A large collection of Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates rediscovered
A collection of seven Motor Parkway license plates was recently rediscovered last month on Long Island. This is believed to be one of the largest number of Motor Parkway license plates found in one collection in over 50 years.
Among the most sought-after pieces of Vanderbilia are the porcelain Motor Parkway license plates. From 1912 to 1937, an estimated 7,400 Long Island Motor Parkway license plates were manufactured including 6,700 regular plates and 700 golf club plates. However, 88 existing original plates have been documented.
The definitive article on Long Island Motor Parkway license plates is the article The License Plates of the Vanderbilt Long Island Motor Parkway by my favorite co-author Al Velocci published in the Spring 2000 issue of the Long Island Forum.
Below is the background on the recently discovered collection.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Original location of the plates
The seven plates were originally found on the former property of the Massapequa Lodge located on Hicksville Road, now in Bethpage.
The Massapequa Lodge and remnants of the Motor Parkway could still be seen in the late 1960s. Courtesy of Ron Ridolph and Nassau County Police Department archives.
In 1969, real estate developer Philip Rothblum purchased the property and developed a residential apartment complex.
The complex is now a cooperative community called Crescent Woods,
Rediscovery of the plates
"A passionate skier, biker, hiker, and steel sculptor, as well as an avid art lover, philanthropist, and optimist", Philip Rothblum passed away at the age of 98.
The seven plates were found by his family in his office. The family did not know what the plates were or their value. After making contact with me, I emailed the family information on the plates and their market value and recommended that they place the plates on Ebay. In the end, the family and I agreed on a price for the collection.
The Seven Motor Parkway License Plates
1928
1928 Golf Club Plate. This is the only known existing 1928 golf club plate.
100 plates were produced by Ingram-Richardson Manufacturing Co. "for special golf club members" at the cost of $0.43 per plate. Courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Al Velocci..
1929 Golf Club Plate. One of three 1929 golf plates known to exist.
A total of 200 1929 Golf Club plates were manufactured by Ingram-Richardson MFG. Co. at the cost of $0.34 per plate. Courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Al Velocci.
1930
1931
1932
1934
Census of Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates
The newly discovered plates will be submitted to Eric Taylor's website page Long Island Motor Parkway Porcelain Census of 80 plates.
Eight additional plates to be added to the Census
1928
1928 Golf Club
1929 Golf Club
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Comments
Beautifully organized and presented. Fascinating!
Happy you acquired them Howard. They will be preserved and in good hands instead of dispersed among multiple owners and perhaps lost at some future date.
You’re website probably saved them by giving the family a place to discover what they are.
My father was the Philip Rothblum who found and kept the plates. He was passionate about building on Long Island and would be thrilled and honored to know the plates are now in a good place and valued. Thank you.
________________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
thanks so much for your wonderful feedback! Enjoy, Howard
Nice find! #76 1928 was on eBay and missed reserve twice.
Nice find. Thank you to the Rosenbum family for making available!