License Plate: Custom Dealer Advertising
Well you could argue it is not really 'after market' in the sense you could not buy one for your Ford, but the story is just too interesting to miss it out (Adrian Whiteman)
A New Zealand number plate with an interesting history. Charles Rofe was, as you can, see a Ford Dealer in the little town of Marton. When motor registration was introduced in NZ, it was done by the local council, and as Marton was in the Rangitikei district, all numbers had the prefix 'R'. I believe that the mayor claimed 'R 1', but Charlie Rofe managed to be allocated 'R 2'. The number was to be either painted onto the car, or an owner could make their own plate. Mr. Rofe made his as an advertising sign.
Around 1909 Charles Rofe moved from England to New Zealand. He was a mechanic for the Napier Car Company and was sent to NZ to look after a fleet of taxis bought by a Dunedin company. After a couple of years, I think in 1911, he moved to the town of Marton and became the local Ford dealer. He told me that on the floor of his showroom, he had set out in blue concrete, the Ford winged pyramid, but left a groove for the silver parts. When re-metalling bearings, the old metal was saved and then poured into the grooves, so creating the edge of the design and Ford script.
Years later, after he retired, the road outside the showroom had to be widened, so the showroom and its unique floor were demolished. Prior to 1919, he invented a lifting device, mainly for Fords. I believe it was patented in NZ, then he applied for a US patent that was granted in 1922. (Dane Hawley)
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/1 ... 1267955477
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A Whiteman
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License Plate: Custom Dealer Advertising
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