Hazard A Guess: Week of Aug. 15, 2002

Hello from Hazard.

We received some quick answers to Item No. 656 – and correct ones, at that!

The item we featured last week is early car owners’ answer to the modern-day anti-theft device, “The Club.”

Item No. 656 is a “Security Auto-Theft Signal System,” often called a wheel or tire boot. This particular model was made by the Security Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, and patented in 1914. You put the hinged device around the tire of automobiles in the early part of the 20th century to prevent theft. It locked with key. A B2 is imprinted on the inside on the example shared by Wayne Darling of Salem.

We heard correctly from: Casey Casto of Lowellville, Ohio; Myron Palay, who adds that similar devices are still used by law enforcement departments to immobilize autos today; Nancy Blasco, Parma, Ohio; Richard Zeh, Salem, Ohio; Gene Halliwill, Ashland, Ohio; and Doc Ford, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who says he’s seen several over the years at padlock shows, etc., and they average between $50 to $100, depending on condition, etc.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in to Hazard.

Now, we head on to a real mystery, according to John Kusch of Westland, Mich., who sent this week’s picture. He admits he doesn’t know what it is and would like readers’ help in identifying its use.

Send your answers to: Hazard a Guess, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or via e-mail to: editorial@farmanddairy.com.