Who invented rear view mirror

Have you ever contemplated the inception of who invented rear view mirror rear view mirror and the period when this brilliant notion was first conceived? The narrative originates in the early s, an era distinguished by rapid innovation within the burgeoning automobile industry. Assigning this invention to a solitary individual is challenging, yet numerous embryonic forms of rear view mirrors began to surface.

The improvement of the automobile is a history fraught with ingenuity which would gradually culminate in better models. Fitting right in this history is the invention of the rear view mirror. The person credited with inventing the rear view mirror is a man named Ray Harroun, an engineer with Marmon, then a car maker. Harroun inserted a mirror in his car, a Marmon Wasp. Before rear view mirrors, car racers would have another person a riding mechanic to tell them where other drivers in the race were and also provide other help. Joan Reinbold is a writer, author of six books, blogs and makes videos.

Who invented rear view mirror

A rear-view mirror or rearview mirror is a, usually flat , mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window rear windshield. In cars, the rear-view mirror is usually affixed to the top of the windshield on a double- swivel mount allowing it to be adjusted to suit the height and viewing angle of any driver and to swing harmlessly out of the way if impacted by a vehicle occupant in a collision. The rear-view mirror is augmented by one or more side-view mirrors , which serve as the only rear-vision mirrors on trucks , motorcycles and bicycles. Early use of fixed mirrors was described as early as , with a trade magazine noting mirrors for showing what is coming behind were now popular on closed bodied automobiles, and were likely to be widely adopted in a short time. Henri Cain from France patented a " Warning mirror for automobiles ". Elmer Berger is usually credited with inventing the rear-view mirror, though in fact he was the first to patent it and develop it for incorporation into production street going automobiles by his Berger and Company. Recently, rear-view video cameras have been built into many new model cars, this was partially in response to the rear-view mirrors' inability to show the road directly behind the car, due to the rear deck or trunk obscuring as much as 3—5 meters 10—15 feet of road behind the car. As many as 50 small children are killed by SUVs every year in the USA because the driver cannot see them in their rear-view mirrors. Aftermarket secondary rear-view mirrors are available. They attach to the main rear-view mirror and are independently adjustable to view the back seat.

Inventing for Fun and Profit. Vox Media editorial staff was not involved in the creation or production of this content. Part of a series of articles on cars.

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. This feature was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and Dodge. Vox Media editorial staff was not involved in the creation or production of this content. Early auto racing was a rough-riding sport. Even today, part of its thrill is the risk of horrible accidents.

Back to all articles. As early as , a European car called the Argus featured dash mirrors. Dorothy Levitt, author of a famous book called The Woman and the Car: A Chatty Little Handbook for All Women Who Motor or Want to Motor , recommended that women carry a handheld mirror while driving so that they could hold it up to view the road behind them. In , a U. He said that he got the idea back in when he glimpsed a horse-drawn buggy driver using a rearview mirror. Harroun opted to mount one on his racecar instead of having his mechanic ride in the car with him and call out what was happening to the side and rear of the car, as was customary at the time. While it was intended to help drivers avoid police, it helped normalize attaching mirrors to cars, paving the way for the more safety-minded rearview mirrors of today. Since then, multiple patents have been filed and multiple improvements have been made to the rearview mirror we are so familiar with today.

Who invented rear view mirror

The improvement of the automobile is a history fraught with ingenuity which would gradually culminate in better models. Fitting right in this history is the invention of the rear view mirror. The person credited with inventing the rear view mirror is a man named Ray Harroun, an engineer with Marmon, then a car maker. Harroun inserted a mirror in his car, a Marmon Wasp. Before rear view mirrors, car racers would have another person a riding mechanic to tell them where other drivers in the race were and also provide other help. Joan Reinbold is a writer, author of six books, blogs and makes videos. She has been a tutor for students, library assistant, certified dental assistant and business owner.

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In the day view position, the front surface is tilted and the reflective back side gives a strong reflection. As early as , a European car called the Argus featured dash mirrors. Having won the debut championship and cemented both his name, his car, and his MacGuyvered rearview into the history books, Harroun retired, not eager to press his luck. Back to all articles. This journey from a rudimentary idea to a pivotal safety feature in modern vehicles showcases the power of innovation and adaptation in automotive history. She has been a tutor for students, library assistant, certified dental assistant and business owner. A rear-view mirror or rearview mirror is a, usually flat , mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window rear windshield. The Indianapolis Speedway had just been paved in , with 3. In the "night" position, the driver sees the dimmer reflection on the front glass coating. The mirror, more than a mere accessory, evolved into a vital component for situational awareness on the racetrack.

Discover the history of rear view mirrors in our informative articles.

Retrieved 13 August Contact Us. Get In Touch Now. This view is actually a reflection of the low-reflection front surface; only a much-reduced amount of light is reflected in the driver's eyes. This type of mirror is made of a piece of glass that is wedge-shaped in cross-section—its front and rear surfaces are not parallel. When the mirror is moved to the night view position, its reflecting rear surface is tilted out of line with the driver's view. Archived from the original on 30 August Her legacy is not merely in her motoring achievements but in her contribution to enhancing driver visibility and safety, aspects that are integral to the design and function of all modern vehicles. Learn how and when to remove these template messages. Tracing their origins back to the nascent days of the Indianapolis racing scene, these mirrors have evolved to play a pivotal role in modern traffic scenarios. Even today, part of its thrill is the risk of horrible accidents. This is useful to enable adults to monitor children in the back seat. Back to all articles. Tools Tools. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages.