'67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

[Jack M.]

Re: '67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

I've exchanged a few emails with Joe Lucia. He certainly is a wealth of knowledge, and an invaluable resource for us... MANY THANX!

As mentioned previously, I've checked the Passenger Car and Camaro 'Misc Shipping List' (where the frames are listed for Corvette).
I've also gone page-by-page thru those other Assembly Manuals, but could NOT find GM Part #3797485 listed (although I could have missed it).
I do see what 'might' be similar frames in the large 'Custom Feature Accessories' album, but itz just a cartoon/sketch... not a photo.
And finally, checked with the full size Chevy community... they are unfamiliar with these frames, especially on ORIGINAL vehicles.

Overall, my purpose to list other vehicles was to possibly illustrate how widespread these frames may have been in the Chevy lineup, and how extensive the inventory could have been. Additionally, we need to consider that many dealers liked to install/display their own 'personalized' plates, so OTC frame sales could have been limited.

In the end, no matter what vehicles they were on, a #3797485 frame manufactured BEFORE the patent was granted on 4-18-67, can NOT have a Patent Number on it (according to the US Patent and Trademark Office).

[Gary B.]

Re: '67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

Jack,

The date in your last sentence should be 4-18-67, not 4-18-65.

Gary

[Jack M.]

Re: '67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

Good catch... THANX and korrected.

[Joe L.]

Re: '67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

I've exchanged a few emails with Joe Lucia. He certainly is a wealth of knowledge, and an invaluable resource for us... MANY THANX!

As mentioned previously, I've checked the Passenger Car and Camaro 'Misc Shipping List' (where the frames are listed for Corvette).
I've also gone page-by-page thru those other Assembly Manuals, but could NOT find GM Part #3797485 listed (although I could have missed it).
I do see what 'might' be similar frames in the large 'Custom Feature Accessories' album, but itz just a cartoon/sketch... not a photo.
And finally, checked with the full size Chevy community... they are unfamiliar with these frames, especially on ORIGINAL vehicles.

Overall, my purpose to list other vehicles was to possibly illustrate how widespread these frames may have been in the Chevy lineup, and how extensive the inventory could have been. Additionally, we need to consider that many dealers liked to install/display their own 'personalized' plates, so OTC frame sales could have been limited.

In the end, no matter what vehicles they were on, a #3797485 frame manufactured BEFORE the patent was granted on 4-18-67, can NOT have a Patent Number on it (according to the US Patent and Trademark Office).

Jack-------


If the 3797485 is not shown in the AIM's miscellaneous shipping list for the other Chevrolet models, then it was not supplied with those models.

[Michael G.]

Re: '67 stainless license plate frame - how to tell if real

I know a guy (who shall remain nameless) who painted the inside of his frames and then blew grinder dust on the wet paint - passed with flying colors.

[Brian E.]

I know the last post on this thread was in 2022 but here is some information from 1967 that some may find helpful, interesting, and/or applicable...
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Allen Products Corporation applied to the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent on the spring clips within this GM license plate frame (LPF), thus for some time prior to the patent being issued the spring clips would have been considered patent pending, and as it has been documented there are no patent numbers on the spring clips in/on the earlier and original LPF's.
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On 4/18/67 the USPTO issued patent number 3314181. It would have likely been impossible for Allen Products Corp. to know the patent number prior to the USPTO's official issuance, so for that reason I'm presuming (presumption #1) GM could only have had the patent number stamped into the spring clips some time AFTER 4/18/67. And in all likelihood (presumption #2) GM probably had quite an inventory of license plate frames with the blank spring clips which means the LPF's with the patent numbers might not have made it into production until quite some time after the patent date. How long? I wouldn't have any way of knowing but I suppose it is possible that these LPF's with the patent numbers on the spring clips could have made it to the St. Louis production line before the last 1967 Corvette was built on July 12, 1967.
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All I know for sure is that since my car was built on Apri 4, 1967 there was no way for my car to have a LPF with patent numbers on the spring clips BEFORE the patent's issue date. So for anyone who cares about dates, it seems reasonable that if your car was also built before 4/18/67 your car would likely not have left the factory with a LPF with a patent number on the spring clips.

[Jack M.]

Brian- Over the last few years, I've done some extensive research on this topic... with these findingz:

• During a call, the US Patent Office CONFIRMED... NO PATENT NUMBER EXISTED, before it was granted.
• The earlier C2 license plate frames had some SHAPE differences, compared to what Joe showcased.
  (the right side view and isometric, show some changes... spring clips appear to be similar)
• I'm not certain if Joe's 1969 frames have any patent numbers (I can't see any clearly in his photos)...
  But one original/low mileage '69 owner reports one frame with, and one withOUT the patent number.
  (possibly a MIX of frames in the supply bins)
• In at least 1968, some license plate frames came with a patent number STICKER.
  3797485 License Plate Frame (NOS with Sticker).jpg
• Allen's also sold the same frame... it appears it wasn't exclusive to GM.
  (even the plastic bag is similar to Joe's)
  License Plate Frame (NO-MAR).jpg

Given all that, I'd find it extremely difficult for ANY C2 Corvette to have patent numbers on the frames.
As usual, your mileage may vary...

[Brian E.]

Given all that, I'd find it extremely difficult for ANY C2 Corvette to have patent numbers on the frames.

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Agreed. Thanks.