Fisher no-draft ventilation system revolutionizes car comfort

From The Old Motor

(June 6, 2019) General Motors introduced one of the most important innovations in closed car passenger comfort, its new “No Draft I.C.V Ventilation” window system to car buyers in 1933. GM’s unique new vent window system led the way by offering this new individualized comfort to all passengers who rode in its Fischer-bodied cars.

Alfred J. Fischer was listed as the inventor of the new adjustable four-window arrangement on the patent application that was filed on Nov. 28, 1932. It was assigned to the Ternstedt Mfg. Co., a GM subsidiary that manufactured components for the automaker.

Ternstedt manufactured many of the parts of the new system and followed up with a patent application filed on May 10, 1933, with later improvements. Another early-1933 patent application was also filed for screens on the leading edge of the window. In time it became known as the wind wing window, because of a feature that also allowed the front edge to open out and scoop in air.

This video shows a two-way view of a flip-book General Motor used to demonstrate the windows.



Illustration in the Dec. 17, 1932, issue of “Automotive Industries” shows (top above) the flow of air with the back side of the windows open. The second drawing (bottom above) with the windows opened to scoop in outside air.