The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-03-11
BY II. H. BASSETT
In Billings Gazette.

ing stolen, would you be in position to
positively identify it to the satisfac-
tion of the authorities when located,
even if the thieves had made unusual
efforts to disguise it?
Oldest Problem
This is a problem as old as the in
dustry itself and is one that will never
DC solved except by the owners of
automobiles. The manufacturers have
wrestied with it fer years and the
steps taken by them are undoubtedly
mere comrlote then will bo found in
any other class of manufactured pro-
ducts.
Every frame, every body, every mo-
tor and transmission and rear axle,
every tire and steering gear, or any
other unity that can be named, bears
the factory serial number, cast, forg-
ed ca stamped into it. And for a
time this precaution was an effective
means of identifying a stolen car.
But automobile thieves have found
the stealing of automobiles so profit
able on account Of the loose laws in
some. sections Of the country, that
they have devoted an amount of work
and cunning to their low practices
that it is worthy Of a much better
cause. It is a matter of common
knowledge that they will steal two or
more Of the same make of cars, switch
the various units about from one to
another, Obliterate some of the serial
numbers and change others so that
eventually these numbers in many
cases are almost useless from the
standpoint Ct the rightful owner.
This is a condition that cannot be
controlled by the owner.
Owners Have Way
But there is a way for the owner to
get around it. He a put some pri-
yate marks in obscure places on his
car where they will not be likely to
ne detected, or if detected will not be
regarded seriously by the thief. But
as long as the owner continues to
leave all the precautions to somebody
else, he is playing right into the
hands of his enemies.
1t seems rather odd that the aver
age motor car wner is so sadly lack
.ng in means Of identifying his car.
Il he bought a horse he would soon
know every peculiar marking on that
rovse. He would know that it had
Two white feet, that there was a scar
IN one of its legs from contact with
q barbed wire fence, that it had an
odd shaped marking on its forehead,
md so on. He would know similar
markings on his pet dog, too, if he
had one. He could tell you something
about his penknife, or his watch, Oh
any other Of his personal effects
But his automobile is a different
story.
He knows that it is a five-passen.
ger car, made in such ard such a year
along with perhaps a hundred thou
ssnd other cars Of the same model
But after describing its top, wind
shield, dash equipment, extra tire
and so on, he hasn't given the police
{ single tangible clue that would dis
tinguish his car from others Of TIL
same model. The chances are that h
mas even lost the car number an'
will have to apply to the dealer for il
The first thing to do, if possible, l
to tell the police something that vii
identify the car as it passes on tn
street in case there is something
about it's outward appearance to dis
tinguish it. The second thing is t
tell them the location of some privat
marks that will positively identify tn
car in addition to the assembly nun
bers in case any of them have bee
changed.
Must Be Unique
A private mark, to be a priyat
mark must be unique. 1t must be di
ferent from the mark on any othI
car of the same make, otherwise it
not a positive means of identificatio
With a production of 100000 ears
year, it would be necessary for Il
manufacturers to devise 100000 Sc
arate and distinct marks, keep a re
ord Of them all, advise each individu
owner what the marks were and whe
to find them. This is so far out
the question that it will not be ne
essary to discuss it.
On the other hand, if the manufs
tUrer were TO adopt a system Of Il
Kind the thieves would not be long
becoming entirely familiar with
when It would have immediate
served It's usefulness exactly as {