Life, 1908-02-13 · page 20 of 20
Life — February 13, 1908 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **an advertisement, not satire or political commentary**. The page features an Oldsmobile automobile ad with an illustration showing an open-air car departing from what appears to be a grand hotel or train station, with elegantly dressed passengers and onlookers. The ad's central claim is marketing language rather than humor: Oldsmobile positions itself as "The Logical Car" at the "logical price"—claiming $2,750 is both the lowest acceptable price for quality and the highest one should pay for a 4-cylinder vehicle. The 6-cylinder model at $4,200 receives identical reasoning. The illustration depicts the car as a status symbol in an upscale urban setting, appealing to affluent early-1900s buyers. The "logic" being sold is essentially price-justification marketing: you get exactly what you should pay for, no more, no less—a sales strategy positioning Oldsmobile as the rational consumer's choice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE LOGICAL CAR |e OLDSMOBILE, 4-cylinder, Model ‘“M,”’ is the Logical Car at the logical price, $2,750—the lowest price at which a strictly high-class car embodying style, comfort and roadability can be mace. The OLDSMOBILE, 4-cylinder, Model “‘M,” demonstrates, at the same time, that $2,750 « the highest price you should pay for a car with Boulevard appearance coupled with roadability (the ability to travel all roads with all comers). : For more money you cannot buy a better car—you can buy the larger type car—the 6-cylinder ca which is now the acknowledged standard for American, as well as foreign cars, in the very large car clas: J The OLDSMOBILE, Model “Z,"" 6-cylinder, at $4,200, gives you again the logical car at th J logical price. You cannot pay less and get a good ‘‘six.”” You cannot buy a better ‘‘six” for more. Our Catalog, filled with simple automobile information, is sent to those interested in the OLDSMOBILE, on request. Address Dept. L. OLDS MOTOR WORKS, LANSING, MICHIGAN, U.S.A. Member Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers Canadian Trade Supplied from OLDSMOBILE CO., of Canada, 80 King Street East, Toronto, Ont. comicbooks.com