It seems wild to think, but the history of the automobile doesn't go back as long as you might think it would. The first automobile was rolled out right before the turn of the 20th century, with the famous Model T Ford coming out about 20 years later. This is all to say that the technological advancements in cars have been staggering. Whether it is engine power, steering, or navigation, a lot has been done to make the cars we drive safer and better. This is, of course, also true for professional cars like the hearse vehicle.
Here, we will go over the top 5 innovations we've seen in cars and what they mean for your professional vehicle service. Along the way, we'll learn more about the hearse, define processions, and throw in other cool facts with which you can impress your friends. So, without any further wait, here we go!
What Is Hearse?
You might think that the word "hearse" is a name specifically for a professional vehicle, but that is not the case. The hearse got its name from frames used at funerals long before cars were invented. Soon after, the name became synonymous with anything that held a coffin. First, it was the framework, then it was horse-drawn carriages, and now it is how we know it: a car with a large compartment in the back to hold a coffin.
Now that you know that, here are five remarkable innovations that help professional hearse services run smoothly.
- The Starter
Before the starter was invented, getting a car started could take quite a long time. You'd have to put gunpowder in the right spot, turn a crank, or even be strong enough to get your engine going. It wasn't until the 1920s that starters became more popular and were eventually used ubiquitously in cars.
Interestingly enough, cranks were still used in some vehicles until the 1990s! But of course, by then, they were very rare and only used in emergencies.
- Anti-Lock Brakes
Before anti-lock brakes, things could get hairy in rainy or snowy conditions. We take them for granted now, but back then, you had to have the wherewithal to know how to stop appropriately in hazardous conditions. So, how do they work?
The trick to anti-lock bracks is that they stop you from skidding. When brakes lock up, you can avoid skidding in certain weather conditions (or if you are going too fast).
The first popular version of anti-lock brakes hit the scene in the 1970s, even though their invention goes back to the 1920s.
- Automatic Transmission
It's wild to think, but these days, being able to drive a stick shift is a feather in your cap. That's because the manual transmission has become so rare. However, until recently, most cars were manual transmissions. For skilled drivers, there is nothing wrong with a manual transmission, but the automatic transmission is a godsend for people who simply use automobiles to commute from one place to the next. It allows you to focus on a whole host of things other than whether or not you are correctly shifting.
Initially developed in the 1920s, the automatic transmission didn't become the standard until recently.
- Power Steering
We take for granted how easy it is to steer a car. There used to be a time when you were turning the wheel and didn't have the help of hydraulic forces. If you've ever had your power steering go out, you know just how difficult that can be!
This was another invention that was conceived much earlier than it wound up being featured in most cars. The earliest example of power steering can go back to the earliest cars of the late 1800s, but it wouldn't reach prominence until the 1950s.
- GPS Navigation
How the heck did we ever get anywhere with just maps?! In the modern era, this has to be the most significant invention that has helped people get from point A to point B without much issue. Sure, sometimes the technology can be a bit wonky, but that is rare, and people are likely much more on time these days.
The first form of GPS was seen in the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1995 that GPS became fully functional for public use. Now, it is everywhere. Heck, you can even use GPS while you are walking!
If you are looking for hearse dealers, please contact Shields Professional Vehicles today!