Life, 1908-06-04 · page 2 of 44
Life — June 4, 1908 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire page**, but rather a **straightforward advertisement** for the Mitchell Motor Car Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The ad promotes the Mitchell automobile at $2,000, positioning it as offering excellent value—claiming it provides everything one expects from a car at that price point. The text argues that while faster, more powerful cars exist, they're unnecessary for practical driving and cost significantly more to maintain. The ad references the Mitchell's success at the Chicago Auto Show, where 200 units sold, and invites potential customers to test-drive the vehicle (a "Touring Car" model shown) against competitors. This represents typical early automotive advertising from the pre-1920s era, when car manufacturers competed heavily on value and practical features rather than luxury or speed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
arenes tthe Post Ofc at Now Tort. Sy ‘Mat Mea,” TS Coprrighs. 1908, by Lire Peauiaoes Comune Everything You Expect of a Car is in the Mitchell at $2000 You can pay more of course. But all you ge more is greater speed and increased power. And you don’t wart a racing machine. Fifty-five miles is certainly fast enough. That’s the speed of the Mitchell at $2000. Then 35h. p.—the power of the Mitchell—is all you need. It is sufficient to take, with ease, the steepest grades—the worst sand or mud. High speed and high power don’t add a mite to a car’s reliability. Yet they do double the cost of a car, and double the cost of the up-keep. For style, finish and c better than the Mitchell at $2000. For beauty, no trimmer, neater car ever skimmed a boulevard. The Mitchell has stood many unique tests. At the Chicago Show 200 Mitchells were sold. This is against an average of 10 foi all the rest—where the Mitchell stood side by side. They were sold to men who know. Here is another rigid test for the Mitchell— The Chicago Auto Club had a committee draw up plans and specifications for an ideal car. truction, no car is * By actual comparison the Mitchell at $2000 came nearest to these specification Yet it was $300 lower than this ideal car was specified to cost. Please abandon your prejudice — Know the Mitchell before you spend that $4000 or $5000. .The Mitchell is called the “Show Me” Car. An advertising slogan we use and live up to. It’s the Mitchell’s supreme test. This test will convince the most skeptical— even you. Just call up our agent—make an appointment. Have him bring a Touring Car at $2000—or, if you prefer, the Limousine at $2800—the Roadster at $1250—the Runabout at $1000. He will take you for a spin. He won't argue—he will let the car itself decide whether you save $2000 or $3000. Please don’t hesitate to call him up—you'll be under no obligations. You should see our Catalog No. 18—it describes in detail the Mitchell Cars. Ask the agent—or write to us, MITCHELL MOTOR CAR CO. “sig Racine, Wis. (Member American Motor Car Manutacturers' Association) This is the Touring Car shown here—35 h. p.. 4 cyl., speed 55 miles, finished in Mitchell blue. comicbooks.com