Quote Originally Posted by jayd View Post
When was the first basic intermittent wiper used? Did they always require a computer? What about multi-speed wipers, how do they work, did they have separate windings in the motors that ran at different speeds?

I need a wiper setup for my '37 Dodge pickup with multi speeds or even better an intermittent wiper and I would prefer using a modified wiper setup from GM verses an aftermarket unit.
Ford had the first intermittent wipers in their 1969 model year. They were invented by Robert Kearns, and were the subject of a widely publicized patent infringement case in '78 against Ford (Kearns won), and then against Chrysler in '82 where Kearns served as his own attorney, and won again. The early controls were a simple adjustable timing circuit apart from the wiper motor, and small add-on after market boxes to patch into the wiper circuit are widely available - here's one. DCWE-20 Wiper Control