Judge, 1931-01-10 · page 2 of 36
Judge — January 10, 1931 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The page promotes Ethyl Gasoline, a brand that added tetraethyl lead to fuel (later recognized as toxic). The elephant functions as a metaphor for **power and control**: just as an elephant requires a "guiding hand" to direct its considerable strength—whether delicate tasks or heavy work—gasoline requires Ethyl fluid's additive to "guide" its combustion, maximizing engine power while preventing "knock" and overheating. The ad claims 95 oil companies now use Ethyl Gasoline, and that "1 pump in 5 now bears the Ethyl emblem." This reflects genuine 1920s-30s marketing, when leaded gasoline was promoted as scientifically superior before its neurological dangers became widely known. The satire here, if any exists, is unintentional—presenting a harmful product as a beneficial innovation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Under a guiding hand, an elephant will pick up a peanut with dexterity, or move a ton of teak. Gasoline also needs a guiding hand to develop all your motor’s power. That is why 95 leading oil companies now add Ethy! fluid to good gasoline to form Ethyl Gasoline. The The erties logredioat ered : : : tm Ethyl fed ts lead fluid governs combustion, preventing power- waste, “knock” and over-heating. It is so effec- tive that 1 pump in 5 now bears the Ethyl Qe emblem. Ethy! Gasoline Corporation, New York. out oat ETHYL GASOLINE Oncc.igt comicbooks.com