BEATING THE THIEF.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 245, 12 July 1928, Page 7

BEATING THE THIEF.

INGENIOUS DEVICE. Though there are not so many cars stolen nowadays as formerly, the activities of the car thief are still a 'Worry. Many and various are the devices for preventing cars being driven away by any but their lawful owners. Few are so ingenious as the Askway thief-proof switch (says a [British paper). This consists in the main of a combination lock, whose three letter dials surround a pull-and-push ignition switch, and when the latter is pulled out into the “ off” position the bottom of the tumbler comes up against a brass block on

the back cover, thus preventing the latter from being unscrewed. The three letter dials are attached to three metal discs, each having a series of nicks at its circumference, and ore deep slot. Unless the three deep slots are all brought into line with the tumbler of the switch, the latter cannot be pushed in to complete the circuit. The combination can be altered by anyone in less than a minute. A shutter can also be placed between the carburettor and the induction pipe, connected by a spring loaded cable to the tumbler of the switch, so that when the latter is “ off ” the shutter is automatically closed and vice versa.