Why is a glove box called a glove box? Do you really keep gloves in there?

Question

I bet someone will say yes..lol

Answer 1

I don't know for sure why it's called a glove box. However, if you consider the times of the automobile's origin and early mass production, people -- particularly people who could afford automobiles -- dressed more formally and it was not uncommon for a lady to wear opera gloves when going out for the evening.

The modern glove box probably originated as a feature when cars began to be mass produced to meet market needs and became popular as a place to conveniently store other items.

When I got my first car I was living on the east coast and I made a point to store only a pair of gloves in my glove box. In the winter, when someone was riding with me I'd ask them to hand me my gloves. They'd ask, "Where are they"? And I'd reply, "In the glove box". They would laugh, then laugh hysterically when they opened the glove box and found only a pair of gloves inside.

Answer 2

My mother explained this once to me (she grew up in the Great Depression). Back in the early days of the automobile, many cars were open cabs, and the roads were dirt roads instead of paved roads. The driver would have to get out and crank the engine to start the car (think Model A or T era). So the driver would keep a pair of gloves in the vehicle and the glove compartment was so the gloves could be tucked away neatly and without risk of being blown away.

I have no idea whether this is accurate, but my mom's explanation made sense to me.

Answer 3

A glovebox, also called a glove box, is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects while being in a different atomsphere to the object. Built into the sides of the glovebox are two gloves arranged in such a way that one can place their hands into the gloves and be able to perform tasks inside the box without breaking the seal or allowing potential damage to a worker's hands. Part or all of the boxes are usually transparent to allow one to see what they are manipulating. Two types of glove box exist. One type is designed to allow a person to work with a substance such as an open source of an actinide such as plutonium nitrate solution while the other is a box with a very high purity inert atmosphere (such as argon or nitrogen) which can be used for working with oxygen sensitive substances (such as lithium metal which needs to be kept in argon).

Answer 4

Driving gloves were used in the old days to quiet the vibration that you would feel in your hand and give you additional handling (no pun intended) on the steering wheel. Also, driving was a very dirty endeavor and the gloves would keep your hands clean at your destination. Glove boxes were REALLY used for gloves.

Answer 5

Yes, glove boxes were originally used to store gloves. See my link to Wikipedia, below.

Answer 6

In the old days (probablt 1940s or so) a lady always wore a hat and gloves-little white ones in summer, black leather in winter. You know, June Cleaver-look. And they kept them in the glove box. Really!

Answer 7

I sure do keep a pair of gloves in there.

Answer 8

I do have a pair of gloves in there amongst other things.

Answer 9

At one time, it is where you kept your driving gloves

Answer 10

Yes, for changing tires in the winter.