10.9 Windscreen Wipers

• The first basic windscreen wipers were two brushes that were mechanically moved up and down the plate glass windshield. They were invented by J. H. Apjohn (American) in 1903.

• In the same year, Mary Anderson (American) devised a spring loaded “swinging arm” windscreen wiper (which was replaced by a mechanical arm in 1913). She patented her invention in 1905.

• These early mechanical devices had a major drawback. The driver had to use one hand to move a lever that operated the windscreen wipers, leaving the other hand to steer the car, operate the gearshift and also the brakes.

• In 1917 Dr. Ormand (Hawaiian) invented the automatic, electrically operated, windscreen wiper.