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Tough as leather

South Dakota first required vehicle licensing as early as 1905, but the state didn’t start producing metal plates until 1913. Up until that time, residents were required to produce their own license plates.

This week’s What’s New Wednesday celebrates the humble license plate. Made of leather with riveted metal numbers, this plate was produced in 1912. It clipped on to the vehicle. Behind the No. 4, a Ford Model T key was found. A point of knowledge, South Dakota’s present-day county-coding came into effect in 1956. Minnehaha takes the first spot with the No. 1 and Todd County holds the last spot with No. 67.