Life, 1909-09-30 · page 23 of 32
Life — September 30, 1909 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon** — it's a full-page automobile advertisement from Life magazine (circa 1909), disguised as editorial content through satirical framing. The page mocks competitor claims by asserting the Hudson "Twenty" is "not an Imitation" but "a Big Car," positioning it against cheaper vehicles while emphasizing luxury features (headlights, magneto, rumble seat). The ad targets middle-class buyers by highlighting the car's racing victory and long-distance endurance, while listing technical specifications borrowed from prestigious European marques like Renault and Peerless to establish legitimacy. The "Look for the Triangle on the Radiator" tagline functions as brand identification. The scarcity claim—"When he sells that number he can get no more this year"—employs artificial urgency marketing. At $900, it positioned itself as an affordable yet respectable automobile in an emerging mass-market era. This represents early 20th-century automobile industry advertising dressed as journalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Equipment:—Two large headlights, generator, two side oil lamps, tail lamps, full set tools and horn—$BOO, With Bosch magneto, top, Prest-O-Lite tank, double rumble seat—$1050. wy “Look for the Triangle on the Radiator.” The Hudson Achievement of 1909 is not an Imitation itis a Big Car Four Cylinder Motor The motor is vertical, four cylinder, four cycle, water cooled, known the Renault type, 33" bore, and 43" stroke. And Renault motors are the pride of France. Single Piece I-Beam Axle he front axle is a one piece drop-forged I-beam section, of the best ::rade of open hearth steel, carefully heat treated. The Peerless, Pierce, Matheson, Lozier and other high grade cars use drop-forged front axles. The rear axle is of the semi-floating type, shaft-driven, proved out by a score of makers. Three Quarter Elliptic Rear Springs ‘There is more rake to the steering post than is found on the average car. springs are of special steel, semi-elliptic in front, and three- quarter-elliptic in the rear, such as you find in the Renault, Chalmers- Detroit, Pierce and others. Lubrication is of the pump circulated, constant splash system, which has proved so satisfactory on the Oldsmobile, Chalmers-Detroit, and other highly successful cars. The tires are $2*x3" in front and 32*x3}"in the rear. The crank shaft hasa tensile strength of 100,000 pounds; the clutch is leather faced, . Cone type; the clearance is 12} inches under the steering knuckles. A Licensed Car The ‘‘Twenty’’ has been recognized by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. It is the only four cylinder licensed car selling for less than $1,000. The Hudson ‘‘Twenty’’ is making good in use. Dealers and private owners have been using them for two months and they are giving entire satisfaction. Won Twenty-four Hour Race On September tenth at the Alaska- Yukon Exposition the ‘‘Twenty’’ won the 24 hour race open to all types of cars. It covered 706 miles in eighteen actual running hours (5 hours being lost through tire trouble) and defeated the nearest competitor by nearly 100 miles. The Hudson was the lowest priced car in the race and bested some cars costing five times as much. Mr. Dunham, our designer, drove a ‘‘Twenty”’ from Indianapolis, Ind., to Detroit via Dayton, Ohio, and Toledo—a distance of 382 miles —in' seventeen hours of elapsed time, leaving Indianapolis at 3 a. m reaching Detroit at 9 p. m. the same day, And he did it without replenishing water, oil or gasoline. These are endurance tests. They tried the car to the utmost. Yet no weakness was developed. Your dealer has an allotment of so many cars. When he sells that number he can get no more this year. You should see this car at once and if possible place your order for future delivery. Please mail the coupon now so we can send a catalog. Hudson Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich. Geéntlemen:—Please send me catalog and complete specifications of the Hudson ‘‘Twenty.”” Chi scsesexscexseareceesses aeceawess Slate ticssssccssvcecssesesexs Detroit, Michigan. Members A. L. A. M. comicbooks.com