Life, 1901-03-28 · page 2 of 20
Life — March 28, 1901 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes electric-powered boats manufactured by The Electric Launch Company of Bayonne, New Jersey. The ad emphasizes the advantages of electric launches over gasoline-powered vessels: they're reliable, safe, and clean—producing "no heat, no smell, no smoke." The pitch highlights that electric boats "can't explode" and offer efficient long-distance cruising via battery power, with charging stations becoming widely available. The photograph shows a sleek electric launch moored near a waterfront pavilion, presumably demonstrating the vessel's elegant design. The only notable detail: a reference to Pennsylvania Iron Works' "Globe" gasoline engines, suggesting some competition acknowledged even within the ad. This reflects early-1900s enthusiasm for electric vehicles before gasoline ultimately dominated.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Poco Relisbis, lo heat. se” Eylectric Launches ©==%. Storage Battery Power. CAN’T EXPLODE. All Motive Power below Flooring and Water-line. Will run 50 to 75 miles on one charge, at an expense of less thar ts per mile. They can be used everywhere with our Independent Charging Plants, but Charging Stations in large numbers are rapidly being developed in all parts of the country. Write for special prices for Spring delivery. ALSO CABIN CRUISING LAUNCHES equipped with the welaowe “GLOBE” GASOLINE ENGINE (Under an arrangement just concluded with the Peansylvanta Iron Works Co., of Phila. Pa.) Write for FOR LONG-DISTANCE SERVICE Catalogues thus supplying, beyond all question, the finest type of gasoline powered vessels, 5 BAYONNE CITY, N. J. The Electric Launch Co., 173 Ave. A, Formerly Morris Heights, N. Y. City. COPYRIGHT FOR GREAT BRITAIN UNDER THE ACT Oo} comicbooks.com