Charles F. Kettering was born in Loudonville, Ohio on May 8th 1876. Despite his poor eyesight, he earned a degree from Ohio State University in electrical engineering in 1904. His life would be rife with innovations, but one of his greatest would eliminate hand injuries, broken arms and deaths.
In the early days of the automobile the internal combustion engine was started via a hand crank. If the engine backfired or misfired, the handle could kickback and break a thumb or even worse the person in question could be killed. In 1899 Clyde J. Coleman filed the first patent for an automatic starter but it wasn't suitable for regular automotive use. It wasn't until Charles F Kettering of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO) invented the first reliable and useful electric starter. In 1912 the Cadillac was the first vehicle to carry the innovation.
That single innovation saved more thumbs and arms than can ever be counted, but it also had another great impact. Women were considered too fragile and weak to operate the crank starter. Suddenly women were the ones behind the wheel and soon brands such as Plymouth were marketed toward them.
-Professor Walter
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