Life, 1909-09-09 · page 2 of 32
Life — September 9, 1909 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not satire or political commentary**—it's a straightforward advertisement for the Stearns automobile, published in *Life* magazine. The page promotes the Stearns as "The Ultimate Car," emphasizing durability (good for 60,000 miles), reliability, and conservative design philosophy. Key selling points include: no yearly model changes (owners keep cars longer), low steel content reducing costs, and a powerful double-carburetor engine. Two vehicle illustrations show the car's design: a limousine version (top) and a chassis with toy tonneau body (bottom). The "White Line Radiator" is highlighted as a Stearns feature. The ad includes a call-to-action ("Please mail me the Catalog No. 22") from the F.B. Stearns Co., Cleveland, Ohio—typical early-1900s automotive marketing targeting affluent buyers seeking practical luxury vehicles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Published every Thorutay, Annaal_ Subscription Entered at the Post Of%ce at New York, N. ¥., « Five Dollars. Siagte Cop! Ten Cents . . ot ee sae Maner ¥ — right In England te the Bei ~The Ultimate Car Is ‘The Stearns The Stearns is the dream of the real motor car lover, ne mutter whit « he nay own. He may be content for a while with a lesser car. But his desire for the best, if he can afford it, will bring him in time to the Stearns, a sis the autocrat of motordom, It leads se far, and has led so long, that none dispute its place, Improvenent possible some tine, We spend $40,000 per year to tind them— in our experimental department. ut to build anything better, with man's present knowledge, is utterly out of ee Good for 60,000 Miles The Stearns car, if properly cared for, grows better with use, Tt is better the second year than the first. 30-60 H. P. Chassis with Limousine Body We win most of our races with cars which have run ten thousand tiles or over. The life irns, if not misused, is more than 60,000 miles, ‘That is the result Every important part of the car is in our om ben factory—amade without regard to cost. oF perfectior The result. f is the safest car f) the Cars that seem to be cheaper are not nearly so cheap, if you figure the cost by world. ‘Ther rength needed wher No New Yearly Models 1 4 ngine I famous for A se te eclunet ae rower. Whenever our engineers work ont and demonstrate an improvement, it is added Theene hamew: douiile c ; ; wae at once to the ear, y buyer, at any time, gets a car of our latest construction, iow ay pibbian ‘Then keep it and care for it. Use it until it wears out, ‘There will never be a ear of the carb This ts “Uof the car's tlet! materially better, for invention in this line has about reached the limit. bility, Get the economy that comes from long service. Secure the full value of our costly Tks & — construction, ‘Then you will know why a car like the Stearns is worth more than This is the Envied Car inferior cars. The Stearns ix a stunning car, low and rakis "There 181 tive. : Where the Stearns Leads Tt la'n Git be proud Bt a ear Ch CeReAtew ma . 7 7 . in envies the owner a Stearns, The steel used in Stearns cars costs 25 cents per pound. It is made from et the owner knows that, in the long run, inferie imported ores. cars Will cost more than he paid. If you think you would like such a car as thi latest catalog, the year, A Reminder The F. B. STEARNS CO., Cleveland, 0. Please mail me the Catalog No. 22. A Popular Model 15-30 H. P. or 30-60 H. P. Chassis with Toy Tonneau Body “The White Line Radiator Belongs to the Stearns” comicbooks.com