How a Silent Film Star Changed the Automotive World

She rose to fame as a silent film starlet, but she was also an avid automobile enthusiast who liked to tinker with vehicles from that early era, a passion that played a major role in the development of the automobiles of today.

Silent Film Star

At the beginning of her career, Lawrence played Daniel Boone's daughter in a silent film produced by Thomas Edison's movie studio. She went on to star in almost 300 films over the course of her movie-making career, including "Resurrection" (1909) and "The Closed Door" (1913). Lawrence was also the first film star to have her name associated with the films she starred in, leading to her nickname as "The First Movie Star."

Automotive Inventor

After finding fame as a film actress, Lawrence turned some of her attention to her passion for automobiles. Wealthy enough to afford a car, the actress soon found herself taking frequent drives and tinkering with her new object of affection. This led to the invention of three pieces of vehicle hardware that no driver could do without today: the mechanical turn signal, the brake light, and the electric windshield wiper. Although her initial designs have long since been supplanted by more modern technology, the cars of today can thank Lawrence's initial efforts for putting them on the road to improved vehicle safety.

Invention of the Mechanical Turn Signal

Lawrence's first invention, the mechanical turn signal, utilized a signaling arm to alert nearby drivers and pedestrians of the driver's intent to turn. Activated through the push of a button, the system raised and lowered a flag on the rear bumper of the car.

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Invention of the Brake Light

In addition, Lawrence designed a simple yet ingenious device to alert other drivers when a vehicle was coming to a stop. A driver pushed a brake pedal to raise a small sign in the rear of the car that read "Stop." Unfortunately, Lawrence failed to get a patent for her brake sign, just as she failed to do so with her mechanical turn signal.

Invention of the Electric Windshield Wiper

Another invention Lawrence is credited with creating — also unpaid and unpatented — is the electric windshield wiper. After her failure to patent this third invention, other companies were quick to swoop in and claim ownership, patenting their own designs for these industry-changing inventions.