WA - *IS = Interstate Plates

Hi Shedders
As Jim slipped this one in on the bottom of another topic...lets float it and see if we can get some help.

The 7IS plates used in WA....were they used as Interstate plates or just a normal state plate???

The Dept of Transport list of all non-district plate series used in WA since 1956, which I have a copy of from my time doing Licensing (no never issued them in either format, before my time in a small office), lists the 7IS plates as being the last of the Interstate plates before the Federal ones came in...they list the U, 6 and 7 series as being Interstate plates.

Jim believes they werent used for that, and were just normal issue state plates...and given that it is often shown that the list isnt 100% correct, and that some things just dont go according to plan (Stock transport plates used on caravans, reserved issues being used elsewhere)...then there certainly is a strong likelihood that they werent. But unless we can get proof elsewhere, then someone with one of the plates could be justified in claiming it an interstate plate based upon the DOT list.

So....is there anyone out there with more info. It would be really good to know the answer on this topic for the collectors of West Aussie plates...can anyone help out???

And no...sorry, no I dont think I can ask for someone to check out a big bunch of 7IS plates on the system to see what they can find...would like to, but cant do.

Hoping someone can help!!

Cheers

Jeffrey

Hi Jeff,

I know that the 7IA series were use first on the Goldon State plates starting in 1987, see my web. I have 7ID.
Interstates also began in 1987 (but I don't know both months).

Chances are very slim that the 7IS were used as Interstates.
But there is only one way to find out .........

Herman
dna.nl

Hi Herman
The fact that the 7 series was used in 1987 and the Fed I/states also came in during 1987 is a good indicator...but more actual proof will be needed as you say.

Plates were issued out of sequence, because different letter combinations meant different things. That meant that some plates had to be used at different times...presumably some sooner, and definately some much later.

Its a good point...thanks for it. I wouldnt have a clue personally...I was still at school back in 87 and wasnt old enough to have my licence let alone care about plates to tell the truth!! Just trying to help someone else out.

Cheers

Jeffrey

Hi again
Just re-read Herman's post...and it got me thinking.

You refer to 7IA being used in 1987...not 7AA. Back then it took a while to get from AA thru to IA...much longer than today when we do it in the space of a few months.

If 7IA was used in 1987..when was 7AA first used, being the first of the 7's.

Remember that the different letter blocks were used for different things, and issued at different times...we didnt just start at AA and issue them all in order through to ZZ (like on our roads at the moment you can see 1Axx's, 1Bxx, 1Txx, 1Yxx, 1Zxx, 1Qxx, 1Sxx, and 1Ax, 1Bx, 1Yx...each letter means a different class of vehcile except the A & B).

My thinking...if the 7's came in some years before 1987 (when the new Federal Intersate series were first used apaprently)...then is it possible that 7IS's were used on the trucks about the same time as the 7AA's came in?? I mean, presumbaly within reason the 7 series trailers began about then...and possibly the 7 series stock transports, govies, dealers, farms etc...all sub groupings of the 7 series, each with their own letter combination. Why not the 7IS????

Again..I dont know, was in school back then, just floating the problem trying to see if someone does because the question was asked of me!! The DOT lists says one thing...but is it wrong???

Cheers

Jeffrey

Hi Jeff,

Let me try and think out loud as well

Plates are normally made in small batches (I think just to reduce the making costs).

Here are some batches that I know of ( these were all taken from the State Snippets from the NPCC's - I think we have to thank Jim for that).

7AA - 7AH normal base 1985
7AI - 7AL cup base 85/86?
7AM - 7DL normal base (later)
7DM - 7EZ cup base (later)
7FA - 7HZ normal base (later)
7IA - ? golden state 1987

and also 1987 WV Interstate

As you say there is only one way to find out if the 7IS series were ever used and that is to go to the computer. Let say you try the first 25 numbers, from 001-025. And see if they were issued at all (they could be made but never been issued) and you can also see if it is issued to a car or a truck.

Try and ask your connection. It should not take more time than the WE&ME

Herman
for more blocks: dna.nl

Jeffrey,

Your theory would be about right, they would have probably made small numbers of the non-pass 7 series prefixes at around the same time as the first of the 7 series passenger plates.

So the first 7 series trailer 7RA-*** would have been issued around the beginning of the 7A*-*** passenger plates, it would then logically follow that the other special prefixes would be first available around then also. Any leftover 6 series non-pass. prefixes would have been stopped if there were a lot left to issue, or run out if near the end of the block.

What do you think?

Ian (#236)

Hi Herman and Ian
Thanks for the input. If the 7A's started in 85..and the WV's in 87..then thats 2 years...they had to be using something.

The problem is that as far as I am aware they didnt just stop issuing the 6 series trailers say when the 7 series cars came in. I know back when i was working we were still issuing 8 series trailers when the 1TAA trailers come in...and were issuing UJ series motorcycles when they had passed thru US, into the 1AA's..and then released the U series as retro plates. So..it is possible they still had plenty of 6 stock on hand, and then used the 7IS's on cars as Jim believes.

But there is 2 years there...so, its a good gap.

As far as getting my contact to check say 25 plates..there is a problem there. You see...every search on the system is logged. Head office gets daily reports on what office is doing what (its our they caught the people who allegedly blew up the ex cop here in the state a couple of years ago..but he got off). The odd search doesnt raise alarms...25 in the same range would. They used to hassle me for doing too many search when I used to try to clear out our retained plate box every year (you would search the rego for the address of the owner to tell them to come and pick up their plates if the retained period was expired). So..no its not the time problem...its the fact it is an abuse of the system...and I cant stretch the friendship too far.

Cheers

These are the two latest additions to my Truck plate wall. 2 versions- one white and the later yellow of the old Interstate plate. Now replaced by the Federal Interstate types.

 Trucks_Interstate_Western_Australia__XIS_917_and_6IS_434.JPG   44.48K   4 downloads

Thanks to Jim for the tip on where to find them. I should have guessed!

I received this plate about a month ago.  It came to me from a WA truckie who knew I collected plates and was thoughtful enough to bring this one over on a recent trip and phone me as he came through town.

The plate is unused (although needs a good clean).  He told me when he registered a trailer, the girl at the counter gave him a pair of plates, so he had a spare!  This is it.  He also said that his registration for the prime mover was due on the day the federal interstate plates were introduced, so he scored the first pair in the series for Western Australia.  Unfortunately he didn't keep those plates.  Oh well, can't win them all.

 UIS791 DSCF8286.JPG   20.07K   0 downloads

UIS861

 14003576170_a49b4330de_o.jpg   89.33K   2 downloads

1960 Ford semi-trailer in a situation still familiar today in large parts of Australia, bogged on the Eyre Highway.
White on black UIS plate, which I've seen no mention of anywhere, not even on Jim's rare plates list for WA. UIS088
 
 WA Eyre highway UIS plate.jpg   71.2K   0 downloads

Just to complete the sequence of plates in this series, here's a very average and under rated, but seriously scarce type from the reflective white 68-78 series I don't know of any other examples in collections of either truck or Trailer. This one is an Interstate Trailer (>500). As far as as I am aware here's no known survivors of the non-reflective white/black 56-68 UIS Interstate series.

 

 UIS511.jpg   49.78K   0 downloads

 

This one also appeared in NPCC Magazine a short while back.  UIS713 .... More posted in The Vault HERE

 

 Interstate - UIS.713.jpg   43.84K   0 downloads

 

And lastly for tonight another yellow 6IS and dated 1985. What is worth of note is that it is #790 - well beyond the reserved number for Trailers, so perhaps my white UIS above could be either Prime Mover or trailer - rego may have given you the next one off the rack and if it was for a trailer, just gave you a single plate and burnt the other!??. More research need here so I'd better dig out an early version SGT Tony's good book stashed in the shed!!

 

6IS790

 

 Interstate - 6IS.790 -1985-Oakleigh,VIC.jpg   45.35K   0 downloads

Early series white on black plates.

 

UIS089  Foden truck Thomas Nationwide Transport (TNT).

 

 WA UIS089 Foden.jpg   70.35K   0 downloads

 

UIS111  Foden truck.

 

 WA UIS111 Foden USE.JPG   62.86K   0 downloads

 

 

 

UIS129  International R-190 leading a group of trucks lining up to board flat top railway carriages in 1962.

 

 WA UIS129 trucks lining up to go on flat top railway carriages 1962 USE.JPG   39.96K   0 downloads

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Rob C on Facebook with this one.... Evidence on the fate of the 7IS series as regular trailer plates.... Posting here for the record
 
 

I recently picked up the 7IS 693 @ a Swapmeet hoping it was inter State only to have my hopes dashed by a 10 year old forum discussion: (Plateshed)

 wa-trailer-7IS693-robc.jpg   70.83K   0 downloads

Today I spotted another 7IS... plate on a domestic trailer. So: Is the belief still: general issue plate & what range are 7 series trailer??? Thanks
 
 wa-trailer-7IS296-robc-1.jpg   97.77K   0 downloads

 

WA Rego check confirming the plate is correctly registered to a trailer...
 
 wa-trailer-7IS296-regocheck.jpg   21.17K   0 downloads  wa-trailer-7IS296-robc-2.jpg   34.71K   0 downloads
 
 
NSW1  shared this information and thoughts:
 

This is the info I have for the 7 series. 7IS was originally allocated for the Interstates, but my guess is:
a) they were probably still issuing from the 6IS batch of plates; and
b) this was at the time the Federal Interstate plates started in 1987.
So, even though the plates were made and ready to allocate to Interstates, they were probably put into use as trailer plates instead.
 
 wa-7series.jpg   117.55K   0 downloads