From Glass to Elegance: The History of the Car Windscreen

The birth and evolution of the car windscreen (windshield in American English) is a fascinating journey closely tied to the development of automobiles themselves. Let us take you through the milestones, innovative breakthroughs, and key figures that shaped the history of the car windscreen.

The Beginning: Exposed to the Elements

The first automobiles didn’t have windscreens. As with horse-drawn carriages, drivers and passengers were exposed to the elements, including dust, insects, small stones, and wind. As speeds began to increase, this made driving uncomfortable and often hazardous.

Windscreens were introduced as optional equipment around 1904, as automobiles became more common. Initially, these windscreens were simply horizontally-divided pieces made of ordinary glass. This was a significant advancement in protecting occupants from wind, insects, and debris. However, they were prone to shattering upon impact or by small stones, posing a significant safety risk. Even with wipers invented in 1896 by George J. Capewell and patented in 1903 by Mary Anderson, they were not commonly used. As a result, this split design allowed drivers to fold the windshield down and continue driving when it became too dirty to see through.

Early Innovations: Laminated Glass and Safety

In 1915, Oldsmobile made windscreens standard on its flagship sedan, the Six, and its new entry-level Model 43, marking a pivotal step in the industry.

Going back to 1903, French scientist Edouard Benedictus accidentally discovered laminated glass. After knocking over a glass flask, he noticed that although it broke, the cellulose nitrate inside kept it from shattering. Inspired by this, Benedictus inserted a cellulose layer between two pieces of glass, creating laminated glass. Meanwhile, in 1905, British inventor John Crewe Wood developed a similar solution using Canada balsam. Although both patented their designs for automotive windscreens in the early 20th century, it wasn’t until 1927 that Henry Ford began using laminated glass in his company’s models, setting a trend for the industry.

Growth and Popularization: The 1930s and 1950s

In 1930, the British Road Traffic Act mandated that all new cars include safety glass windscreens, though it did not specify the type. Shortly after, advances in glass technology accelerated.

Lincoln Motor Company introduced bulletproof glass for police vehicles, and in 1934, Chrysler’s Imperial Series CX Airflow Limousine showcased the first curved windscreen. By 1938, Carleton Ellis developed polyvinyl butyral (PVB), a resin that blocked ultraviolet rays and prevented discolouration, a breakthrough in automotive glass durability.

By this time the wipers were common standard equipment and had evolved from manually activated to vacuum powered, a technology invented, in 1919, by William M. Folberth.

By the 1950s, automotive glass quality had improved, and production costs had decreased. To highlight the advancements, General Motors unveiled a panoramic windscreen in its 1951 Le Sabre concept car. By the end of the decade, wrap-around windscreens and tinted options became popular. Additionally, in 1959, Pilkington introduced the float glass manufacturing process, which produced cheaper, high-quality, and crystal-clear glass.

Technological Advancements: Wipers and Beyond

Windscreen wipers also evolved significantly. From 1949 to 1961, the Citroën 2CV featured wipers powered by the same cable that linked the transmission to the speedometer. This innovative approach reduced costs and allowed the wiper speed to vary with the car’s speed. By the 1960s and 70s, some cars featured hydraulically-driven variable-speed wipers.

In 1969, Ford introduced intermittent wipers as an option for its Mercury line. This design, similar to Robert Kearns’ 1964 patent, sparked years of legal battles but established a new standard for wiper functionality. In 1970, Citroën introduced the first rain-sensitive intermittent wipers on the SM model, a concept that has since been refined and widely adopted.

The Windscreen and the Invisible Challenge

From the moment a piece of glass was installed between the occupants and the outside, protection from the elements became a reality. However, despite the enormous evolutions that windscreens have undergone throughout history, including advances in resistance, safety and even UV ray filtering, this same innovation has brought with it an often overlooked side effect: the intensification of sun exposure inside the cabin. Ultraviolet radiation, accumulated heat and the premature ageing of materials continue to affect any car, threatening both the comfort of occupants and the durability of interior components.

Just as the windscreen has emerged and evolved to improve the driving experience, the Autentici® Durum Umbra presents itself as the most charming and effective solution to counteract the harmful effects of the sun. With a sophisticated design and techniques inspired by automotive history, it combines protection and elegance to preserve interiors and provide a superior driving experience, regardless of the season or car model.