Judge, 1923-07-14 · page 25 of 36
Judge — July 14, 1923 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Kelly Cords tire advertisement**, not political satire. The cartoon depicts two motorists having a conversation at what appears to be a roadside picnic. One man complains about dangerous driving conditions on poor roads—rotten surfaces and slipperiness causing near-accidents. His companion recommends Kelly Cord tires as the solution. The advertisement below emphasizes Kelly Cords' superiority: they perform reliably on all road types and weather conditions while offering exceptional mileage, and cost no more than competitors. This was a common early automotive advertising strategy—presenting product benefits through relatable scenarios and testimonials from satisfied users. The casual, gentlemanly tone and outdoor setting reflect 1920s-era marketing approaches targeting car owners.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a - - J} “Rotten roads? I should say they WERE rotten! And slippery—! We nearly skidded into the ditch twice.” “You ought to use Kelly Cords, old man. They'd save you a lot of worry.” HERE is scarcely a car owner who has not heard motorist’ friends praise Kelly Cords. Yet it is hard for a man to realize, until he has learned from experience, that any lire can be so surefooted on all kinds of roads and in all kinds of weather as the Kelly Cord is; or that any tire can give such long mileage under all conditions as the Kelly Cord does. It costs no more to buy a Kelly.