Does anybody know what this is?

[Anonymous]

I don't know what it is, but I have some suspicions.

The Railorad Commission of Texas regulates more than railroads. They have a hand in Gas and Oil drilling and transportation, pipelines of all kinds and maybe even electrical transmission lines.

I suspect that the thing you have is not a license plate. Rather, it is intended to identify somepiece of equipment (pipeline valve, RR grade crossing, high tension tower, whatever) which is regulated by the commission. I suspect further that 71 TEXAS 81 is reference to the statute which gives them the authority to regulate whatever it is.

Perhaps the thing never was painted. Perhaps the thing looks like a license plate because it was stamped on the same press that makes licxense plates.

All guesses, but I have a lot of faith in them.

Bob Netzlof

[Anonymous]

I used to work at AZ Motor Vehicle Division. The best place to get info on this would be from the Texas Motor Vehicle Division, or whomever issues license plates in Texas.
My guess is that it is a "specialty" plate of some sort. Motor Vehicles issues Motorcycle (m/c) size plate for golf carts and other small vehicles. The S probably stands for STATE. The RR Comm was the agency to whom the plate was assigned. It probably could not have been issued without completing a specific form from the RR Commission . The 77 and 81 refer to the validation period.

These are just guesses, based on my experience. Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

License plate, Motorcycle size with the following
R.R.COMM. across the top.
S 34203 across the center.
77 TEXAS 81 across the bottom.
This plate is in excellent condition, but it has no paint on it. What is it and what color was it?