Windshield Wipers Were Invented by a Woman

15145 NE 90th Street Redmond
   Email Luke!
   425-885-4333

Luke's Car Tips & Auto Maintenance Advice

Luke's posts regular blogs to offer you great information and advice about your car maintenance.  Check back often for new posts.  Search for a specific topic!

Windshield Wipers Were Invented by a Woman
By: Luke Shaff ~ 10/24/2019

BLOGPOST_MaryAndersonWindshieldWiper_s.jpgNext time you're driving in a rainstorm, you can thank Mary Anderson, who invented windshield wipers in 1903. Anderson was visiting New York City and noticed that the streetcar driver had to keep his window open in a sleet storm in order to reach his arm out of the car and manually clean his windshield with a squeegee. Anderson received a patent for the windshield wiper, but she couldn't sell the invention to the auto companies, who claimed that the device did not have commercial value.

BLOGPOST_MaryAndersonWindshieldWiper2_s.jpgAfter Anderson's patent ran out in 1920, windshield wipers eventually became a standard feature on automobiles.Today, changing windshield wipers is an important part of automotive maintenance. Wiper blades come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and some are even heated to help keep your windshield clean in icy conditions.