Believe it or not, seat belt’s weren’t always standard in cars. In fact, for a long time they didn’t even exist – which is what makes this magazine clipping about the introduction of the safety device all the more interesting.
The below article, which appeared in a July 1938 issue of Popular Science magazine, explains just how this contraption we’ve come to take for granted works.
For more interesting articles about auto upholstery’s past, check out our “Industry History” section.
[via Modern Mechanix]
i love how this add is from 1938 yet seat belts didnt become mandatory until the late 60s. 68 for pickups, i dont remember for cars. imagine how many lives could have been saved in those 30 years…. now theres so many safety features in vehicles its becoming hard for us trimmers to even work on them with airbags in the seats and headliners, trim panels, center consuls. etc.
Great point Chad. There’s 30 or so years there where seat belts could have saved countless lives.