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Here is an interesting video that was donated to the library as an 8mm film. I had it converted to a DVD. There is no sound, so don't check your computer. Who said Lexus and Ford were the first to offer this feature. Has anyone actually seen this on a '53? Maybe there was just a prototype. I posted it on YouTube. Search for "Park-O-Matic" or use this URL.
I had never heard of this. My first thought was "this is an April Fools joke" but it looks real. Still hard to believe they had the technology back then without computers. I guess I am a skeptic but still not sure it isn't a joke.
Les...like you, I was initially skeptical. That chalkboard looked too hokey, however, the more I watched the more I was convinced. When I saw the inventors name - Herbert R. Pfister - I did what you do these days and Googled his name. Sure enough, there on page one was a link to a late '50's Popular Science magazine where a Herbert R. Pfister had designed, fitted and tested hydrofoils on a wooden sport boat. It appears Mr. Pfister (that's right, Mister Pfister!) was a Rube Goldberg sort of backyard inventor.
Perhaps there really are no new ideas...
Mark
Barrett...by the way, thanks for converting that film to DVD and posting for all to see. That was really neat!
Mark
Well, I do not have this on my 53. In 53, someone could probably setup hydraulics and solenoids to handle the steering but there were not any proximity or motion sensors and no computers to control them. Somebody out there did a present day technology installation recently or staged this with old cars and era dressed people. I think the lady in the car did the steering. You never see enough at the same time to confirm the car is turning when you see the steering wheel spinning on its own. I am surprised some people have this kind of time on their hands.
One of the reasons I suspect this is that you stopped,put the car in reverse and pulled out the knob. Look at the video at about 1:50 and watch how quickly the car starts back when it pulls up. Hardly enough time to put the car in reverse and then pull the knob unless the driver is very coordinated and darn fast.
I don,t if its either science fiction or an april fools joke but I have a box full of old popular mechanics mags , the earliest is 1940 ,the latest is mid sixty,s, amongst them , somewhere i have read an article about this , i,ll have to try and find it . i don,t think it was ever put on a production vehicle. i will try to find the article, but i,m sure the one i read about had extra wheels that dropped down and slid? the car in sideways.
Here is an interesting video that was donated to the library as an 8mm film. I had it converted to a DVD. There is no sound, so don't check your computer. Who said Lexus and Ford were the first to offer this feature. Has anyone actually seen this on a '53? Maybe there was just a prototype. I posted it on YouTube. Search for "Park-O-Matic" or use this URL.
Herbert R Pfister was my father. He invented and developed this device in 1955. The
8mm movie was to demonstrate to the auto manufacturers how it worked. Would you believe that none of the manufacturers would buy it because they felt it would be to distracting to the public
Talk about a topic out of the blue...............
I remember seeing this video once before. Someone else posted this on the message board I think.
It was a LONG time ago.
I thought it looked real the first time I seen it...................but I am very gullible. I own a Desoto.
It is a good topic !
Mark
I was skeptical at first. Partly because it sounded to hi-tech for the '50s and partly because in this hi-tech world almost anything can be faked. But, after reading Mark Ks post and hearing from Mr. Pfister's daughter I am convinced it is real. Too bad it was well before its time.
