Hemmings Classic Car – October 2019

BY WALT GOSDEN • ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF THE WALT GOSDEN COLLECTION

Tonneau windshields designed to block the wind

Windbreakers

historyofautomotive design 1916-1950s

Folding, extending, adjustable

is how the Fryer-Auster Company of

Providence, Rhode Island, described

its accessory tonneau windshield in a

1916 letter to automobile body shops

and coachbuilders. The Auster Extending

Tonneau Shield was an inspiration from

Europe, and was a windshield that bolted

to the rear of the front seat in a touring car

to protect the rear seat passengers from

the often extreme wind and drafts that

blew into the car while it was in motion.

With no windows in the doors to roll up,

the tonneau shield was the only thing

viable to protect the passengers without

the side curtains in place. Although most

often associated with touring cars, this

type of windscreen was being fi tted to

rumble seats at their front edge to protect

68 HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR OCTOBER 2019 I Hemmings.com