Life, 1905-12-07 · page 59 of 60
Life — December 7, 1905 — page 59: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **Oldsmobile advertising** rather than political satire. The illustration shows Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) being given a ride in a 1906 Oldsmobile automobile—a visual pun suggesting the car is so desirable it's like receiving a luxury gift. The joke's context: In 1906, automobiles were still novel luxuries. By depicting Santa delivering himself via Oldsmobile, the ad humorously positions the car as the ultimate present. The ad copy emphasizes affordability ("within reach of the average pocketbook") and quality, marketing four-cylinder models as competitive with expensive imported cars. The three coupons below allow readers to request catalogs, calendars, and technical information—standard early advertising practice. This is fundamentally a commercial appeal using gentle humor and aspirational imagery rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GIVING ST, NICHOLAS A LIFT WITH AN OLDSMOBILE S foreshadowed last month our announcement of 1906 Models is sen- sational. It marks the coming of the two-cylinder, two-cycle car into popular favor, and the appearance on the market of a four- cylinder car having the style, quality, power and mechanical construction equal to the best imported cars, and sold at a price which places strictly high grade cars within reach of the average pocketbook. OLDSMOBILE Model S, a four-cylinder, four-cycle Palace ‘Touring Car at $ OLDSMOBILE Model L, a two. r, two-cycle Light Touring Car at $1, Faulpped with two yeadlights and generator, $1 OLDSMOBILE Model B, our famous Standard Runabout w numerous new feat- ures at $650. OLDSMOBIL! E Commercial Vehicles, a complete line. Every one of our models has successfully stood the most exacting road tests. They are the ripe product of the largest and best equipped automobile factory in the world. mobile Palace Touring Car is Leautifally proportioned, with wheel hase of 106 inches, vertical ‘cylinder, water cooled motor located under hood, develops 2.26 bh. p. Bevel gear pamission sliding wear, three speeds forward and reverse ; Coutrol selective ty pe, one lever. For complete speeibeations use coupon below. OLDS MOTOR WORKS Lansing, Mich. U.S. A. MEWOtH OF ASSOCIATION LICERBED AUTOWORILE MANUFACTURES CATALOG COUPON CALENDAR COUPON MOTOR TALK COUPON OLos MOTOR WoRKS OLos MoToR WoRKS OLOS MoTOR WorRKS Lansinc, Micn. Lansinc, Micn, Lansinc, Mic. fas Model B.. Delivery Cars Model Passenger Trat- Model L fic Cars BROWNELL & HUMPHREY comicbooks.com