A Few of My Favorite Things: Wipers and Foot Pumps

It's starting to get colder and wetter in my little corner of the world, and that got me thinking: When was the last time I changed my wipers? Nothing is worse then turning on your wipers as it starts to rain, only to hear the banshee-like screech of rubber against glass. Suddenly your view goes from being speckled with raindrops to a smeary mess filled with the wounded cry of old wiper blades every few seconds for however long this drive dares to go on. In short: When was the last time you checked your wipers?

Funnily enough, they were invented by a woman who didn't drive. Mary Anderson was riding in a New York streetcar one rainy day in 1902. As she watched the driver stopped the car and stepped out to wipe off the windscreen it got her thinking. If there were a way to keep the windshield clear while staying inside the cabin, rain wouldn't cause delays along the line. She imagined a rubber blade attached to an arm that would glide across the glass and filed a patent for her "window cleaning device" in 1903. While the idea for this device was slow to be taken up, Miss Anderson lived long enough to see her invention become a staple all across the world. She was inducted into the Inventors Hall Of Fame in 2011.

If you find yourself needing wiper blades, wiper arms, motors, or linkages, be sure to check out our website. We have many wiper blades not yet listed on our site, so please contact us if you can't find yours. In addition, we also offer good used foot operated pumps for windshield washers should you car be so equipped. In the days before electric washer pumps, having bellows attached to a foot pump were a convenient way to get cleaning fluid on your windscreen while driving.

Don't get caught out in the rain! Check your wipers today!