First non-manual wipers and first heater

[rhurst 5]

I have a 1923 Hudson that has a single manual wiper blade and no interior heater.

Does anyone know when the first hands free wipers were installed in cars and which model was the first.  I know they used portable heaters in the early cars like they did in the carriages but  when and what car had the first real heater?

Robert

[BearsFan315 613]

cool little article: The History of Windshield Wipers

 

Quote

William M. Folberth, an inventor, patented the first automatic, non-hand-driven windshield wipers in 1919. These automatic windshield wipers used a vacuum-powered system to clear the windshield, which became standard equipment on automobiles. This vacuum-powered system was widely used until 1960s, when the use of intermittent wipers became more common

 

not sure how true this all is, as many claim to be the first

 

Clear The Way: A History of Automotive Windshield Wipers

Edited September 21, 2020 by BearsFan315 (see edit history)

[padgett 2,105]

Wonder if that is why Renault put the radiator behind the engine...

[rhurst 5]

1 hour ago, BearsFan315 said:

cool little article: The History of Windshield Wipers

 

 

not sure how true this all is, as many claim to be the first

 

Clear The Way: A History of Automotive Windshield Wipers

 

[rhurst 5]

Yes I have seen the article.  Seems to me I have seen many older cars with an electric wiper mounted

at the tip of the windshield. Maybe both types of wipers came out at the same time. A wiper at the top of

the windshield would have trouble connecting to a vacuum system but maybe not......

Robert

[41 Su8 133]

The vacuum wiper on my '29 Model A Ford has a line that enters the passenger side of the firewall and travels up the inside of the windshield header and across to the wiper motor.

[BearsFan315 613]

5 minutes ago, 41 Su8 said:

The vacuum wiper on my '29 Model A Ford has a line that enters the passenger side of the firewall and travels up the inside of the windshield header and across to the wiper motor.

same as my 1929 Chevrolet with a Trico Vacuum wiper

copper tube rom intake manifold through fire wall (grommet) to needle valve in dash (vacuum control switch) out the switch to the drivers a pillar, up inside the wood to header, over to a small portion sticking out, then a rubber hose from this nipple to the wiper motor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PFitz 832]

1 hour ago, rhurst said:

Yes I have seen the article.  Seems to me I have seen many older cars with an electric wiper mounted

at the tip of the windshield. Maybe both types of wipers came out at the same time. A wiper at the top of

the windshield would have trouble connecting to a vacuum system but maybe not......

Robert

Some of the mid 1920's Stewart Warner vacuum tanks had a special tee fitting on top for a thin vacuum line going through the firewall and up the windshield corner post to the wiper motor. 

 

Paul

[rhurst 5]

Anyone have any information on car heaters?  Did any cars in the 20's have any type of in cab car heater? I know the circulating water type wasn't around until 1936 but what or who had a heater in the 20's?

Robert

[padgett 2,105]

It was called a "lap blanket".

[plymouthcranbrook 878]

I was under the Impression that vacuum wiper were intermittent, sort of.

[Terry Bond 1,775]

Some early cars used a manifold heater that captured hot exhaust heat given off by the exhaust manifold  and plumbed it into the interior thru an adjustable flap,  like the Model A Fords did. . I've seen some very early cars using that method of heating with a box around the muffler or exhaust pipe and a grate in the floor to bring heat into the passenger compartment. The 1921 Cleveland used that, also I believe Studebakers had something similar. I guess it all depends on how you define heater.

Terry

[padgett 2,105]

"captured hot exhaust heat given off by the exhaust manifold  and plumbed it into the interior" my '70 Westphalia had that.

[ply33 423]

11 hours ago, rhurst said:

Anyone have any information on car heaters?  Did any cars in the 20's have any type of in cab car heater? I know the circulating water type wasn't around until 1936 but what or who had a heater in the 20's?

Robert

I have some old automotive trade magazines that show hot water heaters for earlier than 1936. I’d have to thumb through them again to see the earliest, bu suspect they might have been available in the very late 20s.

[keithb7 1,266]

This 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard 6, made in Canada has a heater. I cannot tell you if it was a bolt on addition at some point? Could likely have been. 

 

 

[BobinVirginia 212]

My 21 Haynes has an electric wiper unit I believe to be original or dealer installed? Bosch unit I’ve not had much luck researching. 

[8E45E 1,129]

Some early 1930's Studebaker heater photos here:  https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/52450-can-anyone-shed-some-light-on-this-item

 

Craig

[franklinman 94]

On 9/21/2020 at 7:21 PM, PFitz said:

Some of the mid 1920's Stewart Warner vacuum tanks had a special tee fitting on top for a thin vacuum line going through the firewall and up the windshield corner post to the wiper motor. 

 

Paul

That is how my 1925 Dodge Brothers roadster is set up.

[JV Puleo 4,087]

When was the "South Wind" heater offered? I had a 1934 RR that had a hot water circulating heater with an electric fan.

[edinmass 11,521]

Cadillac offered several hot water heaters in 1930. Also exhaust heaters. 

[edinmass 11,521]

9 hours ago, keithb7 said:

This 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard 6, made in Canada has a heater. I cannot tell you if it was a bolt on addition at some point? Could likely have been. 

 

 

 

That heater is much later than the car.

 

[PFitz 832]

22 hours ago, rhurst said:

Anyone have any information on car heaters?  Did any cars in the 20's have any type of in cab car heater? I know the circulating water type wasn't around until 1936 but what or who had a heater in the 20's?

Robert

I'm not certain when they first offered them, but many mid '20s Franklins have a Masco brand heater. It was a special jacketed exhaust manifold that used ducted air from the cooling fan housing ( Franklins are air cooled motors) to force air through a sheet metal jacket around the exhaust manifold and into the front and rear seat areas.

 

Here's a Masco exhaust heater manifold on a 26 Franklin - viewed from the right side of the engine. The flex hose on the right connects to the fan housing at the front of the motor. The short flex hose on the left goes through the firewall to an air flow control fitting.

 

The second picture is a Masco on a 1930 Franklin. 

 

Later, they also offered a similar system that took heat from a jacketed muffler. 

 

Paul

[George Rohrbach 27]

After market, electric wiper. I don't know what year. Sears Roebuck!

[ply33 423]

This ad is from the September 1930 issue of Motor Maintenance. Accessory heater ads seem to be found in the September and October issues of the old trade magazines. Unfortunately, the oldest September issue of a trade magazine I have is this one so I don’t know how much earlier hot water type heaters might have been available.

[ply33 423]

13 hours ago, keithb7 said:

This 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard 6, made in Canada has a heater. I cannot tell you if it was a bolt on addition at some point? Could likely have been. 

 

Based on the design, a bit less art deco of the late twenties or early thirties and more streamline modern of the late thirties , I suspect that heater is from the mid to late 1930s.