Charlotte Bridgewood
Charlotte Bridgwood was a well to do New York president of the Bridgwood Manufacturing Company of New York, which came up with many practical inventions. Bridgwood patented her electric Storm Windshield Cleaner in 1917, shortly after the TRICO Company introduced a hand-operated mechanical wiper called the Rain Rubber. The Bridgwood device used rollers rather than blades and was electric. Unfortunately, the two ladies were unable to sell any of their inventions. It was not until 1923 that the automatic windshield wiper became a standard feature on cars. Bridgwood was given no credit for the idea.
Greek Sea Goddess Nereis on Aquatic Transportation
References: Women Invent:Two centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our Worldby Susan Casey (Chicago Review Press, 1997) pp. 9m 11.
Patently female by Ethlie Ann Vare and Greg Ptacek (John Wiley, 2002) p. 3, pp.12-20.
Web Sites:
Brief History of Women and Transportation
Charlotte Bridgewood Windshield Wiper Inventor
BR> History of Automobiles
OTHER INNOVATIONS AND INVENTIONS
