I discovered my Dad's old 1960's plates from Kansas and Wisconsin in the mid-1970's while we lived in Massachusetts.  Shortly after, I bought a group of old Maine plates dated from 1920 to 1930 at a yard sale.  Having previously collected stamps and coins, I thought it might be fun to complete the rest of the Maine run up to the then-current 1974 base, and fill in any remaining older plates.  This proved to be anything but easy; I was soon to learn about undated porcelains, brass plates, windshield stickers, tabs and plate variations.  After several years, I finally finished a very nice Maine run, complete except for the 1947 windshield sticker.

I received my ALPCA membership as a Christmas gift in 1979.  When the first newsletter came, I was instantly engrossed in a new world.  The evolution of each state's plate design and numbering format was fascinating.  I started studying each state history article and later borrowed older newsletters to expand my knowledge further.  I wrote my first feature article, on Rhode Island plates, in 1986.  As time passed, I became more involved in ALPCA activities, including writing the column Winning Numbers from 1992 to 2002, co-authoring License Plates County Codes of the United States and Canada in 1995, serving two terms on the Board of Directors in 1997-2001, and serving as ALPCA Archivist from 2009 to 2014.  Since 2017, I've been Editor of ALPCA's PLATES Magazine.  Each one of these accomplishments has been incredibly rewarding!

Presently, I work as a concert violinist in a symphony orchestra in Michigan, where I reside with my wife and two daughters.  I specialize in - you guessed it - Maine plates, and especially research on old plates from any state or province.  I'll probably keep this obsession going until the mystery of the meaning of the letters on the 1910-13 Kentucky porcelain plates is solved - or maybe that will spur me on even more!

Have old plates to sell?  Yes, I do buy collections!  Although that isn't the main purpose of this website, I am a major, reputable collector and will pay well for the plates I need.  For that reason, I will probably pay more for your or your relative's collection than most license plate dealers since I'm a very private collector and not a dealer.  If interested, please call me at (616) 456-7330.  It's an old-school land line, so no texting.  When I'm not home, leave me a voice mail and I will get back to you promptly.

Happy collecting and please enjoy all that this website has to offer!

Eric Tanner, ALPCA #3148, Europlate #600