Seatbelts in the '50s

[rdonahue@holli.com (Robert J. Donahue)]

My 53 MG-TD has four slotted brackets bolted to the floor behind the seats. By
their design and position I can only conclude that they were meant to anchor
seatbelts. Did MG offer seatbelts back then? Or did the PO install some
aftermarket belts?

Just out of historial curiosity:

When did car companies start offering seatbelts?
When did the government start mandating seatbelts?

Bob Donahue, Still Stuck in the '50s          
rdonahue@holli.com          
1953 MG-TD under restoration
1971 MGB