Life, 1900-04-07 · page 31 of 32
Life — April 7, 1900 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is entirely **bicycle advertisements** from circa 1900—not political cartoons or satire. The content reflects the bicycle boom of that era, when bicycles were major consumer goods and status symbols. Multiple competing brands (Crawford, Imperial, Spalding, Crescent, Sterling, Featherstone, Stearns, Barnes, Syracuse, Cleveland) advertise through the American Bicycle Company and its various sales departments. Notable details: prices range from $25–$75; manufacturers emphasize engineering ("built like a watch," "bevel gear chainless"); the Featherstone ad mentions Murphy setting a speed record (riding a mile in 61.4 seconds); tandem models suggest bicycles were social vehicles. The "name-plate" reference in the Cleveland ad indicates brand reputation mattered to buyers. There is **no satire, political content, or caricature** visible—purely commercial promotion targeting turn-of-century consumers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CRAWFORD | BICYCLES For 1900 re the best Crawfords ever built jadically new in prominent features, $40.00. $30.00. Juveniles, $20 and $25. ‘American Bicycle Company, SPALDING SALES DEPT., 83 Chambers Street, New York... +e WHEELS igh grade, but not high- nt, reliable, light- ee inde Their medium price suits all. $25- $30. $40. $45- SPALDING BEVEL GEAR CHAINLESS BICYCLE Jas won its way by inviting the severest lests. Price, $75. ‘tain Models, $40 and $50. American Bicycle Company, SPALDING SALES DEPT., 83 Chambers St., N. Y. American Bicycle Company, Ames & Frost Sales Dept., | Chicago, III. i Fed Monarch Catalogue— Sree vpon request. ofANcn $ALE CO., LES DEPT., CHICAGO, ILL. BICYCLES HEN you pay your money and make your choice of wheels, be sure that you get a choice wheel. Don't select a wheel of uncertain value. Take a Crescent. If there was anything better in wheeldom, we should be making it. Bevel Gear Chainless, $60, $60. Chain Models, $25, $26, $30, $35. Send for Crescent Catalogue. STERLING “Built Like a Watch.” OT built like a dollar watch, but like a celled, RS dred-dollar time piece. $75. 40, $60. hun- T Send for Sterling Catalogue, AMERICAN BICYCLE CO., WESTERN WHEELSALES DEPT sor Wells St., Chicago 36 Warren St, ’New York, THR BEST roNIc "BA DAILY TRIP ON A. Featherstone Bicycle... Tienes you mre (aan ectenedt you moro than e ever could. Ride MURPHY aectaonwusets) +1 ON Bae $40. 614-5 seconds, the fastent a full mile in seconds, the egies ues coke PIIDUNES It ioe fast, staunch, es of the, 5 7 Fullable bicycle for track or road. Bend for catalogue. BEVEL GEAR CHAINLESS, $75. CHAIN MODELS, $410, $50, $55, $60. AMERICAN BICYCLE CO., FEATHERSTONE SALES DEPT., CHICAGO, ILL. Eastern Branch, 48 Warren St., N. Y. | | g excellence in bicycle con- Bese BICYCLES STEARNS “The Famous Yellow Fellow.” Roadster. Light Roadster Racer F Cushion Frame Chainless Tandem BARNES “The White Flyer.” Roadster Light Roadster Racer é Cushion Fi rame. Chainless 1S: Tandem - “The Crimson Rim.” Roadster Light Roadster Racer 50.00 The 1900 stodels of rms, Barnes and Syracuse Bicycles embody every refinement of advanced construction. ‘They are the highest expression of the bicycle butider’s art. Complete tiastrated catalogues upon application. . $40.00 75.00 75.00 $40.00 50.00 AMERICAN BICYCLE CO., Stearns Sales Department, Syracuse, New York, USA S e GLEVELAND BICYCLES VERY rider ofa Cleveland Bicycle points with pride to the name- plate. That tells the whole story—every piece and part of the wheel is made on honor, The Cleveland name-plate stands for every struction, Bevel Gear Chainless, $75. Prices, $40. and $50. SEND FOR THE NEWCLEVELAND CATALOGUE. AMERICAN BICYCLE CO., Lozier Sales Department,