6 Automotive Inventions That You Can Thank A Woman For
When you think of famous inventors and pioneers in the automotive industry, names like Henry Ford and Karl Benz might come to mind. However, did you know that many of the modern conveniences we take for granted in our cars today were actually invented by women? From windshield wipers to car heaters, women have made significant contributions to the automotive industry throughout history. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at six automotive inventions that you can thank a woman for.
Windshield Wipers
Driving in snow and sleet can be challenging, but Mary Anderson found a solution to the problem. Anderson, a resident of New York, invented the first windshield wiper in the early 1900s when her trolley driver had to keep the windows open to see through the snow and sleet. Anderson's hand-operated device wiped across the glass and cleared it of rain, sleet, and snow. However, the automotive industry didn't embrace her genius right away, and it wasn't until 1920 that they started evolving the windshield wiper. Despite her lack of recognition, we celebrate Anderson as the #Shecanic who invented the windshield wiper!
Electrically-Operated Automatic Wipers
Charlotte Bridgwood, president of the 'Bridgwood Manufacturing Company' in New York, recognized Mary Anderson's genius and developed the windshield wiper further. She created the first electronically-operated windshield wipers called the 'Storm Windshield Cleaner' in 1917. Her design used rollers instead of blades and was a significant improvement over the previous invention. Once again, we have another woman who took an excellent invention and made it even better!
Car Heater
In 1893, Margaret Wilcox, a female mechanical engineer, invented the first car heater. Before the creation of electrical car heaters, Wilcox designed a way for the car engine to open and disperse hot air into the front of the cabin of the vehicle, which made driving in cold weather much more comfortable.
Brake Pads, Gear Shift & More
Bertha, the wife of automobile designer Karl Benz, inspired several automobile design elements after taking the first long distance journey in an automobile. Her experience pushing the vehicle uphill led to the creation of the gear shifter, while her idea to use a shoemaker's leather soles to prevent the wear of the wooden brakes inspired the invention of brake pads.
Rearview Mirror
Ever had to do your makeup using the rearview mirror at a stoplight? You can thank Dorothy Levitt! This British speed queen who broke the speed record for a drive from London to Liverpool, is the reason why we have the fixed rearview mirror. In her driver's handbook published in 1909, she advised her fellow #Shecanics to travel with hairpins, chocolates, a gun, and a handheld mirror for looking backward, which inspired the creation of the fixed rearview mirror, making her the foremother of the fixed rearview mirror!
First Road Markings
After a near fatal incident on the road, Dr. June McCaroll knew that a measure needed to be put in place to keep the roads safe.
"My Model T Ford and I found ourselves face to face with a truck on the paved highway. It did not take me long to choose between a sandy berth to the right and a ten-ton truck to the left! Then I had my idea of a white line painted down the center of the highways of the country as a safety measure."
McCaroll had trouble getting her idea recognized by the Riverside County's Board of Supervisors and Chamber of Commerce. This was likely because the idea came from a woman, so McCaroll decided to DIY! McCaroll painted a line (allegedly with cake flour) in the middle of one mile of road! Painted lines on the roads became law in California in 1924. Although Edward Hines argued he was the first to come up with the idea in Michigan a few years earlier, that doesn't make McCaroll's idea and persistent attitude any less badass!
To learn more about the inventions and these incredible shecanic visit Ford Men’s Only Landing Page