According to Edsons history, they installed their first glass boat steering on the Bounty around 1960. Then Edson moved the engine controls on a new Hinckley to the new "guard" around the pedestal. Not long after(read the history timeline), the "cockpit table" and alfresco dinning debuts, guess what came next,....

http://www.edsonmarine.com/about/history.php

1959 - Edson steering system installed on the first fiberglass sailboat, the 40foot Bounty, introduced at New York Boat Show.
1960 - Edson develops pedestal guard for new Hinckley Bermuda 40, 1961 - Edson adds the wheel brake to pedestal steering systems.
1963 - Edson introduces el fresco dining with the first pedestal-mounted table.
1965 - Edson centralizes boat control with pedestal-mounted engine controls.
***********!!!!!!!!1970 - New Edson instrument pods bring electronics to the steering pedestal!!!!!!!!.

The reason that came to my mind, I was thinking I don't see pods on all that many boats in my harbor, because many are old. Here's 3, the bright Concordia I think sails downeast regularly(I don't know if it even has radar-I would if I sailed there often), the J35 circled the Atlantic a couple years ago in just over a year, and no pods. Why? No wheels!