THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND. MAY 30.' 1920
.MEW YORK CITY HAS
580 KINDS OF AUTOSl
Police Confront Problem of
Recognizing Cars. ,
BERTILLON SYSTEM USED
Cars Dissected Part by Part for
Means of Identification,
lears' Experience Noted.
NEW YORK, May 29. There are
680 different makes of automobiles
in New York city, according; to Ser
jeant John Brennan of the New York
city police department.
How many of these cars can you
gangsters know how to drive an au
tomobile, thus enabling Uiem to use
a Quick and silent means of making
their escape. So that nowadays often
the policeman only catches a glimpse
of the rear 5f a car as It flashes from
the scene Of a robbery.
That automobile owners are willing
t co-operate with the police has been
the experience of the sergeant. He
told the rookies during his lecture of
an experience that he had had but a
short time ago. He had just come
from a station where an alarm had
come in for a stolen Buick landau
lette. He left the station on his mo-,
torcycle and had- gone less than a
mile when be passed a Buick landau
lette with a mudguard damaged in a
way that answered the description.
He stopped the car, the owner al
lowed him to examine it thoroughly
and gave Mm every - aid. - Brennan
said he discovered the engine number
differed from the one mentioned in
the alarm, so he explained and apol
ogized. As he finished the. owner asked, "Is
this the kind of service I would get
if my car was stolen?" On being as
sured by Brennan it was he expressed
his appreciation of the work.
When tfiis service was first intro
duced there was some question as to
its value. Many expressions of strong
doubt as to its reliability were made.
One night a man driving a horse and
buggy was run down by an automo
bile and later died in the hospital.
The clews left behind were a rim
SAFETY CIRCULARS
SSUEDK LOUIS
Police Carry .Safety Cam--paign
to Public.
50,000 . APPEALS MADE
School Children, Pedestrians and
. Motorists Requested to Aid in
Preventing Accidents.
' Because the death toll of motor
accidents in St. Louis last year mount
ed to 100 and this year has already
reached ten, the St. Louis police de
partment carried its Eafety first- cam
paign directly to school children, pe-
THIS TRUCK CARRIED THE FIRST LOAD OF CRUDE RUBBER TO THE NEW GOODYEAR FACTORY
' AT LOS ANGELES. . '
' : 1 boost mMAiifmmmu
The truck, one of the Goodyear company famous Akrao-to-Boiton frefgbtera, '
two or three times to boot, went south -with the Ad club
hlch has crossed the continent
caravan.
Of significance to Portland was the fact that the load of rubber on this truck was part of a cargo shipped to
this port direct from the orient. By shipping to Portland a saving of ten days in time can be made over shipments
to San Francisco. The cargo of rubber was shipped south from Portland by truck through the efforts of George
I;ellis. northwest manager for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber company. It will be a big feather in Portland's cap,
indeed, if future rubber shipments for the new Los Angeles factory, which will be in operation in July, are made
through Portland, and Mr. Beilis is working to have that done. The truck in the picture is equipped fore and aft
with Goodyear pneumatic truck cord tires, 44x10 inches in sise. This truck, in fact, was one of the pioneer
motor freight carriers in the Akron-Boston run, which demonstrated the superiority of pneumatic over "solid tire
equipment.
recognize. This is the problem that
confronts the police of New York
w-hen an alarm is sent out for a
stolen car or a car containing men
ho are trying to escape after hav
ing broken a law.
Can the police name every car? No.
But they have a Bertillon system of
identifying cars which enables them
to classify a car so that the man "on
beat'' knows what to look for. Cars
' are dissected part by part, as are the
human features under the Bertillon
system, and on each make there is
found one or two separate items that
distinguish one make from another.
This system is the creation of Ser
jeant Brennan, who has built it from
his years of experience first as a
member of the bicycle squad and
later the motorcycle squad. ,
Bertillon Syntem Basis.
The system is taught by a series of
lectures illustrated by charts on each
of which there Is'shown a particular
feature of an automobile. Kor instance,
there is a cliart devoted to various
shaped radiators, another shows types
of fenders and still a third shows
where the various makes of cars place
thoir tail lights.
When first started this course was
given to the members of the tiaffic
squad only and special attention was
paid to the outside men located at the
ferries and other points of egrets
from the city.
Then, as the automobile industry
grcw, there came the rapid increase
of the use of the car by the gangsters
and other crooks, so the lectures were
made a part of the police training
schoo!currlculum and now are given
to all rookies.
This Bertillon system applied to
ears gives the beginner a basis to
work on. For even if a man is nat
urally observant he must be trained
to look for what he wants. There
were about -00 future policemen in
the lecture room one afternoon
b'very one of fhem admitted he could j
tell a Ford. The Cadillac and Pack
ard also were among the cars a larse
number of the rookies claimed they
could recognize.
How to Identify 'Em.
Towards the end of the lecture
Sergeant Brennan held up one of his
charts on which were pictured the
various back windows that appear in
the tops of touring cars. He pointed
fo one of the designs and asked:
"Which car has this type of window""
There were several guesses, but no
one said Ford, and Ford was -the an
swer. Fach make or car has an individual
front, rear and profile which are buiit
up from the component parts shown
on the charts. The system as taught
makes it possible for a man who
doesn't know the name 'of a car to
i pick out salient points that will Iden
tify one car from another.
Some of the points that the charts
emphasize are:
View of the front Peculiarity of
the radiator, also type of radiator
cau: shapes of windshield: position Of
numbers plate; position and ciape of
ventilators: appearance of bumper;
make of shock absorber: mudguards.
whether crown, oval or flat and with
or without moulding.
Side Ventilators; head and side
lights: . mudguards; type of steps and
runnmng gear; passenger capacity;
hubcaps; spare tire carried; toolboi
etc.
Rear Exact position of tail light
type of springs, shock absorbers, gas
oline tank, luggage carrier or tpara
tire carrier and kind of window in
back of top or body.
With the lecture work for a back
ground the rookies are expected to
build up their knowledge so they can
easily recognize cars, and they do.
Knowing these points is a great aid
to the policeman. Take a man sta
tioned at Fifth avenue and Forty
second street who has just received an
alarm for a Stutz raceabout, with the
right mudguard slightly bent and a
radiator cap that differs from the
usual Stuts type. He doesn't bother
to look closely at any car but a Stutz.
The first Stutz he sees is a touring
car: no need to bother any further.
Here cames a "bear cat." Its radiator
is the regulation one. Later com a
raceabout with a radiator cap foreign
to the Stutz. The right mudguard is
bent. It's the one he will slop aojd
ask questions about.
Sergeant Brennan emphasizes the
rear view in his lectures to tho rook
ies. It is the most important. He es
timates that about 90 per cent of the
of one of the headlights, a piece of
tire and some gray paint that had
been scratched off the car by the
shafts of the buggy. The case was
turned over to Brennan. With these
clews he managed not only to find the
man who owned the car, but built up
a case that held in court and the man
pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the
second degree.
by issuing
containing
CAR RUNS OFF HIGHWAY
VANCOUVER, B. C, MEN GO OFF
WOLF CREER GRADE.
Auto Is Wrecked in 123-Foot Drop
and Non-Stop Run From Can
ada to Mexico Spoiled.
GRANTS PASS. Or.. May L9. (Spe
cial.) Four men escaped d.eath by the
merest luck and their car. a Franklin,
was wrecked when they drove off the
grade at one of the sharp turns on
the Wolf creek section of the Pacific
highway early Tuesday morning.
The car went Over a bank 10(1 to 125
feet high and turned over three times
as it rolled down the hillside. The top
saved its four occupants from death,
though one of them, C. E. Rolston of
Vancouver, B. C, was severely hurt
and is thought to have sustained
slight internal injuries. He declined
hospital aid.
The car was on a non-stop run from
Vancouver, B. C, to Tia Juana. Mex
ico, and return. Jt was manned by C.
E. Rolston, W. A. McLean. A. R. Kelly
and .Carl Bingham, all of Vancouver,
B. C, the two latter being official ob
servers for the run. Mr. Kellv. who
is widely known as "King" Kellv, is
member of the Vancouver Rotary
lub and was representing that or
ganization as observer.
Mr. McLean was at the htfl when
the car went off the grade. The men
had been driving all night, the road
was wet and slippery and the theory
is advanced that possibly the driver
might have dozed for an instant, just
long enough for the car to leave the
grade on one of the sharp grades of
the Wolf creek section. A little fur
ther on and it would have been over
Sexton mountain or Smith hill and
over the worst part of the trip south.
it was not making excessive speed.
! destrians. and motorists
50,000 circular letters
these suggestions:
Kor Pcdcstriai
1. Look both ways before crossing
a street.
- cross the street at regular
crossing, not diagonally or in the
miuaie or the block.
3. Don't read a paper when cross
ing a street.
4. Always obey the traffic officer's
signals and commands.
a. Keep your eyes open for trol
leys, autos and wagons.
0. wncn passing- behind a street i
car look out for vehicles approaching I
from the opposite direction.
7. Do not jump on or off a moving
street car; wait until the car stops.
8. When carrying an umbrella do
not permit it to obstruct your view.
9. Do not carry a cane or umbrella
under your arm in a. crowd or when
using stairways.
10. Always keep to the right; don't
cut corners.
For Children.
1. Do not play In the roadway.
2. Play on the sidewalk or on the
nearest playground or vacant lot.
3. Don't skate on sidewalk or on
roadway.
4. Nevtsr chase a ball across the
street.
5. Don't hitch on autos, trolleys pr
6. Do not coast where trolleys or
autos go.
7. Don't play around autos or
touch any of the ievers. ' .
8. Never touch wires at any time
or place.
9. Do not fear the policemen; they
win neip and protect you.
10. Never run behind a standing
trolley car; there may be another car
or auto approaching on. the other side
For Motorists.
1. Go slow, passing children or ve
hicles, around corners approaching
crossings.
-. Stop: At railroad crossings be
hind street cars taking on or dis
charging passengers.
3. Give warning signal of your ap
proach and keep to the right.
4. Give warning signal when stop
ping or turning.
5. Use tire chaifts on wet or slip
pery pavements.
S. Remove headlight glare.
7. Be sure your brakes are in good
working order; inspect them fre
quently.
S. Never leave a motor vehicle
unattended without shutting oft she
prwer frnd applying emergency brake
AC
double Cable Sase c7Tf5y
THOUSANDS of motorists today
know Federal to be the one tire
which has no rim troubles for car
owners are more and more watching
for factors that can cut down motor
ing expense.
No other tire has the Double-Cable-Base.
Let these four cables
of tense steel ' save your tire money
that otherwise is wasted in useless
rim-wear. .
The Federal Rubber Company
of Illinois
Factories, Cudahy, Wisconsin
DEALERS Write for eseluKive proposition if we are
not represented in your tuna.
WEAVER TIRE COMPANY
Oregon Vulcanizing Co. "
3:ta-3a.- bihnside at Broadway
Telephone Broadway 371)
----4-t----
AUTO FIRM SOON TO MOVE
McCRAKEN MOTOR COMPANY
TO HAVE NEW BUILDING.
ness snd the addition of new factory
buildings made this increased cap
ital necessary. The increase will pro
vide for an expansion programme
made necessary by the ever-increas
ing volume of sales.
Distributor for Premier Car anil
Moreland and Commerce Trut-Ws
to Get Better Quarters.
The McCraken Motor company, dis
tributor for Premier and Pan-Amer
ican cars and Moreland and Commerce
trucks, will remove from its present
quarters at 490 Burnbide street short
ly to a new building under construc
tion for the firm at tourteenth and
Morrison streets. j
The new building should be ready
about June 1, though thcrs have been
several delays. It is twyo stories, on
a 0x100 lot, and of handsome brick
and concrete construction.
The first floor will be given over to
salesroom and Offices. Servico and
shop department will occupy the en
tire second floor.'
The McCraken Motor company has
been In business in Portland for the
past five years aiWr- has enjoyad a
steady growth during thjt time. Its
first quarters were at 445 Stark street.
Later it removed to its present place
at 490 Burnside. J. ft. McCraken is
president and Peter McCraken man
ager of the company.
SERVICE INCREASES STOCK
Motor Truck Company Plans Bit
Expansion Programme.
At a special -meeting of the stock
holders of tho Service Motor Truck
company held recently at 'Wabash.
Ind . the capital stock was raised from
nun nno to is 000. 000. bv the author
ization of an additional issue of
$1,000,000 of preferred stock.
The rapid expansion Of the huFi
Lubricating the Springs.
In lubricating automobile springs!
the greatest trouble is found in keep
ing the lubricant from being squeexedl
Out under pressure. A compound that
obviates this Is found in graphite and
beeswax mixed to a paste and spread I
upon each leaf. Obviously the spring I
must be taken apart to apply this)
lubricant.
Special Steels Eliminate Useless Weight
in a
MAXWELL
The
engine
reason
the Maxwell
is so responsive and
yet thrifty, the reason the
tires roll into big mileage is
due largely to one fact : A
Maxwell is burdened 'with no
useless weight.
Special steels make this so.
They are made to Maxwell's
own formulae. No other steels
in any car are just like them.
These special eteels are of
great strength and make pos
sible the ideal Maxwell con-
8 traction of brute strength -with"
light weight.
, Obviously, they are higlv
priced metals. They equal, "
pound for pound, the steels in
any car built.
The wisdom of their use in
the Maxwell . becomes evident
when one observes the rapid
growth in public favor of this
remarkable car.
Considerthat nearly 400,000
of them are now in use; that
100,000 more will be added
to this total in 1920,
C. L. Boss Automobile Co.
615-617 Washington Street, Portland
Everywhere, you go you see Republic
Trucks doing the big hauling jobs.
41t JWIPWyW
R
v
gisMIIH Wlii.l tlBWL
We guarantee all
battery repairs
Oil
blic ! reek
Because Republic Trucks are noted for
their ability to do harder work, for a
longer time, at a lower cost.
TwitrnifnwntiiftwmnMimtimtJwnui
oberts '.Motor Car Co.
Vancouver, Wash. Portland, Or. Boise, Idaho
Largest Exclusive Truck Dealers in the Northwest
Every battery repair we make is guaranteed for
six months.
We are able to do this because in repairing any
make of battery we are licensed to use the patented
features which have made Vesta batteries famous.
Another reason is that Our service station is .
equipped with every appliance necessary to test
and repair all makes of batteries. Expert work
men are in charge of our service.
It is our policy to make your battery deliver every
ounce of service possible. - Our reputation for
square dealing is your guarantee of satisfaction.
We don't want your business unless you are
convinced that the work is done right and at a
reasonable price.
.
Gibson Electric Garage and Storage Battery Co.
v ALDER AT TWELFTH
1 S"SS
V,P COSTS LESS PER MONTH OF SERVICE
Tnefomtructibto
Isolator lock thm
plat mprt