List of US Automobile Firsts, 1893-1919

U.S. Automotive Firsts, 1893-1920

To be examined with a critical eye -- taken from Epstein's 1928 book. I found at least one of these entries to be wrong!

Source: Smithsonian 

 

1893 – Duryea – 1^st Car Built in the US

1898 – Winton – 1^st Car Sold in US

Source: Smithsonian

1901 – Autocar – 1^st Shaft-driven US Car

Source: Alabama News Service

1901 – Olds – 1^st Volume Produced Car

Sources: Sports Car Market

1903 – Winton – 1^st Car to Cross US

1905 Rambler – 1^st Standard Windshield

1905 – Ignition Locks

1905 – Packard – Magneto Ignition

1906 – Front Bumpers Appear

1907 – 1^st Service Station in US

1907 – First Demountable Rims

1908 – Rambler – 1^st Spare Tire

1911 – Cadillac – 1^st Self Starter

1913 – Ford – 1^st Moving Assembly Line

1914 – 1^st Spiral-Bevel Rear Axles

1914 – Maxwell – 1^st Adjustable Seat

View of two men in 1913 Maxwell car. House, trees and picket fence in background. Handwritten on back: "Maxwell, 1913. Car on road for Maxwell Motor Co., 1913.

1916 – 1^st Hand-Operated Windshield Wipers

1916 – 1^st Standard Stop Lights on Some Cars

1917 – 1^st Battery Under Hood

1919 – Detroit – 1^st 3 color traffic lights

Source: Detroit News