The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-25
AUTOMOBILE NEW S

qulringly al the other as if for in
structions. The other makes Il mo-
tion to iidicate ne different gtal
shifts, adjusts tho spark and throt-
tie levers and switch. The engine Il
started and the cat moves off. All
this only takes a S, cond 81 two and
is so well done that it woIlt deceive
even a suspicious person.
But cars are are sometimes locked
so that the engine cannot be started
and such cars are usually left alone.
AS one convicted thief remarked re
Gently: NO man is going TO eX'
pertinent with a locked car when
there is another one around the cor
ner just as good. with no protec-
tion whatever" But occasionally
very expensive car catches the eye
of the master thief and he and his
gang study the habits of the owner
to find out when and where ii will be
left the longest time unattended. If
it is always locked they do not bother
to pick the lock, but another car
backs down in front and close 10 it,.
The driver gets out and pretends too
be doing something to the rear Of
| his car. In reality he is passing a
rope through the front spring hanger
of the car he wants. He jumps into
the car he is stealing, so as to steer
it, and the man at the wheel Of the
| front car drives off with the other
| car in tow.
In view of the facts avobe stated,
the best protection would seem to be a
| loose steering wheel Other devices
have been tried and failed ignition
/ locks. gear shift locks, locked brakes
(which are against police regulations
in most cities) gasoline locks and Sc
cret ignition switches, but it is self
evident that car with a loose steer
ing wheel is about as well protected
as a car can be. A service car with
derrick can be backed down and
the whole front end lifted as happens
when the front is disabled but this
takes too much time and draws too
much attention to please the thief. He
is always very modest and retiring
about his work.
But there are many who do not
wish 10 go to the expense Of installing
loose steering wheel, so some one
Of the following devices may prove
useful: A secret ignition switch in the
tool box, under the floor boards OF
other place, will make it impossible
TO start unless the circuit is traced
out This takes time and so discourag'
es the thief. A simpler method is "a
carry away some essential part Of the
ignition system-such as the distribu-
tor brush or rcter and in magnetos, the
bus bar from the collector ring 10 the
distributor. Unfortunately the thieves
usually know more about the ignition
system than the owner and so provide
themselves with these parts for the
make and model of car they are look
ing for.
A hidden valve in the gasoline line
although somewhat difficult 10 in.
STALL is almost perfect protection
except against towing. This will
cause the engine TO stop. and the
thief to abandon the car after a few
seconds. A good way is to close this
valve with the engine still running
It will stop as soon as all the gasoline
in the carburetor is used up and then
cannot be started unless the valve is
opened again. Care must be taker
= to throw off the ignition switch after
the engine stops or the current will
DC wasted and the resistance unit
burned out. A glance at the ammetel
which should then indicate zero, will
show that the system is safe.
II the plunger of the starter switch
can be lifted out this may be fount
to be sufficient protection. The cal
cannot then be started without thu
crank handle, which is usually storet
away in the tool box or under th'
front seat. In fact any device which
causes delay in starting the engin'
will discourage a thief where the ca
Is left in the open. But no device vii
! protect a car where the thief cal
work unobserved and has plenty o
time