The automotive headlight is not exactly the most exciting part of a car, right? Wrong. Back in the early 1900s not only were headlights new and exciting, they were explosive and deadly. This incredible look back at the early history of headlights is likely a topic you've never heard about or thought about before.
Because no suitable electric bulb for cars had been invented yet, brave entrepreneurs looked for a solution and found one in the form of acetylene gas. This cheap to produce and highly flammable gas burned bright enough to shame all other available light sources. There were problems, though. Like the fact that the Prest-O-Lite company had 15 plants explode between 1907 and 1917.
This episode of the Dork-O-Motive podcast looks back at these wild years, the technology behind it, how fortunes were made, buildings were leveled, and lives were lost. All to simply see a little bit better in the dark.
4.3 The Greatest Race You've Never Heard Of: A History of Bahamas Speed Week 1954-1966
4.2 The Wild History Of INDOOR Drag Racing In Chicago During The 1960s!
4.1 Drag Racing's Darkest Day: The 1969 Yellow River Drag Strip Disaster
3.7 Origin Story: How Stock Car Racing Was Born In Los Angeles Circa 1934!
3.6: Consumed: The First Ferris Wheel and How It Ruined The Life Of George Washington Ferris
3.5: Cold War Crushers: The Awesome History of The Air Force Heavy Press Program
3.4: Fastest - An Oral History of the 1992 Hot Rod Magazine Fastest Street Car Shootout
3.3: Beating Hitler With Combines - The Epic Story of The 1944 Harvest Brigade
3.2 Small Blocks vs The World: The Wild Story of The 1971 Questor Grand Prix
2.5: Rip Tide: The Incredible and Dark History of The World‘s Water Speed Record
2.4: 1,000 Ton Sucker Punch - The Wild Story Of WWI Q-Ships
2.3: Too Fat To Fly: The Crazy Story Of How Super Speedway Big Rig Racing Was Born!
2:2 - Truckin' Amazing: The Story of WWII's Red Ball Express
2.1: Suicidal Speed and Splinters - A History Of Board Track Racing In America
1.28 Out Of Gas At 41,000ft: The Unbelievable Story Of The Gimli Glider
1.27: Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal: The Weird History of Staged Locomotive Wrecks 1896-1935
1.26: Under Pressure: The Story of Bill Lear’s Steam Powered Race Car That (Never) Ran The Indy 500
1.25: A Race To Oblivion: The 1927 Dole Air Derby
1.24: The Best Worst Ship Ever - The Story Of The SS Great Eastern
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