Life, 1900-08-09 · page 2 of 20
Life — August 9, 1900 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The Electric Launch Company of Bayonne, New Jersey is marketing electric-powered boats to early 20th-century consumers. The advertisement emphasizes safety ("Can't Explode, Can't Sink") as a selling point, contrasting electric launches with the gasoline and steam-powered boats then common. The messaging targets wealthy leisure boaters concerned about reliability and operational simplicity—notably, it mentions "Wife can do likewise," suggesting boats so safe and easy that even women could operate them without formal training, a notable claim for the era. The "SAFE," "COMFORTABLE," and "ECONOMICAL" categories highlight advantages over contemporary alternatives: no fire risk, no noxious fumes, lower running costs. This reflects the early automotive/marine era when electric power competed seriously with combustion engines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
an’t Explode, an't Sink. Electric Launches. SAFE. Nothing to explode. Nothing to take fire. Cannot sink (air chambers under decks prevent). Will not tip over (all machinery, ete., below water line). SIMPLE, No government inspection, No licensed engineer. No engineer at all, Can run your own boat. Wile can do likewise, —lMlustrated THE ELECTRIC Formerly Morris Heights, New York City. COMFORTABLE, ECONOMICAL, No heat. Runs 50 to 75 miles on a single No odor. charge. Costs 2} cents per mile. No smoke. No noise. No waste of power, No dirt. No waste of room. RELIABLE. All machinery beneath the flooring. Always ready Independent charging outfits Always certain, furnished. Always steady. Always under complete contret. Search-lights if wanted. Catalogue mailed on request. Address Dept. B— LAUNCH COMPANY, Bayonne City, N. J. 2t Minutes from New York City, Via Liberty St. Ferry. comicbooks.com