British Columbia Passenger License Plates 1904-1912

British Columbia Passenger License Plates
1904-1912

In 1904, the province enacted the Act to regulate the speed and operation of Motor Vehicles on Highways, which required motorists to have displayed on their vehicle their registration number "so as to be plainly visible at all times during the daylight, such number to be in plain figures not less than three inches in height."

Otherwise, motorists were free to be as creative as they wished in the manufacture of their plates, and there are known to be many different types created, however, the most common is the leather base with the attached house numbers:

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*Pre-Provincial Plates*
LEATHER	LEATHER	LEATHER	WOOD

One of the Sections of the Act to regulate the speed and operation of Motor Vehicles on Highways, also required motorists to carry on their vehicles "a lighted lamp, or lamps, in a conspicuous psoition in such vehicle, whenever in motion in any street, alley or public way, at any time after dusk and before dawn, such light to display prominently the number of the permit issued."

The following picture is an excellent example of this requirement of the Act being complied with. The Registration No. is 122, and the driver in the photo is recorded as being Mileva Todd in her Model T.

Image Credit: Saanich Archives

Caption: "Mileva Todd driving Model T automobile"

Archives Number: 2007-051-019


This is a great photo that was posted on the BC Archives site as part of a series commerating Royal Visits to the province (timed to coincide with the October 2002 visit of Queen Elizabeth). In this instance, it is the 1912 visit of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught in Vancouver.
By zooming in on one of the automobiles visible at bottom right, it was possible to read the leather license plate and determine that a Mr. John C. Dill and family of #2466 6th Avenue West came in their "Hudson".

Is this the first British Columbia sample license plate? Not quite.

According to Bob Miller (whose collection the plate originates from), many, many years ago a local company with a long history of servicing automobiles in the Victoria area ceased operations.

Found amongst the items inside one of the shops were some original, surplus materials used for producing license plates in the pre-provincial era. This included items such as; leather bases, numbers 1-9, and the letters B & C. Wanting to create his own "replica" while avoiding any confusion regarding authenticity, Bob used the 000 serial.

1904-1912 | 1913-1914 | 1915-1917 | 1918-1923 | 1924-1935 | 1936-1948 | 1949-1951 | 1952-1954
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