History
of Development in Cars
Electrical Ignition
Charles Kettering invented the
electrical starting motor testing the first system in Cadillac car in 1911.
Windscreen Wipers
Mary Anderson, an American lady,
devised a spring loaded swinging arm windscreen wiper. she patented her
invention in 1905. In 1917 Ormond invented the automatic, electrically
operated, windscreen wiper.
Car Radio
In 1921, Paul Galvin from America
invented first car radio. He coined the name "Motorola" for the
company's new products combining the idea of motion and radio. Motorola model
radio became hte of the world's first commercially successful car radios.
Power Steering
Francis W. Davis invented power
steering. He developed a hydraulic power steering system system that led to
power steering. The first car with power steering was manufactured by chrysler
in 1951.
Power Window
Packard Motor car company introduced
the first power windows in 1940. In 1941, the Ford motors company followed
suit.
Air Conditioning
The Packard Motor Car Company was
the first automobile manufacturer to build air conditioners into its cars,
beginning in 1939. These air conditioners took up the entire trunk space to
turn it off, the driver had to stop the car and i the engine and then open the
hood and disconnect a belt connected to the air conditioning compressor.
General Motors introduced a more efficient air conditioner beginning with its
1954 Pontiac V8 models. Automobile air conditioners would not become truly
commonplace until the 1970s and 1980s.
Air Bags
Ford built an experimental fleet of
cars with airbags in 1971, followed by General Motors in 1973 on Chevrolet
vehicles as an option. The Oldsmobile Toronado became the first car with a
passenger airbag.
Tyre
In 1843 Charles Goodyear invented
vulcanized rubber that was later used for the first tyres. The first practical
pneumatic tyre was made by the Scot, John Boyd Dunlop, in 1888.
In 1895, Michelin Introduced
pneumatic automobile tyres. ln 1903, Goodyear Tire Company patented the first
tubeless tyre, however it was not introduced until the launch of the 1954
Packard. In 1908, Frank Seiberling invented grooved tyres with improved road
traction. In 1910, B.F. Goodrich Company invented longer life tyres by adding
carbon to the rubber. Goodyear introduced first nylon tyres (1947). B.F.
Goodrich introduced the tubeless tyre (1947). Michelin the radial tyre (1949)
and Pirelli the wide radial tyre (1974).
Turn Signals
In 1914, movie actress Florence
Florence Lawrence had invented the first turn signal called auto signalling
arm. An early version of the turn signal she invented consisted of a signalling
arm, which was mounted on the back fender. The arm was activated by an electric
button on the dash. The arm could be raised and lowered and would point in the
turning directions. Buick invented the first electric turn signals in 1938. By
1940, Buick added the self-canceling mechanism attached to the steering column.
