Life, 1907-11-07 · page 37 of 50
Life — November 7, 1907 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains **no political cartoons or satire**—it is almost entirely **commercial advertising** from the early 1900s. The advertisements promote luxury goods: Steinway pianos (emphasizing American manufacturing superiority), Brewster & Co. automobiles, Babcock electric carriages, and Copley Prints (art reproductions featuring Elihu Vedder's "Pleiades"). The only potential satirical element is implicit: the *juxtaposition* of competing technologies. Brewster offers gasoline-powered cars while Babcock simultaneously advertises electric vehicles as safer and easier to operate—reflecting the genuine early-automotive industry competition between electric and internal combustion engines (a debate the electric car ultimately lost). The tone is aspirational marketing to wealthy readers, not political commentary. No identifiable caricatures or satirical figures appear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Primacy of Te STEINWAY First among pianos—first in coustecstion, first in tone, first in woriginality—the place of the Steinway Piano is that of international leadership. Other makers have followed and tried to imitate the distinctive features of the Steinway, but their endeavors have served only to emphasize its primacy. The Steinways have achieved and maintained this precedence by perfecting each individual part of the Steinway Biase. al along original lines and then uniting these completed parts into a perfect whole. As a Proof, examine the VERTEGRAND at $550 Steinway Pianos can be bought from any authorized Steinway dealer at New York prices, with cost of transportation added. Wasrated catalogue and the little booklet, “The Triumph of the Vertegrand,”” sent on requeft and mention of this magazine Steinway & Sons, Steinway Hall 107 & 109 East Fourteenth Street New York Brewster & Co. Automobiles DEMI-LIMOUSINE BY BREWSTER & CO. All styles of bodies ready for mounting. Cars complete with the best makes of chassis in stock and ready for delivery. All engine and body repairs done in minimum time and by highest grade workmen only. Brewster & Co. Broadway and 47th Street, New York Model 6 Victoria, Price $1700 “ALL PLEASURE—NO CARE Babcock Electrics Cover more miles—go faster than any other electric—yet are Absolutely Safe—Easy to Operate “When you build right IT IS right and works right. ’’—Babcock. FIVE MODELS SEND FOR CATALOGUE Babcock Electric Carriage Co., Builders 234 West Utica Street, Buffalo, N. Y. New York Branch, 1591 Broadway, Corner 48th Street ‘The grace and swirl of line in this picture, Elihu Vedder's “Pleiades, distinguish it even among the best of his characteristic work. This anda score more of his paintings are to be had exclusively in Fie Copley Lrintg The Pleiades in three sizes, 6 by 9, $2.00; 9 by 14, $3.00; 14 by 21, $6.00. The CopLey Prints make choice gifts; also unsurpassed as pictures for one’s home. Long recognized by the most eminent artists as the best art reproductions made in America. Vedder says they are “‘all that an artist could ask in the reproduction of his work.” At Art Stores, or sent on approval. Fifty cents to $20.00. NEW ILLUS- TRATED CATALOGUE with 300 illustrations (practically a Handbook of American Art) is sent upon receipt of 25 cents (stamps), which charge may be deducted from a subsequent purchase of the Prints themselves. Above picture copyright 1903 by CURTIS & CAMERON, 22 Pierce Building, Opp. Public Library, BOSTON comicbooks.com’