Artifact. Materials: steel. Box says: “Roll a belt, AUTO SEAT BELT REELS, APPROVED FOR SALE AND USE IN ALL STATES REQUIRING APPROVAL, slips on seat belt easily...quickly / rolls seat belts away automatically.” Box is turquoise, red, cream and black. Dimensions: box is 8 1/2" H x 4" W x 1" D

Retractor designed to coil seat belt strap into a roll. This retractor is in its original box.

Operator and passenger restraints were first patented in 1885; and, in the earlier part of the 20th century, they were commonly found in air planes. As more people began to drive and cars became faster, injury and fatality became a concern for the public and government. In the 1950s a driver could purchase and install a seat belt. The Government began the Buckle Up for Safe campaign to try to get people to use seatbelts, which, by then, had become standard features in automobiles. Still, legislation needed to be passed to enforce usage of the restraints.