The evolution of cars is not limited only to its mechanical developments. Early automobiles were seen as symbols of opulence; and simultaneous development in making car rides more comfortable and representative of the luxurious lives of the people who used them were inevitable.
The two most significant development of such luxurious progression were the evolution of the music and air-conditioning systems, the history of which, apart from being interesting, is quite amusing.
AIR CONDITIONERS
Early automobiles were not exactly comfortable. They were open vehicles and their skinny tires and rugged construction provided for a very rough ride. In winters, passengers bundled up and in the summer, air conditioning was a breeze that resulted from a top speed of 15 mph. And when the car companies started closing up the hoods, things got worse. The interiors got very hot and something serious needed to be done. They put up vents in the floor of the car, but this brought in more dirt and dust than it did cool air.
More ingenious ideas followed. In 1884, William Whiteley made an experimentation by placing blocks of ice in a holder under horse carriages and blowing air inside by means of a fan attached to the axle. A bucket near a floor vent was the automotive equivalent. An evaporative cooling system followed next. The temperature-reducing effect of air passing over water was adopted by a company called Nash and was called a Weather Eye.
But the first car with an actual refrigeration system was the 1939 Packard. It consisted of a large evaporator, called the 'cooling coil,' which took up the entire trunk space. The only control was a blower switch. Packard, in fact, ran its advertising as, "Forget the heat this summer in the only air-conditioned car in the world.
Cadillac followed suit in 1941 with 300 air-conditioned cars. All of these early air-conditioning systems had one big drawback: there was no compressor clutch, so the pump was on when the engine was running. To shut the system off, one had to stop, get out, open the hood, and remove the belt. It wasn't until after WWII that Cadillac advertised a new, high-tech feature: the air-conditioning controls. The controls were located on the rear package shelf, which meant that the driver had to climb into the back seat to shut the system off. Yet it was still better than reaching under the hood.
The Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors may be credited with developing the first efficient, affordable unit that could be made in mass production. It was available as an option on all 1954 Pontiacs with V8s. It featured a two-cylinder reciprocating compressor, and an all-brazed condenser. It also used a magnetic clutch, so when it was not in use, no power was needed to drive the compressor, which improved performance and fuel economy.
However, air conditioning continued to be a rare option for many years. It wasn't until the late 70s and 80s that air-conditioned cars became a craze. Systems were getting better and people realized that they didn't really have to sweat it out because their air-conditioning units did not run well. It's estimated that now over 80% of the cars and light trucks in operation in the United States have air conditioning.
Today, heating and air-conditioning systems are very efficient. Modern Automatic Temperature Control set-ups are more dependable than the older vacuum and thermostatic creations. Computers also insure that both the passenger and driver are comfortable, maintaining the optimum temperature.
The future of automotive air conditioning is changing, and for the better. Now there are new electronic and compressor designs. The concern over the chlorofluorocarbon emissions and the damage they cause to ozone layer has induced innovations in order to reduce the emissions. Most cars today use a new refrigerant called R-134A, which contains no chlorine. Auto repair businesses are also taking steps to reduce the amount of R-12 or chlorofluorocarbons that escapes during service work.
CAR RADIO
During the 1920s, the radio began to be seriously introduced in cars in the USA. In principle, the radios were portable and battery driven and were called as travel radios. However, motor interference and weak loudspeakers, besides the difficulties in adjusting the transmitters, led to the development of special radios intended to be installed in cars. These sets also required modifications with regard to vibrations and temperatures in order to be installed. W. M. Heina applied for and received patent for the installation of radios in cars through his firm Heinaphone.
Car radios were designed as separate units. The receiver was a unit that was placed on the firewall or behind the dashboard where one had to make holes for the knobs. If the radio was placed on the firewall, maneuvering was accomplished with two wires from a remote control placed on the steering column or under the dashboard. 'A' and 'B' batteries (from which radio set got its power) were placed in their own boxes under the seat or sunk in the floor. The aerial was often placed as a mesh on the roof (the roof was made of wood) or as a thread under one of the running boards. Some manufacturers used one or two insulating plates under the car in the back as aerial.
In principle, the loud speakers were headphones, which meant one got insufficient volume. It still was not possible to listen while driving, one had to stop the car and shut off the motor, to enjoy some music. It was only with the invention of 'damp resistance' in 1927 that it became possible to listen to the radio when the motor was running, at least near a transmitter. The receivers were, however, only supplied with the middle-wave band.
By 1929, several manufacturers were making special models intended for installation in cars. The first such model was the one invented by American Paul Galvin in 1929. Paul Galvin coined the name "Motorola" for the company's new products, combining the idea of motion and radio. Even these first car radios were not available from carmakers; they had to be purchased separately by the consumer. Many automobile manufacturers installed wire aerials in the roof to facilitate the possible installation of car radios.
The loudspeakers and the power systems were improved further during the 1930s. Car radios were now beyond the experimental stage. In the United States, Ford installed the first specially built car radio in a certain car model, tailor made for the dashboard. New radio tubes were introduced during this period. The power for the radios began to be taken from the car battery itself, and the A and B batteries were avoided. By 1937-38, the steel rod aerial and the telescopic aerials began to be used in the cars.
In 1941, American Ford advertised a radio that could be preset for five stations and be operated to the desired station by a foot-operated switch. By 1958, car radio sets came on the market, where a transistor converter replaced the vibrator.
The automobile accessories surely have come a long way since that big block of ice used by Mr. Whiteley; with a push of a button conveniently located within arm's reach on the dash, we now have heat, cold air, music, light, and in some cars, access to even a telephone, computer, or fax machine.
