Life, 1907-01-17 · page 43 of 60
Life — January 17, 1907 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Stearns automobile, manufactured by F.B. Stearns Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The ad's central claim: America has produced no rival to the Stearns; competing cars cost double or more for equivalent quality. The advertisement emphasizes craftsmanship—2,100 hours of skilled labor on finishing alone—and technical specifications (a "30" with "60" power when needed). The illustrated car shows passengers enjoying a winter drive, positioned as aspirational imagery of leisure and modernity. The text lists numerous dealers across major American cities (Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York, etc.), indicating broad market distribution. This reflects early 1900s automotive competition, when American manufacturers were establishing their reputations against imported European vehicles. The Stearns brand positioned itself as the American-made luxury alternative.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MERICH has not produced a rival to the STEARNS. Ge are ready to show any intending purchaser of a high-grade car—to his entire satisfaction—that he must import a car at double or more cost to get its equal ee 2k 2100 Fours’ labor by the most skilled workmen in the world is put on the finishing alone of each Stearns car. No other maker in the world gives 80 much time to anything but a special racer. It is this unmatched care employed in work- ing out a perfected design from the finest materiale 80 far discovered in the world that proves that the Stearns is “The Best Hutomobile.” 00. The casy-runni alitics of a “30” in highest per- fection—the power of a “60” when needed. The catalogue tells how. Write to-day. F. B. STEARNS COMPANY, Members A.L.A.M. 2990 EUCLID AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OHIO BOSTON, MASS., A. E. Morrison Co. ROCHESTER, N. Y., United States Automobile PHILADELPHIA, PA., The Motor Shop, 317 ‘Company North Broad Street PITTSBURG, PA., Fort Pitt Automobile Co., SCOTTDALE, PA., Scottdale Automobile Co. Euclid Avenue and Baum Street CINCINNATI, O., Hughes Automobile Company, ST. LOUIS, Reyburn Motor Car Co., 5023 Delmar 608 Broadway Boulevard ATLANTA, GA., Capital City Automobile Co. CHICAGO, ILL., Githens Bros. Co., 1328 Michi- SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Automobile Company, gan Avenue 365 Fell Street WHEELING, W. VA., R. H. Mahlke NEW YORK, Wyckoff, Church & Partridge, Broadway at 56th Street comicbooks.com