Judge, 1928-10-20 · page 2 of 36
Judge — October 20, 1928 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising for Texaco gasoline**, not political satire. The illustration shows two well-dressed men examining a car's engine, with the headline "Under the hood, or what have you." The joke is straightforward: modern engines are complex with many components ("a bit complicated perhaps"), but Texaco gasoline supposedly ensures reliable performance. The ad emphasizes that Texaco is a "pure high-test gasoline" that "vaporizes to a dry gas," providing consistent power for demanding engines. The cartoon figures appear to be generic businessmen of the era—one adjusting his top hat—used to represent the typical car owner. This reflects 1920s-30s advertising conventions where well-dressed men symbolized quality and sophistication. The ad ran in *Judge*, a satirical magazine, but this particular page functions as paid advertising rather than editorial satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Under the hood, or what have you A BIT complicated perhaps ... but every one of those gadgets means something. Life is really real, and very earnest, for an engine these days. It must perform with neither falter nor fail for long hours on end. You step on the accelerator and expect, instantly, a Niagara of power. @ You get it, too, if you use the new and better Texaco; all the power you can use... and more. Because Texaco is a true pure high-test gasoline with The NEW and BETTER marked anti-knock qualities, it burns cleanly ... completely. Every drop is | E XK AC O power — perfect power for all types G A Ss re) L i N E to a dry gas. You'll say it’s the best Try Texaco today. The new and better Texaco is “special” (no extra price). Sold at all Texaco pumps. The Texas Company, Texaco Petroleum Products. of engines. Chemists say it vaporizes gasoline (ormotor fuel) you ever used. comicbooks.com