rhurst 8 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
BearsFan315 623 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 (edited) 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) Link to post Share on other sites
padgett 2,239 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Wonder if that is why Renault put the radiator behind the engine... Link to post Share on other sites
rhurst 8 Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
rhurst 8 Posted September 21, 2020 Author Share Posted September 21, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
41 Su8 146 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
BearsFan315 623 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
PFitz 835 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
rhurst 8 Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
padgett 2,239 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 It was called a "lap blanket". Link to post Share on other sites
plymouthcranbrook 1,029 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 I was under the Impression that vacuum wiper were intermittent, sort of. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Terry Bond 1,830 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
padgett 2,239 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 "captured hot exhaust heat given off by the exhaust manifold and plumbed it into the interior" my '70 Westphalia had that. Link to post Share on other sites
ply33 453 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
keithb7 1,300 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
8E45E 1,240 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
franklinman 96 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
JV Puleo 4,264 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 When was the "South Wind" heater offered? I had a 1934 RR that had a hot water circulating heater with an electric fan. Link to post Share on other sites
edinmass 12,600 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Cadillac offered several hot water heaters in 1930. Also exhaust heaters. Link to post Share on other sites
edinmass 12,600 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
PFitz 835 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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 Link to post Share on other sites
George Rohrbach 27 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 After market, electric wiper. I don't know what year. Sears Roebuck! Link to post Share on other sites
ply33 453 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
ply33 453 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 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. Link to post Share on other sites
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