The use of car club plaques seems to have started in the late 1940's, right after the end of World War Two. Car Club Plaques became more popular in the 1950's when stock generic plaques were sold by several companies to the readers of Rod & Custom, Custom Rodder, Hot Rod, and other custom car & hot rod magazines. Sources report that clubs were formed using these generic plaques and the names emblazoned on them. These stock plates were ordered for the car club members. They originally sold for $2 to $5 each. The plaques were usually made of aluminum, but sometime bronze was used. Bronze usually cost about 25% more than the aluminum plaques. Mounting kits could also be purchased. The kits would hang the plaques under the rear bumper. Some clubs called them drag plates not because of drag racing, but because they would often drag on the ground when mounted on lowered automobiles. An old car club plaque mounting kit ad from J.C.Whitney states "Makes the mounting of plaques a quick and easy job. Two lengths of rust-resistant chain & 4 chrome plated hooks can be adjusted to any length by raising or lowering hooks." The companies selling plaques during the 50's and 60's were Chicago Metal Craft in Port Chicago, CA, Speed Gems in Minneapolis, MN, Gem Manufacturing Company in Chicago, IL, and Stylized Emblem in Hollywood, CA. Some of the plaques being sold during this period were actually manufactured by the Koehler Foundry in Bell, CA.
