Life, 1909-01-07 · page 5 of 60
Life — January 7, 1909 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward **advertisement for Firestone Non-Skid Tires**, published in *Life* magazine. The ad shows a close-up photograph of a tire tread pattern and makes technical claims about safety: the oblique lettering in the tread provides "greater variety of angles and edges and more points of road contact, to prevent slipping" compared to competitors. The ad emphasizes **economy**, suggesting Firestone tires cost less than "ordinary non-skid tires or devices" while performing better. **Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.** was based in Akron, Ohio, with branches listed in major American cities (New York, St. Louis, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh). There is no satirical content — this is a period advertisement highlighting tire technology and durability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Leads Again—° Another Success— Firestone’ © ~Non-Skid Tire The efficiency of .a non-skid tire depends on the variety of angles and edges and points of road contact. f The Firestone Non-Skid Tread, formed by raised oblique lettering, “Firestone Non-Skid,” presents greater variety of angles and edges and more points of raat contact, to prevent slipping, than any other non-skid tire. The economy of its use is: proving a revelation to motorists accustomed to the extravagant ex- pense of ordinary non-skid tires or devices. Get the New Catalog. FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER CO. - - Akron, Ohio BRANCHES: New York Boston Philadelphia Chicago St. Louis Detroit Buffalo Pittsburg comicbooks.com