The History of Car Windows

Early cars did not have the safety benefits that drivers have today.

Today car drivers and passengers take for granted the modern version of the car. Barely 100 years ago common car elements, such as windows and windshields, were seen as a luxury instead of a necessity.

First Cars

The first cars could only be driven in good weather.

The earliest version of the modern car was created in 1769 by Frenchman Nicolas Cugnot. It was windowless and developed to run on steam and transport cannons. The birth of modern cars came in 1886 with the invention of the motor, but majority of cars remained windowless until 1929.

First Windshields

Ford's Model T was the first mass produced vehicle.

If a driver opted out of wearing eye goggles while driving, he had the choice of purchasing an optional windshield. Henry Ford offered this for his famous Model T. Later car models had a one-person top and curtains on the side, but this failed to protect the driver and passengers from rain and other harsh weather. Wrap-around glass was popular and fairly affordable by 1929; this quickly became a status symbol.

Early Inventions

Laminated windshields are a safety requirement in every car today.

Prior to laminated windshields, the common glass windows of a car splintered to sharp pieces when broken. Laminated windshields were made in 1927. Just a thin layer of laminate between two layers of glass reduced injuries and helped strengthen the windshield.

In 1903, Irishman James Henry Apjohn invented mechanical windshield wipers. They consisted of two brushes that moved vertically on the glass. American Mary Anderson patented a "swinging arm" in 1905. Yet these early wipers were cumbersome to work since they required one hand to operate them while the other hand had to steer the car and control the gearshift and brakes. (See Reference 3)

References

• Discovery Channel: History of Cars Timeline
• Glass Links: A Look at the History of Automotive Glass
• Car History 4 U: History of Windscreen/Windshield Wipers

Resources

• Time: A Brief History of the Model T
• Car History 4 U: History of Car Parts
• Discovery Channel: History of Cars Timeline