Windshield Wiper Danger (?)

TonyM

TonyM

Well-known member
Like many of the men on FordBarn, I have a good lookin' wife. I want to keep her that way. I am a little nervous about these windshield wiper controls in my 1937 Ford. I am trying to think of a way to make them safer in the event of an accident. They look like they can really do some damage to a pretty face, even at low speed. Anybody have any ideas?

I was thinking of getting some cork or some shaped wood to attach to the two bare rods sticking out on the left and right sides. Another Ford friend suggested using a couple small square blocks of the dense styrafoam from the interior of a modern car bumper. Not sure that would work--not so sure about the cork either. Has anybody with an old Ford tried to tackle this problem short of removing the wiper controls?

Looking for ideas. Thanks.
 

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I am not trying to be a wise guy, but 2 motorcycle helmets will help.
You make a very good point about the safety.
 
Seat belts and then go with an electric wiper, such as the Mighty Wiper. You should have seat belts in any old car. We don't leave home without them.
 
Never thought about those wiper controls being dangerous before, but I do agree now, your pictures make them look very unsafe. I don't believe the wiper controls on my '35 sedan (drivers side only) stick out quite that far from the header panel, plus they are covered up by the sun viser when it is in the up position. I will take a look at my '35 tomorrow and see if it looks unsafe, and what I might do to make it safer.
 
Hi there, WOW, nice looking sort !! If she were mine I would be fitting air bags as well as lap/sash seat belts. (only joking on the bags). Regards, Kevin.
 
Tony...seat belts are a must. All old cars from the 30's are potential killers. Just look at the steering wheel and column.

SEAT BELTS !
 
If you have convinced yourself that the windshield wiper control on your '37 is that much of a hazard to your wife's safety, then don't let her near the car. In a crash at anything more than a few miles an hour, even the smallest modern car offers protection that no old car can possibly match, with or without padding on the wiper control. See, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g Buy her a Hyundai.
 
The seat belts sound like a good idea. Ironically, I was an early seatbelt user; I used seatbelts in early 80s before the law went into effect. The funny thing about driving pre war cars: I didn't think much about seat belt use while driving them, but as a passenger I am always aware of the fact that I have no belt. Very weird. When I get into my Ford, I sometimes reach up for the belt that isn't there. Will install belts this winter. I still want to cover up those windshield wiper control rods though. Thanks all for the feedback. TonyM.
 
These old cars are like riding a motorcycle, dangerous if you are the least inattentive. I use seat belts and stay at least 3 seconds behind the car in front of me. I am also watching for anything coming out of a side road. If someone is tailgating me, I pull over and let them go by. If someone wants to get in front of me, I figure it is probably their space and let them in.
 
Believe it or not, I almost lost an eye this way in 1959 (I was in a '36 though). I hit a guy sitting in the middle of the traffic lane with his lights off after dark trying to start his '55 Olds. The only thing that saved me was I had the sun visor up and even though the wiper controls went through it, it limited the distance the controls could go. I just looked, and I can still make out the scar on the outside of my left eye! I haven't thought about this for years, but, yes, it is a real concern! Seat belts are probably the easiest solution.
 
I don't know much about the early fat fenders, so can someone explain what the rods are for? I know what the on-off knob is, but not those rods! thanks.
 
The rod is a control valve on the wiper motor to vary the wiper speed by controlling the amount of vacuum by turning the valve handle (rod). Typically the wiper motor needs all the vacuum it can get, so maybe wishful thinking to control speed.

I agree seat belts should include shoulder belts. I have them in my 36 Ford 5W Coupe and would not drive without them.
 
Seat belt and shoulder harness, stay alert and undistracted, not like the dumb phone idiots you see all over the road.
 
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