Life — October 17, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Hartford Midgley Tread Tires Advertisement This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The main image shows a car on a wet street with a woman passenger expressing concern: "Isn't there Danger of Side Slipping? Impossible Madam!" The ad promotes Hartford Midgley Tread Tires, claiming they prevent skidding on wet or muddy roads by gripping "like a cat's claws." The humor is gentle and era-appropriate: it depicts a reassuring male driver confidently dismissing a woman's safety concerns about automobile traction—reflecting early-20th-century gender dynamics where men were portrayed as knowledgeable about mechanical matters while women were anxious passengers. The advertisement includes endorsements from "Press, Owners, Chauffeurs and Professional Drivers" and notes tire sizes for foreign cars.