Life, 1908-10-01 · page 35 of 44
Life — October 1, 1908 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Ford Motor Company advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Model T touring car at $850, positioning it as revolutionary value—high quality at low price, undercutting competitors by "several hundred dollars." The ad emphasizes Ford's manufacturing innovations: Vanadium steel construction, lightweight design (1,200 lbs), and efficient production methods. It appeals to middle-class buyers by attacking the high markups of competitors, claiming they could match Ford's price "if the makers were satisfied with the Ford profit per car." The decorative border and formal layout are typical of early-1900s advertising. While the text mentions "season sensation announcements" from rivals, this is commercial competition, not political commentary. For modern readers, it's notable that $850 was significant money (roughly $28,000 in today's dollars), yet marketed as accessible to ordinary families—a key to the Model T's historical importance in democratizing automobiles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HIGH PRICED QUALITY IN A LOW PRICED CAR The Ford Four Cylinder, Twenty Horse Power, Five Passenger Touring Car. S$8B5O 22 Fob. Detroit HE one real automobile value among all the “season sensation” announcements is the big, roomy, powerful five- T passenger touring car at the hitherto unheard of price of $850.00. A car that possesses at least equal value with any “1909” car announced, and at the same time sells for several hundred dollars less than the lowest of the rest. Compare the following features of the new Ford car with those of any higher priced car offered and see if you can justify in your own mind the additional expenditure that buying any other car involves, 1c edd T is a 4 cyl. 20 h, p, five passenger family car. the finest and costliest steel manu- factured, is used throughout the entire car, Unit agneto an integral part of same,—4 cylinders i water jacketed cylinder head removable, offering easy access to all working parts of engine. 3 bearing ith 8 cams integral,—silent planetary transmission of new design, splash system of lubrication, —control on left side, all forward speeds by foot lever,—double system of braking,—shaft drive through only one universal joint to Ford system of final drive, patented in all countries. 100' wheel base, 56" tread, 30" wheels, 3" tires front, 334" rear, where the wear is greatest. Gasoline capacity, 10 gallons,—225 to 250 miles supply.—long, clean-cut lines throughout, hand- somely finished and you have the specifications of the teal automobile value of this year and next and a couple more thereafter. Vanadium steel is used throughout the entire car wherever strength is necessary. The axles, shafts, connecting rods, springs, ears, brackets, etc., are all of Vanadium steel,—each from a separate formula and all especially heat treated in our own plant and from our own analyses, We defy anyone to break a Ford Vanadium steel part with any test or strain less than 50 % greater than is required to put any other special automobile steel satirely out of business, The weight ot the car is only 1,200 Ibs.—brought about by scientific construction and the use of Vanadium steel. Not an ounce of necessary weight sacrificed, not an ounce of dead weight in the car. That is one of the reasons the Ford car will run more miles for less money than any other touring car manufactured. We make no apologies for the price,—any car now selling up to several hundred dollars more could, if built from Ford design, in the Ford factory, by Ford methods, and in Ford quantities, be sold at the Ford Price if the maKers were satisfied with the Ford profit per car. Your guarantee that this car is all we claim—and our claims are broad—is in the reputation of Henry Ford, who never designed or built a failure, and in the reputation of the Ford Motor Company, who have built $20,000,000 worth of successful «. f Ford design in the same factory, with the same organization and system, and bearing the same imprint that the Model T is manufactured under. It’s the guarantee of works as well as wor Delivery began October Ist, orders filled in rotation, Cars can be seen at all branch stores; get a demonstration if you are near by, if not, wire your order either for immediate shipment or definite future delivery. FURTHER details in catalogue, which is yours for the asking. 263 Piquette Avenue Detroit New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle. Paris, France. London, England. Canadian Trade :—Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. Walkerville, Ont. BRANCHES: | (Branch, Toronto, comicbooks.com