Mary Anderson – The Woman Who Invented Windshield Wipers

Most of the inventors throughout history were men, but in the early twentieth century, one woman made her mark in the male-dominated arena: Mary Anderson.

Mary Anderson and Windshield Wipers

Amid the chill of winter in 1903, Anderson traveled from Alabama to New York, where she toured New York City on a trolley car. Unfortunately, she encountered bad weather on her trip, impacting her ability to enjoy the views along the way. But something else more important happened: Anderson noticed the trolley driver couldn’t see very well, either, and would manually wipe the snow and ice from the windshield through the car’s side windows. While observing the crude approach, Anderson hatched a plan to improve visibility and safety for drivers and passengers alike.

That same year, Anderson filed for and received a patent for a rubber-bladed swinging arm – otherwise known as a “windshield wiper.” “The device consisted of a lever that could be operated from inside a car by the driver,” the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) explained. “The lever caused a spring-loaded arm with a rubber blade to swing across the windshield and then back again to [its] original position, thus removing droplets of rain or flakes of snow from the windshield’s surface.”

While other inventors had attempted to design a similar tool, Anderson was the first to make it work – and her device could even be removed once winter had passed.

Mocked for a Good Idea

Anderson developed the windshield wiper before cars were commonplace – inventor Henry Ford hadn’t even created the groundbreaking Model T yet. As such, she was frequently mocked over her idea, with many insisting the device would distract drivers, producing dangerous conditions on the road. Of course, history has shown that Anderson’s idea had the opposite effect. Thousands of Americans eventually started driving personal vehicles, and “mechanical windshield wipers” became the standard.

Small Parts, Big Difference

Windshield wipers may be small, but they make a big difference when it comes to safe driving.  According to RainX, a brand specializing in weather-visibility, 90% of the decisions drivers make are “based solely on vision.”

Windshield wipers wear out over time and eventually need to be replaced – but many drivers wait too long to replace faulty wipers, impacting their ability to see the road and potential hazards. In areas that get more rain or rough weather, wipers become ineffective faster due to increased use.

An estimated one in five vehicles has “deficient windshield wipers or washing systems,” RainX explained. With nearly 300 million vehicles registered in the United States, that means around 46 million people are “driving with impaired vision during stormy weather.”

According to DriversEd.com, most drivers should get new windshield wipers every 6 to 12 months, but it is critical that car owners frequently examine their wipers to ensure they are functioning properly. When inspecting wipers, experts recommend looking for damaged, hard, or stiff rubber; bent wiper frames; streaks on the windshield; and skipping, clicking, squeaking, or vibration when in use.

“If your windshield wipers aren’t performing properly, it’s time to replace them even if you don’t see signs of wear,” DriverEd.com explained. “As long as you keep an eye on how your windshield wipers look and function, you should be able to get them replaced before they become a liability rather than a safety feature.”

The next time you inspect your windshield wipers before driving in bad weather, you can thank Mary Anderson for helping keep your view clear and you safe on the open road.

1. Mary Anderson invented windshield wipers.
2. Anderson was mocked for her idea, but the device eventually became standard equipment in all vehicles.
3. It’s important to periodically inspect windshield wipers and replace them if they are not functioning properly.