In The Beginning

       In the very early 1800's the steam powered automobiles gained recognition, but not popularity, thus the windshield was again a foregone future necessity. It wasn't until 1896 that the first American gas-powered automobile was introduced by the Duryea Brothers in Springfield, Massachusetts. Although history now marked the modern era for vehicles, a windshield was not included. In fact, wearing goggles was the only protection offered from inclement weather, insects and other road debris.

       The first windshields were hand cut from plate glass, which would shatter into sharp pieces when broken. During the mid 1920's, thanks to the ingenuity and safety consciousness of Henry Ford, laminated or safety glass was finally introduced.

       The laminated glass consists of two layers of glass which have been molded around a layer of polyvinyl butyrate, or lamination. This method allows the glass to adhere to the lamination when damaged rather than showering the vehicle's passengers with sharp, jagged pieces of glass, thus the name safety glass.

       Tempered glass, which makes up the rest of the vehicle's glass content is also considered safety glass. Tempered glass receives its strength through a combined application of heat and pressure which allows the glass to crumble into small round pebble-like pieces upon impact.

      A big difference between laminated glass and tempered glass is that laminated glass can, under certain conditions, be repaired, tempered glass cannot.