76 Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania issued this 76 tab to be placed on 71 plates.

This style of Bicentennial plate was issued in 1971 and updated with 76 expiration stickers. The most discernable difference in these plates is the upper right sticker wells. The plate on the left has a blank sticker well, while that on the right has a debossed 71 in it. A close-up of the back side is shown below. There also appears to be some slight paint differences in the back colors, and a difference in the length of the crack in the Liberty Bell.

Below are back side scans of the Liberty Bell to show the subtle differences in width of the debossed crack. These examples came from sample plates.

1976 Pennsylvania with tab that was issued to new registrations. When registrations where renewed, the stickers came with regular serial numbers.

1971 style sample in which the 76 new registration tab is shown in the upper left box. Sample plates show the same differences as regular passenger car plates with the slightly debossed 71 on some plates but not others, as well as the variation in Liberty Bell cracks. The new registration stickers are often used on samples. Above are four plates. The one in the upper right with the 72 new registration sticker shows the narrowest debossed crack in the Liberty Bell, but all seem to have some varying degrees of width in the crack.

The T tab in the upper left means this was a temporary plate.

1976 low number plate from Pennsylvania which I believe was issued like a vanity. Letters and numbers were allowed on vanity plates, but no spelled out words could be placed on plates until 1977 according to the ALPCA archive.

1976 Pennsylvania vanity lciense plates.
According to the ALPCA archive, from 1966 to 1977, words could not be spelled out on Pennsylvania vanity license plates.
Combinations of numbers and letters were seen in alpha numeric combinations like the plates above and the ones below.

Red 1976 tab used on commercial and trailer plates.

1972 Pennsylvania commercial plate with 76 tab. The plate on the right differs in that the upper left sticker well has a debossed 72 in it.

1972 Pennsylvania trailer and tractor plates updated with 76 tabs.

Undated used car dealer plates with 76 tab. This type of plate was issued in 1975 and 1976.

1975/76 undated Motor Vehicle Business/New Car Dealer plate updated with 76 tab.

1976 Pennsylvania school bus and omnibus license plates.

These four bicentennial booster plates were private issues made by the Ervite Corporation. Most of the ones that I have seen appear to be unused and without bolt wear, which makes you wonder how many Pennsylvanians bought these enameled plates for the front of their cars.

Perry Hi-Way Hose Company near Erie, Pennsylvania had this 1976 booster made by the Ervite Company. Note the similarity to the other Ervite plates.

1976 Pennsylvania handicapped/disabled person license plates.

1976/77 Pennsylvania bus plate.

First issued in 1954, these plates were used well past the 1970's for antique and historic vehicles.

Pennsylvania official use plate used in 1976.

This type of undated Municipal Government plate was used during 1976 in Pennsylvania.

1976 Pennsylvania legislator's plate.

Front plate used by House member in 1976. Plate is made of plastic with metal frame.

1971 Pennsylvania amateur radio operator's license plate updated with 75 and 76 tabs.

1976 Pennsylvania press photographer's license plate

1971 Pennsylvania motorcycle license plate updated with 76 tab.
Motorcycle plate from 1976 with temporary tab.

1976 Pennsylvania motorcycle dealer plate.

Local booster/souvenir license plates issued for 1976, including the 1976 Automobile License Plate Collectors Association souvenir plate from the 1976 convention in Huntington, Pennsylvania.

Privately issued 1976 booster plates utilizing the American Revolution Bicentennial Association logo.

1976 Pennsylvania metal booster plate sold by the Wilton Brass Company of Columbia, Pennsylvania. Shown above are the front and back of the plate. While the plate appears to look like pewter, the company calls the metal it was made out of Armetale. The company brochure states it this way,"Armetale Metal is a fusion in precise proportions of ten different metals." The plates were made through sand castings and hand pouring according to Wilton Company information, and are cared for with Goddard Pewter care to eradicate any stains. The design is the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

A privately issued Pennsylvania 1976 Bicentennial souvenir plate made by the Jarrett Company. I also have a version of this with black paint on the rim and lettering which I suspect was added later by the owner.