defrosting windshield in the old days

therupperts

therupperts

Member
If I am remember correctly; I was told that they used to rub a cut onion across the windshield as a defrost method. Anyone heard of this or know how it was done back when? The gentleman who shared this with me has deceased since I was told this. Thank you for your input or experience!:rolleyes:
 
therupperts said:
If I am remember correctly; I was told that they used to rub a cut onion across the windshield as a defrost method. Anyone heard of this or know how it was done back when? The gentleman who shared this with me has deceased since I was told this. Thank you for your input or experience!:rolleyes:
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We used a small cloth bag with salt in it. They rubbed the inside of the windshield with it . IT worked but was hard on the dash because of salt making things rust.
 
This wouldn't work on a Model A, but when we had vent windows on the front doors, turning the vent so that air would be directed to the windshield seemed to help. Other than that, I carried paper towels to wipe the fog off the windshield.
Rog
 
I saw an illustration that showed the windshield open to the first notch and the air flow pattern created. The air would enter and be deflected by the windshield shelf into the back of the dash which would curve it upward across the windshield. Don't quote me because this is from memory. Of course my first thought was damn that would freeze your legs but, I was reminded, that's what car robes were for.
 
use liquid dish soap, just a few drops on a clean rag, rub it in, let it dry, buff with clean rag. like waxing the car, but waxing the window with soap, this is on the inside, obviously. it is an old fishermans trick to antifog wheelhouse windows and works on eyeglasses too.
 
Of course you could have invested in the electric window defroster that was sold at the time. Had suction cups that held it to the windshield clears an area about the size of the rear window. I guess you could move it to the passenger side once the driver side is clear!
 
ChicagoBob said:
A's (even the closed cars) are so drafty that I've never had a windshield frost problem.
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Oh, my coupe will fog right up when the temps are below 20 F.

I usually open the windshield to the notch and crack the side windows abotu 1/2".... keeps the windshield from fogging, but it does make for cold legs / feet !
 
Milton said:
I saw an illustration that showed the windshield open to the first notch and the air flow pattern created. The air would enter and be deflected by the windshield shelf into the back of the dash which would curve it upward across the windshield. Don't quote me because this is from memory. Of course my first thought was damn that would freeze your legs but, I was reminded, that's what car robes were for.
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I saw this on a short tour we took last spring: Do as indicated above, windshield open to the first notch, but first unlatch the rear hood latch and place a small block of wood under the rear of the hood. That will direct warm air from the engine compartment into the cabin and warm it up as well as keep the windshield clear.
 
Anyone remember those platic sheets with the black rubber around the edges and the dots in the middle? My Dad would buy a package of them every fall from Western Auto.

Ron
 
The old aircooled Volkswagen bugs and busses had defrosters than were pretty much worthless in freezing weather. I kept a small rubber-bladed squeegie hanging on the dash and would periodically wipe the frost off the inside of the windshield as I drove along. This works equally well on the Model A.
 
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