Safety Tail Light Shows Direction Motorist Intends to Turn (Aug, 1931)
Safety Tail Light Shows Direction Motorist Intends to Turn
THE frequency of motor accidents may be lessened considerably when a new automatic tail light exhibited recently at the International Patent exhibition comes into widespread use. The turning of the steering wheel of the device, shown at the right, flashes on a light in the rear that indicates to following motorists which way the driver will turn, thus preventing confusion and delay.
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Is that her knee hanging out next to the L? And why is the L to her right?? And wha’s she ON??? Some kind of pharmaceuticals, it looks like . . . .
Comment by Don — May 19, 2010 @ 10:24 am
Well THAT’LL never catch on.
Comment by Christopher — May 19, 2010 @ 11:29 am
Don, it appears to be just some demonstration rig, which is why the rear directional signal is mounted on the front.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — May 19, 2010 @ 11:38 am
Christopher, from the way some people drive, you wouldn’t think their cars came with directional signals as standard equipment.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — May 19, 2010 @ 11:39 am
Actually, the way some people drive, it DOES appear that their signals are connected to their steering wheel. How about signalling BEFORE you start to turn, people?
And when did driving side-saddle die out?
Comment by Toronto — May 19, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
What is wrong with her leg?!?
Comment by Charlene — May 19, 2010 @ 12:10 pm
Maybe in another 80 years people will finally know how to use them.
Comment by fluffy — May 19, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
There is a big difference between the direction they intend to turn and the direction they actually turn.
Comment by Mike — May 19, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
Charlene, I think that’s just the shadow near the back of her leg. And, in 1931, stockings would have dark seams down the back of the leg.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — May 19, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Mike: I think it was Al Jafee who once wrote and illustrated an article in MAD magazine about inventions that *should* exist. One was a mechanism that forced a car to turn whichever way the turn signal said it was going to. (He also illustrated the likely outcome of such a device – a “P” turn.)
Comment by Toronto — May 19, 2010 @ 6:53 pm
She’s driving sidesaddle. I guess that’s how proper ladies drove back then.
Comment by Bela — May 20, 2010 @ 12:57 am
Correct, Bela. You’re seeing both her calves, her left one tucked behind her right one, her left calf sort of “squishing” her right calf a bit so it looks a little flat and weird.
Comment by Scott B. — May 21, 2010 @ 7:23 am
So if you pulled to the left because you needed to make a wide right turn or avoid an obstacle, it would show a left turn signal. I can see why that didn’t catch on.
Comment by GaryM — May 21, 2010 @ 7:29 am