Did You Know?
The idea for the parking meter was developed in the early 1930s,
when Carl Magee wanted to encourage frequent cycling of parking
spaces in downtown Oklahoma City.
In 1935, the first parking meter was installed, and the idea quickly
caught on elsewhere. The basic design of the parking meter did not
vary terribly much in the next 50 years or so. A motorist inserted
money and turned a lever, which activated a timer. When the timer
was up, a red flag would appear, indicating that the meter had to
expire and that the motorist needed to move or insert more money.
(Source:
Wise
Geek)
Magee holds a patent (#2,118,318) for a "coin controlled parking
meter," filed on May 13, 1935 and issued on May 24, 1938.
(Source:
Enchanted Learning &
The History of Parking Meters)
|