People have found ways to wash their cars ever since cars were invented. They either washed it themselves at home, or paid someone else to wash it by hand. Then, in 1914, two Detroit men opened the first car wash business, which they called the “Automated Laundry”, but it wasn’t really automated. It was basically a pail and sponge type of operation where the cars were pushed manually through an assembly-line-like tunnel, where one attendant would soap the car as it went past, another would rinse, and a third would dry. Of course, after pushing a few cars through, the attendants got pretty tired.

The first “automatic” conveyor car wash was opened in Hollywood, California—of course, where else—in 1940. Instead of manually pushing the cars through, this car wash had a winch system that hooked to the bumper and pulled the car through as men splashed away in the tunnel, soaping, scrubbing, wiping, and drying cars as they came through. By 1946, a man named Thomas Simpson is credited with inventing the first semiautomatic car wash system that took most of the manual labor out of the tunnel. It had a conveyor belt that hooked to the bumper of automobiles, an overhead water sprinkler with three sets of manually operated brushes, and a 50 HP air blower to help dry the car.

Then, in 1951, Archie, Dean and Eldon Anderson got the great idea to fully automate their car wash. As the story goes, the Anderson clan invented the completely hands-free automatic car wash in Seattle. Cars would be pulled through the tunnel and machines sprayed soap on them, big brushes scrubbed them, nozzles rinsed them, and giant blowers dried them. Needless to say, this was a big hit! Soon, many other car wash owners were installing automatic equipment in their car wash business.

Through the 1960’s, fully mechanized car washing systems were being installed across America. With conveyor car wash equipment advancing, the 60’s saw inventions such as recirculating water systems, soft cloth friction washing, roller on demand conveyor, and wraparound brush. By the late 60’s car washes were becoming a prominent industry worldwide with car washes being installed in many countries, including Japan.

Today’s car washes are literally cleaning machines. They not only wash all five sides of the car at once, but scrub tires and wash the undercarriage as well. They are more Eco-friendly, with milder soaps and lower water and electric requirements. Many of the newer car washes even have express tunnels that get your car through quickly, all of which leads to more clean cars and happier car owners.

Sources:

http://www.hannacarwash.com/index.php/about/history/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_wash

http://www.ehow.com/about_4565673_car-wash-businesses.html

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-07/Specialty-Car-Wash.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Automatic-Car-Wash:-History-and-Evolution&id=7121485

Photos:

http://www.tustinmagazine.com/Best-Car-Wash.jpg

http://www.libertyfg.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/car-wash.jpg

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Not only has it finally started to feel a little bit more like spring, the time when we want everything to look and feel like new, April is National Car Care Month.  What better time to find out a little more about an invention that has transformed a common, yet flawed, mechanic’s tool?  Today, we take a look at how the Hover Creeper is made.

What’s wrong with a traditional creeper that you have probably seen your mechanic slide around in, you ask?

Well, the wheels.  They get stuck in floor cracks, make wild turns over bolts or other loose floor debris and are prone to breaking.  Then, you’ve got an unhappy mechanic (whose back is probably stiff) stuck under a probably-still-broken automobile.

Enter the Hover Creeper, now the industry’s lowest ground clearance creeper.  It’s actually designed to float on air, thanks to a compressed air bladder.

By plugging the Hover Creeper in to an air compressor, mechanics are easily able to glide underneath the car or truck they’re working on, then simply shut off the compressor for instant brake action.  Designed at Inventionland, the Hover Creeper includes an outlet to support mechanics’ tools that require compressed air and is even equipped with a built-in tool caddy.

Further improving on traditional creepers, the Hover Creeper is ergonomically-designed for comfort and support while working.

Now, does it work?  The Hover Creeper successfully glides over cracks or other imperfections on garage floors; it is even strong enough to support about 400 pounds!

This corporate product was invented and licensed by Davison for its own benefit.

The post How’s That Made Thursday: The Hover Creeper appeared first on Davison.