Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Buckle Up

Do you buckle up when you first get into your vehicle?  I do.  If I don't, that annoying "ding ding ding ding" just will not stop.  My first couple of cars (a 1955 Desoto and a 1957 Chevy Convertible) didn't have seat belts.  Did I just give my age away?  How many of you remember cars without seat belts?

Seat belts for automobiles have been around for quite some time.  I wonder if they were used on a horse you were riding or on the saddle or maybe even in the buggy behind the horse?  Check this information that I found on the internet:

The first U.S. patent for automobile seat belts was issued to Edward J. Claghorn of New York, New York on February 10, 1885. Claghorn was granted United States Patent #312,085

That was before the Model-T Ford which was produced between 1908 and 1927.  The Model-A Ford was produced between 1927 thru 1931.  Now, why did the A come later than the T??  Maybe that could be the subject of another blog.  For now, you all drive safe in whatever you drive and have a great day, you hear?

12 comments:

  1. I definitely remember the time before seat belts, and it was a lot more comfortable. First were the lap belts, and then the things that harness you in. I always buckle up though.

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    1. Yep, it was definitely much better for dating. . .

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  2. I thought seat belts were such a good idea I added them to the family 54 plymouth sedan.

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    1. They have saved a lot of lives along with air bags.

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  3. The first car we had with seat belts was a 1963 Oldsmobile... I remember my parents forcing us to use them that summer. Today it's second nature,

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    1. Yes it is second nature with me, too. I put the belts on before I even start the car, most of the time.

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  4. I don't remember them in the '56 Dodge my folks had.

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    1. I don't think that they came as standard equipment on that early of models.

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  5. It's legal in NH not to wear your seat belt. Adults can make your their own choices. That being said, I wear mine. When I was a firefighter I never had to unbuckle a corpse.

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    1. Seat belts have saved more lives than they have taken, for sure.

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  6. Growing up there were no seat belts - just Dad reaching around across to hold you back. I also remember there not being children car seats when my son was little. When I think about that I get shivers down my spine. Of course I do believe there were fewer accidents back then - people seemed more attentive to their driving.

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    1. No belts in my Dad's cars and none in my first few cars.

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