Life, 1907-06-06 · page 37 of 56
Life — June 6, 1907 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not satirical content. It showcases early automotive technology during a pivotal moment when both gasoline and electric cars competed for market dominance. The Columbia Electric Vehicle Company advertises luxury models ($1,600-$5,500), emphasizing reliability and low maintenance—key selling points for electric cars, which were cleaner and quieter than gasoline vehicles. The "Barrett" Jack advertisement uses humor to argue that quality matters in every component: a cheap jack on an expensive car is foolish. This reflects period consumer consciousness about mechanical reliability. The Pennsylvania Clincher Tires ad warns drivers that high-speed driving (then thrilling and dangerous) requires dependable tires. This underscores how early automobiles were unpredictable, hazardous machines where equipment failure could cause disaster. Together, these ads reveal 1907 automotive concerns: cost, maintenance, safety, and the legitimacy of electric vehicles as practical alternatives to gasoline cars—a competition electricity ultimately lost.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ZS MOTOR CARS. GAS OLINE AND ELECTRIC Can be depended upon for Consistent and Satisfactory Performance at all times This, with their unusually low cost of maintainance makes them the most desirable cars in the 1907 market. Mark XLVIII, 24-28 H. P. Touring Car, $3000, Limousine, $4200, is the most complete and perfect medium powered car to be had. Mark XLIX, 40-45 H. P. Touring Car, $4500, Limousine or Landaulet, $5500, presents an wurivalled combination of speed, power and luxury. ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPAN ED Mark LXIX, Electric Vietoria-Phacton, ff $1600, is unapproached in its class for radius of reliable action, safety, comfort, smartness of style and superb fish. Mark LXVIII, Electric Brougham, Landaulet, Hansom’ and Victoria, “each $4000, are univerually acknowledged to. be the ideal town carrages for private service. Separate catalogues of gasoline and electric models will be sent on request. nicle Company. 134-138 W. 39th St. Chicago: Electric pov Vehicle Company, 23521334 Michigas Avenue. he Vehicle Company, Trinity Place aad Stanhope . No automobile is pa fect unless the jack it carries is a “BARRETT” You would not buy a motor car “The Jack that Duff builds.” if the crank shaft or any other essential part were cheaply made of inferior materials. Yet there are times when the jack is the most essential part, and everything depends upon it. If it isn’t a “Barrett Jack, it isn’t a good jack nor safe to use on your car. Other jacks are a litle cheaper—but think it over--can you afford to have a cheaper jack? The “Barrett” is supplied by the best automobile makers and reliable dealers. Alto direct by us. Write for catalogue. DUFF MANUFACTURING COMPANY Exclusive.makers of ‘‘ Barrett” Jacks Works: ALLEGHENY, PA. PITTSBURG, PA. Cortaodh St., New York. 4 Roe Auber, Pasis, 120 eect Sein” YE a ser, Montreal. —SPEEDING SMOOTHLY FORWARD —the exhilaration of high pace is often so strong that caution is swept away. It is then that the superior strength and resiliency of PENNSYLVANIA CLINCHER TIRES safeguard the car and its occupants, where some un- seen or disregarded obstruction might bring disaster on less dependable tires. Write for ‘*H,"" Tire Booklet PENNSYLVANIA RUBBER CO., JEANNETTE, PA. General Sales Agent, ROGER B. McMULLEN, Chicago, Ill. New Yorx—1741 Broadway. Circaco—1241 Michigan Ave. Punapenruta— 615 N. Broad St, AtLanta, Ga.—102 N. Prior St. Boston—2o Park Square. Burrato—717 Main Street. Derror—237 Jefferson Avenue, Cevetanp —2134-6 E. Ninth St. ‘San Frascisco—sr2-14 Mission St. Lonpon—26 City Road. comicbooks.com -