when were wipers standard?

[NY John T]

Hi all,
My 25 touring has three holes drilled in the top of the windshield frame. None of them looks like anything was ever bolted through them. Were they there for a windshield wiper and or mirror? When were windshield wipers introduced, and/or standardized? My car has a mirror drilled through the glass. How common was that?
Thanks,
John

[speedytinc]

First mirror mounted into the glass I have seen.

[rickd]

From the Encyclopedia; In a letter from the Chicago plant September 17, 1924 announcing that Ford is now offering accessory windshield wiper, rear vision mirror and dash light through its dealers.
IMHO your rear view mirror, although its cool, is an aftermarket accessory or an owner addition to the car.

[DanTreace]

These accessories were available in June 1924, and late '24 open cars have the 3 holes drilled in the upper frame. So by 1925 the mirror and wiper could be added. Believe that the more costly closed cars got the wiper and the closed car style mirror as factory standard by 1925.
Your later oval mirror from some other auto has glass drilled to mount, while safety plate glass can be drilled, plate glass can too, would suspect your windshield glass is the old plate glass. Plate glass is illegal in most all states now.

[big2bird]

Yet another possibility. Bosch made a 6volt wiper for the Ts.

[Allan]

Curious! Unless that mirror is convex, it is likely useless. What are the chances of the windscreen glass being at the required angle for rear vision for any particular driver/seating combination.

More curious! if the car is a LHD vehicle, the single hole may be for a windscreen wiper, but the two holes, perhaps for a mirror, are way over on the right.

Allan from down under.

[DanTreace]

More curious! if the car is a LHD vehicle, the single hole may be for a windscreen wiper, but the two holes, perhaps for a mirror, are way over on the right.
Allan from down under.

Allan

The two holes in the upper frame for the rear view mirror are correct for LHD.

That offsets the mirror mount for the driver to get a good view out the back, of course in the '24 model year, if the top is up, there are two rear windows, which makes mirror look back difficult, so Ford for 1925 and later changed the rear windows to a single wide window, somewhat better rear view But many chose to use stanchion mount mirrors, aftermarket, for best use.

Note the Ford mirror for open cars has offset bracket, that is adjustable to the left angle for facing the LHD driver.

Later sport touring showing the Ford accessory rear view mirror.

[GG Gregory]

Original Ford 1926/27. I’m guessing this was a Dealer item? I’d love to get it restored and put on my 27 Roadster.

[Original Smith]

I don't believe any of those items were ever standard. The drilling of the holes in the windshield upper frame were there whether you wanted those items or not.