ourna The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Issue 212 September-October 2004 The Motor Bandits: 5 Cars, Crimes and Philosophy by Michael Bromley www.autohistory.org \aiming a first is a dangerous business, especially with automobiles. You never reall y know. So get out your pen and co rrect me on this one: the first time an C automobile was used for non-automotive crime was in ew York City in 1910. Inside Speeding, manslaughter, stealing cars ... these thrills were earlier perfected. lt wasn't until 1910 that professional criminals and gangs took to the automobile. My coll ection of Editorial Comment 2 New York Tim es articles gives the first as eptember 29, 1910 with "Fight Pistol Battle in Speeding Autos." These were not chauffeurs of rival steel magnates. Okay, before the ded­ icated refuters out there find some 1903 Kalamazoo bank heist with a getaway in a President's Perspective 3 curved dash Olds (ca lling Keith Marvin! calling Keith Marvin!), allow me a few thoughts on why 1910 marks the meeting of automobiles and professional crime. Anything before was isolated, and not ge nerally happening, for the si mple reason SAH News 4 that before 1910 thugs in cars would have been conspicuous. Thanks to the motoring President-my man William Howard Taft-automobiles in 1910 were normal, political­ Obituary 6 ly-correct and socially-acceptable objects of what Alexis de Tocqueville called every Merle "Mickey" Mishne American's glance of hope and envy on the enjoyments of the rich. Before Taft, automo­ biles were hateful envy-and anger and calls for the income tax and six m.p.h. speed limits, two around curves if one listened to Congressman Sims of Tennessee. If only the rich ran automobiles, only the rich could use them to commit crimes. Book Reviews 7 Following the logic, since the rich owned the banks, automobilists didn't rob them, at The Graham Legacy: least not through the front door. With more and more, and more common, people taking Graham-Paige from 1932 to automobiles in 1910, your average criminal could get away with being seen in a motor car without violating the social lists. All one needed now was a driver's license, not a Porsche: membership card to the Four Hundred. General licensing, in fact , was the states' en­ Excellence Was Expected dorsement of automobiling for all. When only chauffeurs required licenses, automobile Album Smochodow FSO owners were a distinct class in law, a privilege that was erased by universal licensing, which itself followed the general acceptance of automobiles. The various drive-by shootings and getaways by car that appeared in 1910 became Letters 9 commonplace in 1912, so much so that the Times announced on February 22, "200 Ex­ Convicts Run Taxicabs Here: They have licenses which can aid them in committing The Billboard 11 crime,' the police say." The horror wasn't so much the crimes or the criminals, but their empowerment by the automobile: "... the taxicab, as a means of getting away, has made the detection of crimes ... more difficult than ever before . .. " Automotive exclusivity gone, so with it conspicuousness. Americans have always loved a good crime story. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had not too long before scared the country with their wild and desperate train hold­ ups. But Americans don't like criminals for the crimes. The Hole in the Wall Gang mem­ Also Inside bers are not remembered for their crimes. This story struck the American heart for its Silent Auction Catalog-Deadline for rebellion against the closing frontier and, most importantly, for the fun of it all. They receiving bids is November 15th continued on page 6 Protecting Our Prized Possession spread of DVD 's, cable programs and As stewards of automotive history Powerpoint presentations maybe a better we can enhance our role and further our sticker would be "Not Your Father's Auto cause by maintaining high standards of History." This might intrigue lovers of accuracy. It is mere coincidence that history and even snag a few curious his­ President joe Freeman's column on page 3 toryphobes. The fact is auto history has a and Aldo lana's letter on page 9 appear lot to offer: the beginnings and develop­ in the same issue of the journal. Together, ment of a technology that many today they reinforce the importance of accuracy consider to have had the greatest impact in reporting (Aldo, quite pointedly). Thomas S. Jakups, Editor on our society, colorful entreprenuers Our membership is made up of and their success stories, the thrills of the individuals with a wide range and breadth ast month at a car show in Stowe, racing circuits. And that is all from the of expertise. This expertise is our reason Vermont, I picked up a window previous century. What history is being for being, a large part of our mission. As L sticker that said, "Take a Kid to a written now in design studios and engi­ editor of the journal I thank those who Car Show." A much-publicized concern neering labs, company boardrooms, race­ contribute articles and I encourage more of old-car hobbyists has been attracting tracks around the world? members to do so. I also thank those who younger people. It is perfectly under­ So we have a good product but one lend their expertise by pointing our errors standable that we would like others to that won't sell itself. We need to increase and correcting the record. When irregu­ take up and enjoy our great hobby, and our visibility among hobbyists and histo­ larities are noted I hope that members will there is the added incentive of having rians. Our affiliation with the American take it as a challenge to provide more future buyers for our prized possessions. Historical Association, our loaning the information about a particular subject, to Auto historians have the same con­ Dunwoodie Archives to the AACA Library make it more complete and accurate.In cerns as automobile owners. "Take a Kid and Reseach Center and our yearly pres­ the end it will increase the value of our to an Auto History Conference" doesn't ence at Hershey are all steps in the right prized possession. have the same ring to it, but with the direction. -Tom]akups .. J QJ.J[..11~1Issue 212 September-October 2004 Officers Publications Committee SAH Journal (I SSN 1057-1973) Joseph S. Freeman President Christopher C. Foster, Chair is published six times a year by the Michael l. Berger Vice President Taylor Vinson Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Darwyn H. Lumley Secretary Thomas S. Jakups Christopher C. Foster Treasurer Michael lamm Subscription is by membership Beverly Rae Kimes in the Society. Board of Directors Through October 2004 Membership dues are $40 per year. Michaell. Bromley Paul N. Lashbrook Past Editors Send dues, membership inqui ries leroy D. Cole Richard B. Brigham and changes of address to Through October 2005 Issues 1-29 Sept. 1969-(undated) 1973 Susan S. Davis John A. Marino Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. C. Marshall Naul Arthur W. Jones 1102 long Cove Road Through October 2006 30-50 Ju ly 1973-Dec. 1976 Cales Ferry, CT 06335-1812 USA Samuel V. Fiorani Robert R. Ebert John Peckham ©2004 Patricia lee Yongue 51 -59 Feb. 1977 -July 1978 Walter Cosden The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. SAH Journal 60-87 Nov. 1978- Dec. 1983 Thomas S. Jakups Find the Society of Automotive Historians Editor, Advertising Manager Richard B. Brigham on the web at www.autohistory.org. 37 Wyndwood Road 88-117 Jan.jFeb. 1983-Nov.jDec. 1988 West Hartford, CT 06107 USA Christopher C. Foster Copy Deadline for Journa/213 860-236-0125 Fax 860-232-0468 118-157 Jan.jFeb. 1989-July/Aug. 1995 email: [email protected] Samuel V. Fiorani October 31st [email protected] 158-194 Sept.jOct. 1995-Sept./ Oct. 2001 2 SAH journal No. 212 Going to the Source the highest standard of historical investi­ document it correctly is a crucial part of gati on. the "treasure hunt." Am I getting too highfalutin' here' Another particular problem in our Well , maybe, but to bring things back field , closely related to the lack of effort down to earth, I would like to make a to document fac ts, is the perpetuation of few comments about what I perceive to myth . I know l am not alone in picking Joseph S. Freeman, President be some failures in the way many of us up a new peri odical or book only to find do business, myself included. Certainly that some completely discredited story or number one is the way we deal with the fac t has reappeared once again as the nee again, greetings to you sources of our historical material. I would gospel truth. As we all know, the more all from your frazzled ask, how many times have we picked up these errors are repeated, the more they 0 President! Every year, once a book on an important automotive sub­ become "fac t. " the auto show, touring and vintage racing ject, only to find that the facts therein are Of course, in the pursuit of histori­ season ge ts started, I am swamped with either poorly documented or not sourced cal truth there will always be some po­ conOicts fo r events that I would like to at all . How many authors fail to take the tential for debate. Differing perceptions attend. I'm sure it is the same fo r most of time to offer a footnote or two as to the and reports of what went on decades ago you, and 1 guess all we can say is that provenance of a crucial piece of informa­ wi ll inevi tably offer the opportunity fo r such a wide range of choice offers a rather ti on' How many of us rely on secondary conOi cting interpretations.