Mary Anderson (inventor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Anderson
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born |
Mary Anderson
February 19, 1866 |
| Died | June 27, 1953 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Real estate developer, rancher, viticulturist, inventor |
| Known for | Invention of the windshield wiper |
Mary Elizabeth Anderson (February 19, 1866 – June 27, 1953) was an American inventor. She is famous for inventing the windshield wiper. This amazing device helps drivers see clearly in bad weather. She received a patent for her invention in 1903.
Contents
Early Life of Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson was born in Greene County, Alabama, in 1866. Her parents were John C. and Rebecca Anderson. Mary had at least one sister named Fannie. When Mary was young, her father passed away.
In 1889, Mary moved with her mother and sister to Birmingham, Alabama. There, Mary became a successful real estate developer. She even built her own apartment building called the Fairmont Apartments. For a time, she also managed a cattle ranch and vineyard in Fresno, California. Mary never married or had children.
How Windshield Wipers Were Invented
The Problem Mary Saw
In the winter of 1902, Mary Anderson was visiting New York City. She was riding in a trolley car on a very cold day. She noticed that the driver had trouble seeing out the front window. Sleet and snow kept building up on the glass.
To see, the driver had to open the window and lean out. Sometimes, he even had to stop the trolley to wipe the window by hand. Mary realized this was a big problem. It made driving difficult and unsafe.
Mary's Big Idea
Mary Anderson was an entrepreneur, which means she was good at finding solutions and creating new things. She thought of a device that could clean the windshield from inside the car. At that time, most people just accepted the problem. They didn't think about inventing a solution.
When Mary returned to Alabama, she hired someone to design her idea. She wanted a hand-operated device to keep the windshield clear. A local company then made a working model of her invention.
Getting a Patent
Mary applied for a patent for her invention. On November 10, 1903, the United States Patent Office gave her patent number 743,801. Her invention was called a "Window Cleaning device."
Her device had a lever inside the car. This lever controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. When the driver moved the lever, the blade would swing back and forth. This cleaned the window. It was a simple and effective design.
Why It Wasn't Popular at First
When Mary got her patent in 1903, cars were not very common. Henry Ford's famous Model A car had not even been made yet. So, in 1905, Mary tried to sell the rights to her invention to a Canadian company. But they turned her down! They said her invention wasn't "of such commercial value."
Many people didn't see the need for windshield wipers. Some even worried that operating the device would distract the driver.
Windshield Wipers Become Standard
By 1913, the car manufacturing business had grown a lot. Windshield wipers slowly became more common. In 1922, Cadillac was the first car company to include them as standard equipment on all its cars.
Sadly, Mary Anderson never made money from her invention. Her patent expired in 1920. This meant anyone could use her idea without paying her.
In 1917, another inventor named Charlotte Bridgwood patented an "electric storm windshield cleaner." This was the first automatic wiper system. Like Mary, Charlotte also didn't make money from her invention.
Later Life
In the 1920s, Mary Anderson was living in the Fairmont Apartments in Birmingham again. She lived with her sister Fannie and her mother. Mary continued to manage the Fairmont Apartments until she passed away.
She died in 1953 at the age of 87. She passed away at her summer home in Monteagle, Tennessee. Mary Anderson was buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
Legacy
In 2011, Mary Anderson was honored for her invention. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Her simple yet brilliant idea changed driving forever!
See also
In Spanish: Mary Anderson (inventora) para niños
Images for kids
-
Mary Anderson
