new. I just wanted to tell everyone out there that has an old plate that is beat up looking and worn and cracked and paint faded and numbers and letters can hardly read and in need of refurbushing, go to this website and deal with Mike. I have a vanity plate that has to be at least 15 years old and it was in pretty rough shape, the back white was all cracked and the red reflective paint was almost all off the numbers and letters and had to use red enamel paint to at least put some red back on the letters and number so it was somewhat readable. Looked around for someone to refurbish my plate and came across this website. Thank You Laura for giving me Mike’s e-mail so I could reach out to him about my plate. He is wonderful to do business with. Such a nice man and by the way, he has beautiful kids. His kids were out front playing when I brought him my plate and I thought to myself’ ” What beautiful kids “, Just a nice family. What a fabulous job he did on my vanity plate in Massachusetts . The plate looks brand new ! This plate looks like when I first got it from the Registry 15 years ago ! I couldn’t believe how awesome it looks ! Thank you Mike, you truely did an amazing job. I highly recommend Mike for anyone else in need of there plate looking like brand new. His price is really good and I had my plate back in a few days. If you don’t want to turn your plate into the Registry and want it to look brand new. Reach out to Mike to do this project for you. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed. Mike went above and beyond on my plate. I was so happy to put this back on my car and to see it looking like it was brand new. Thank You again Mike, Great Job ! Sincerely, Nancy
Laura,
Are you guys still doing this kind of work? we have a plate that needs to be done. Let me know..
Thanks!
Paul
paul@ttr225.com
Hi Paul,
Yes we are. Thanks for your email address. We’ll be sending you the info you need, to get your plate done.
Thanks!- Laura
I live in Mass too, and need my plates done please call me anytime 413-388-3121, this is important to me.
Hi,
I was wondering if this service is still being provided. I sent an email a couple of Sundays ago to the aol.com address above and never heard back. I am interested in having my plate restored. You can reach me at daxdoomslayerATyahooDOTcom. Thanks.
Fran
Hi Fran! -
YES, Michael is still providing this service. Lately, it seems plates are coming in and going out every day!
I’m sorry we didn’t happen to receive you email. Did you cut and paste Michael’s email address above, or type it yourself? Perhaps it was accidentally misspelled. I did search (with the search field) the spam, and all of new and old mail of Michael’s for that email address, and didn’t find anything from your email address. But nonetheless, we’re connected now! : ) And so, I will give Michael the message to send you the info you need, right away. He takes care of his correspondence in the evenings. He’ll be happy to refurbish your plate. Thanks for the comment and letting us know!
~ Laura / Michael’s wife / House Of Joyful Noise blog
Hi Laura,
I actually sent it from my ‘home’ email address and not the Yahoo address. I used the Yahoo address here to avoid spam bots. My previous email address is a charter.net address. That said, no worries and I sincerely appreciate you getting back to me and look forward to hearing from Michael. Take care.
Fran
A HA, Fran! Searching for a charter (dot) net address, I found your inquiry to Michael, as well as a reply sent to you with info from him that same day. So I am going to resend that reply to you right now.
Be on the lookout! Thanks so much for your interest.
: ) – Laura