Part 3/9:
Government Regulation and Standardization
The reasoning behind the adoption of sealed beam headlights was not merely quirks of design; it was a strategic regulatory decision. During the late 1930s, the surge in automobile popularity led to a mishmash of equipment from various manufacturers, making spare parts hard to find—and sometimes incompatible. By mandating sealed beam headlamps, the government enforced a baseline of performance across all vehicles, ensuring consistency in functionality and making replacement parts readily available for drivers.