The "broken plate" myth was the hobby's explanation for the scarcity of the T206 Plank card when I got back into the hobby in the late 1970's.
I worked part-time in a Print Shop during my High School days, and I knew the "broken plate" myth was a bunch of "BULL"....because printers
usually (or always) had multiple printing plates of every image they printed.
Incidentally, the "broken plate" myth back then was also this hobby's explanation for why the scarcity of the 1954 BOWMAN Ted Williams card.
I will relate to you of my experience which proved that this 1954 BOWMAN Ted Williams myth was NOT the reason this card was short-printed.
That is if anyone here is interested in my story.
In 2007, I posted my research regarding the Plank card on Net54. Refer to....
https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=84186
Initially, my hypothesis is somewhat convoluted in how it involves the American Lithographic Co. vs the American Caramel Co. (i.e., E90-1 set).
In 2012, I modified my theory as to why Plank's card was discontinued. It was simply due to
his aversion of Tobacco in any form (see Post #70
in the above stated thread).
Eddie Plank's preferred battery-mate was Doc Powers. Stay tuned for this story.
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TED Z
T206 Reference
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