Life, 1905-07-20 · page 2 of 28
Life — July 20, 1905 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **automobile advertising**, not political satire. It contains four early 1900s car advertisements: 1. **American Mercedes** - emphasizes power and imported quality, priced at $7,500 2. **Cadillac** - highlights reliability and low operating costs 3. **Oldsmobile** - the longest ad, appeals to both rural and urban buyers, positioning the car as practical family transportation 4. **Autocar** - emphasizes ease of control with "finger-reach" steering The Oldsmobile copy is most revealing of the era's social assumptions, suggesting automobiles were becoming accessible to the middle class and could serve both practical (country) and leisure (city) purposes. There is no discernible political cartoon or satire on this page—it's straightforward commercial content reflecting the early automotive industry's competition and marketing strategies circa 1905.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW YORK, JULY 20, 1905. VOLUME XLVI. Geren at tt fone Post Orrick AB econ marten. NUMBER 1186, | Corrmcer, 1904, 8 WWE PuBLismina Company, Model ¥, #9930, Lok, Detroit, “We Pay the Duty” \ , The 40-45 H. P. American Mercedes is eee ass: silent at any speed, with power to romp > other severe conditions of travel,the oy F ° Cadillac not only reaches its own destination up 10% grades in fourth gear. There is without annoyance, but is a ikend fa bed" Io ether, a reason for it—all important parts are ‘Whatever the test, there is power enough and to spare. Simplicity and imported. Our booklet tells the rest. accuracy of construction reduce the liability to damage or derangement of mechanism 20 low as to make the Cadillac almost trouble-proof. The money- * < saving in consequence of this, combined with remarkably low cost of fuel and Paris price, - 7 500 | I] tubrication, make the Cadillac the most economically maintained of all motor J | = New York price, 9 cars. Ask any Cadillac owner. His expense book is our best advertisement. Model F—Side-Entrance Touring Car, $950. Model B—Touring Car, detachable tonneau, $900. Model E~Light, Powerful Runabout, $750. Model D—4-Cylinder, 30h. p. Touring Car, $2,800. Daimler Manufacturing Ca. 953 Steinway Avenue, Long Island City, N. Y. . ail eile We kag S Write Jor free catalog Ry and address of the nearest dealer. f New York City Garage, 10 West 60th Street. | CADILLAC AUTOMOBILE CoO., Detroit, Mich. R Finger-Reach Control ; In this car all controlling levers are assembled at the steering post, Wheel, gear shift, clutch, throttle 1 spark control are all within finger-reach, so that the operator need never take either hand away from the steering post. This arrangement, together with the respon- siveness of the Autocar running mechanism, makes this car easier and simpler than a horse todrive. The greatest value ever offered ina light four-passenyer car is tye , AU TOC AR « sii Horizontal two-cylinder opposed motor—no noticeable vibration. ] Twelve actual horsepower. ‘Three speeds forward and a reverse. Ball bearing, shaft drive. Front and rear construction has ball bearings throughout. Gasoline tank holds 10 gallons—sufficient on good roads for 200 miles. Engine and transmission case are accessible from above without disturbing body. Catalogue desc ype VIIL, Type X Runabout, , F and Type XI Four Cylinder Car, with dealer's name, sent free. Vou live in the country, you wore in the city—the Fiske sotstion Becewd ( makes it easily possible. The Oldsmobile is as indispensable as the telephone. It's a business proposition. It ery member of the family, It makes > : , bor. It brings your business near, It’s an office on wheels, f common business sense to look for the car that bile. If your car is to be an investment and not an expense, i y service, which mea cost, low cost of m nce, efliciency without complica lity, : te ease of control, especially in emergency—all distinctive which area a to front sprocket. tration, easily arranged f for with any of our agents, will acquaint you with a number of other new features. f i \ = | Standard Runabout, 7 h. p., $650 Touring Car, 20 h. p., $1400 7 \ a i : Touring Runabout, 7 h. p., $750 Commercial Vehicles All prices f.0. b. fartory. Complete new Catalog “J.” on request. If you are a merchant, an* Bflicieat Delivery Service” leaflet will Interest 30u. OLDS MOTOR WORKS, Detroit, U. S. A. = \ R Member of A. L. A. M. comicbooks.com