Units that shaped the evolution of automatic transmission

Source: Wilkerson, D. C., "Why didn't we have automatic transmissions sooner?" [Detroit, 1965?] Talk prepared ... for presentation to the Armstrong Cork Co., Lancaster, Pa., April 16, 1956.

1897 Maugras' Automatic Split-Torque Drive
1900 Dieterich's Variable Eccentric Drive
1902 Megy's Governor-Controlled Unit
1903 Newman's Variable Eccentric Gear
1903 Strong's Variable Stroke Drive
1904 Hall's Hydraulic Transmission
1904 Barber-Hutton Variable Stroke Transmission
1904 Sturtevant 2-Speed Automatic Unit
1906 Cartercar Friction Transmission
1907 Stanley Automatic Shifter (C.G.V. Car)
1907 Manly Hydraulic Transmission
1908 Sturtevant 3-Speed Automatic Unit
1908 Columbia-Entz Transmission
1909 Lambert Friction Transmission
1910 Föttinger Hydro-Dynamic Unit
1914 Cadillac 2-Speed Preselector Unit
1914 Zeitler Automatic Railcar Drive
1916 Vesta-McFarlan Electric Drive
1918 Cutler-Hammer Control
1918 Biava Automatic Shift Control
1919 Radcliffe Fluid Flywheel Clutch
1923 de Lavaud Automatic Variable Stroke Drive
1923 Constantinesco Inertia Transmission
1923 Dow Automatic Planetary Transmission
1923 Renault Auxiliary Automatic Unit
1924 Automatic Clutch & Transmission Co. Unit
1925 Chorlton-Beardmore Automatic Transmission
1927 Sykes Railcar Automatic Unit
1929 Rieseler Hydro-Dynamic Unit
1930 Spontan Inertia Transmission (Ljungstrom)
1930 Salerni Hydro-Dynamic Unit
1931 Buick Synchro-Mesh
1932 Synchromesh of Chevrolet type
1932 G.M. Research Toric Friction Drive
1933 Reo Self-Shifter
1933 Hayes-Austin Friction Transmission
1933 Banker Railplane Mono-Drive
1934 New Departure "Transitorq"
1935 Banker Automatic Planetary Unit for Buses
1935 Tri-Lok Hydro-Dynamic Unit
1935 Vickers Hydro-Dynamic Unit
1936 Banker GMC Bus Transmission
1937 Olds Safety Transmission
1937 GMC Angle Drive Unit
1939 Olds Hydramatic Drive Train
1943 GMC V-Drive Unit
1945 GM Military Unit
1948 Buick Dynaflow I Transmission
1950 Chevrolet Powerglide I
1952 Buick Dynaflow II
1953 Chevrolet Powerglide II
1954 GM Allison Unit
1954 Buick Dynaflow III
1955 GMC Twin Hydramatic
1956 Buick Dynaflow IV