1950s Electric wiper motors for 50's Cadillacs

[Cadman-iac]

Hi all,

 There's been several threads about the wiper motors on the 50's Cadillacs, and it seems that most, (almost all) are vacuum.
 I was wondering if anyone has a picture of what an original 56, 57, or 58 electric wiper motor.
 Does anyone know what year the electric wiper motor became available on a Cadillac?
 I find it very confusing why Cadillac continued to use the vacuum motor while the other GM car lines were offering the electric motor.
 Any theories on this?

 Rick

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I can only assume that the reason they stuck with the vacuum wipers is that if you were stuck in traffic on a cold wet night with lights on, heater on and radio on plus electric wipers your battery would go flat. Only a guess on my part though. I think 59 was the first year for electric wipers, I could be wrong?

[Lexi]

Makes sense Phil, as a Cadillac car then had the potential to have more electrical drain on the battery because of additional options available. Interesting and reasoned speculation. Clay/Lexi

[V63]

I think it was one 🤬 of a trico salesman!!!  🤭

[Gabe Davis]

Yes, '59 was the first electric year. My '59 CDV has electric wipers.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Agreed with Gabe.  Mine are also electric and its fantastic compared to the 55 and 57 which were vacuum.

[Cadman-iac]

Yes, '59 was the first electric year. My '59 CDV has electric wipers.

 So for 59 the electric wiper motor became standard, or was it offered as an option?

[Cadman-iac]

  Was an electric wiper motor ever offered as an option for Cadillac, and if so, when?

 And if one of you guys with a 59 could post a picture of your electric wiper motor, I would be very grateful.

 Another question.
On the 59, did they still use the cables between the motor and the wiper arms, or did they use a linkage at this point?

 At what point did Cadillac switch from the cables to solid linkage for the wipers?

 Thanks for your help. Rick

[Poncholover]

The early wiper motors were just one speed.
The Vacuum units were adjustable & when in optimum condition were really quite good.
Heck, Packard stuck with them until the end.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Was an electric wiper motor ever offered as an option for Cadillac, and if so, when?

 And if one of you guys with a 59 could post a picture of your electric wiper motor, I would be very grateful.

 Another question.
On the 59, did they still use the cables between the motor and the wiper arms, or did they use a linkage at this point?

 At what point did Cadillac switch from the cables to solid linkage for the wipers?

 Thanks for your help. Rick

To my knowledge Cadillac never offered an electric wiper motor option. Chevrolet did in the 50s (57 I think). Taking a guess I'd say that that was the case as Chevrolets generally didn't have many electric accessories. I believe the 59 Cadillac system is totally different from the vacuum systems ie.the 59 motor won't bolt onto a vacuum system.

[Roger Zimmermann]

No cables on the '59 Cadillacs but the usual linkage.

[Jay Friedman]

Some years ago I had my '49's vacuum wiper motor rebuilt by www.wiperman.com and it works very well. Probably as well as when the car was new. Yes, the wipers slow down a bit in low vacuum situations like going up a hill, but still wipe well enough.   

I did look into converting to electric wipers, but the firm I'm aware of that sells a bolt-on electric motor only offers a 12 volt version.  For a 6 volt car like mine, in addition to several hundred dollars for the electric wiper motor, to power it I would have to buy their 6/12 volt inverter for well over $100, making for an expensive conversion.   

BTW: I once read that Studebaker already had electric wipers in the early '40s.

[Gabe Davis]

And if one of you guys with a 59 could post a picture of your electric wiper motor, I would be very grateful.

Here you go! Sorry for the flash - she is tucked away in the garage at the moment.



Bottom left you can see where the pump is for the washer fluid. The larger rubber line comes from the jar and the smaller lines go to the nozzles.









Linkages are all solid rods. Couldn't get the camera through the cowl grill to snap a photo.

Controls:



4 detents - Off - Low - Medium - High

Washer button is momentary but when pressed it moves the wiper speed to Low



Wiper info is in the 1959 Shop Manual in the Body section starting at 15-6.

So for 59 the electric wiper motor became standard, or was it offered as an option?

I would hazard a guess that electric became standard in 1959. There is no mention of any other type of system in the service manual for that year.