The History of the Automobile Windshield

At D&I Body Shop and Glass, we're passionate about the history of the automotive industry. In this, the first post on our brand new blog, we dive into the history of the automobile windshield - an important safety component that people often don't think about until it's time to get the windshield replaced or repaired.

A Brief History Overview

Back in the early 19th century, early forms of windshields were made of ordinary glass and were mostly fitted in horseless carriages to protect the driver from the elements. However, it offered little protection from debris and instead posed a threat to the occupants.

Shards of broken glass could easily cause serious injuries to both driver and passenger. Getting bumped from behind could send the motorists flying headfirst through the glass and may result to grave complications and even death.

In the early 20th century, two scientists revolutionized the structure of the automobile windshield. French scientist Edouard Benedictus discovered a way to make glass shatter-resistant. According to automobile historians, Benedictus dropped a flask containing dried collodion film. He then saw that although the film cracked, it retained its original shape.

British scientist John C. Wood was also working on similar project and developed a way to laminate the windshield. After successful tests, he began producing the product under the brand Triplex. By 1927, Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors, began incorporating Triplex windshields in their automobiles. One obvious downside of laminated windshields back then was that the celluloid layer in the middle discolors due to exposure to the elements.

By 1950s, windshield technology took another step forward. Most automobiles manufactured by this time were fitted with tempered glass for windshields and windows. Its main quality was its toughness and durability. Windshields made of tempered glass can withstand tremendous force and will shatter into smooth beads rather than large shards when broken.

The strength of tempered glass lies in the process of its production. During its manufacturing process, materials undergo a thermal “toughening” phase which further increases the strength of the glass.

During the course of time, technological innovations were introduced to maximize windshield protection and performance.  In the 1980s, Ford cars adapted a windshield technology used on airplanes to prevent ice from building up on the window and impede the pilot’s vision. This innovation was branded “Quickclear”, which enabled electric current to run throughout the glass via a conducting layer of tin (IV) oxide to generate heat to prevent ice and frost build up.

Other car manufacturers followed suit, installing a grid of micro-thin wires to conduct the heat throughout the windshield. Notable manufacturers that employed this technology were Jaguar and Porsche.

While the windshield is ultimately designed for driver and passenger safety, it wasn’t until the 1960s that standards were created to define the safety parameters in windshield construction and installation.

In 1970, the US government formed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the enforcing agency of traffic safety laws and policies in the country. NHTSA has made several provisions on windshield standards, including retention strength, transparency, and shatter-resistance among others.

If you're in metro Atlanta and you need your windshield replaced or repaired, give the experts at D&I a call for a quotation.