Those windshield wipers your car has to clear your vision during rain or snow? You can thank Mary Anderson, a woman from Alabama.
One winter day in New York City, Mary Anderson noticed that her driver could barely see through his windshield, due to the snow and sleet. Originally the design for dealing with bad weather was to open one of two parts of the windshield and slide it out of the way. However, this left the drivers face open to the elements. So inside the car, Anderson began to sketch out an idea.
Her first idea was a prototype that was made of wood and rubber, attached to a lever near the steering wheel. When the driver pulled the lever, the device was dragged across the window and back again, clearing away winter debris. Although it was patented, at first people didn't pick up on it, saying it would cause too many accidents. But by 1916 windshield wipers were standard on most vehicles.
And the first patent for the automatic windshield wiper in 1917? Also a woman (look up Charlotte Bridgwood)
That is super interesting. I have never really thought about a time without windshield wipers. It is quite ironic to think that they thought windshield wipers would cause more accidents when it fact it would probably reduce accidents. Did Charlotte Bridgwood and Mary Anderson know each other?
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