Why the switch from electric to vacuum wipers in 1930?

[Penthode]

It is not clear to me why Ford dropped electric wipers in their cars from 1930 to about 1960. I don't think it was a reliability thing. Maybe the vacuum motor was smaller than an electric motor?

[Phil Brown]

cost, why spend extra on an electric motor when the free vacuum works fine ? (unless your going up hill )

[redmodelt]

cost

[Bob Bidonde]

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My guess is cost and reliability. Electric wipers suffered from poor electrical grounding and failures of their internal mechanism. From Ford's service bulletins, I deduce:
Page 247: Wiper fails to start because of poor wire connection and or poor ground;
Page 327: "B" Type electric wiper introduced as replacement for initial "A" Type. No reason is given;
Page 383: Oil congealing on the mechanism and the electric motor's commutator made the electric wiper inoperable. Issues with a poor wire connection to the wiper motor and poor electrical grounding continue;
Page 404: Explains the change to the Type "B" Electric Wiper was due to simplified design, easier to repair and improved performance. The "B" Type Electrical wiper suffered from, internal short circuits in the motor, tightness of armature bearings and mechanical gears;
Page 405: Electric wiper Type "B" has 2 gears (72:1 Ratio). The Idler Gear is made of Bakelite and may spin on its shaft. Contamination of the gears with dirt is problematic;
Page 406: Excessive greasing of the gear case causes grease to foul the electric motor. Clutch spring may be too stiff to disengage gears so the wiper blade can be manually operated;
Page 407: Inadequate grease adversely affects operation of the clutch. Shorts, grounds and open circuits in the armature and off-center field windings were problematic. The ON-OFF switch lifts a brush away from the commutator to stop the motor. The amount of brush lift is critical. Too much lift causes a short circuit. Damage to an internal wire, and fit of the brushes on the commutator were issues.