Life, 1910-05-05 · page 71 of 72
Life — May 5, 1910 — page 71: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Goodrich Tire company advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It addresses automobile manufacturers and dealers exhibiting cars at major trade shows across America. The ad's argument is straightforward: Goodrich Tires appear on more exhibition vehicles than competitors not because of special deals or incentives, but because manufacturers genuinely prefer them. The company lists 20+ cities where Goodrich equipped the most show cars, positioning this as proof of "untrammeled preference"—meaning authentic choice, not manipulation. The subtle message: while competitors might resort to kickbacks or inducements to secure show representation, Goodrich relies solely on product quality. This claim positions Goodrich as the honest, premium choice trusted by industry insiders who make tire decisions based on merit rather than marketing pressure. It's corporate branding disguised as objective market evidence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SE TUR Lth ires Automobilagt : OO NON TON TT NAN iATTI: g: nlp gs Soawast* TUT A show car is usually equipped with the best. Other things being equal, the exhibiting P ~©manufacturer or dealer will express his tire preference by the tire equipment on the cars he exhibits. We say “other things being equal” advisellly because special inducements may persuade an exhibitor to change his tire equipment from his original choice. Goodrich Tires do not have to bargain for a show repre- sentation and offer no inducements for a show representation other than the greatest inducement of'all- Goodrich Quality. Yet,in the following cities equipped the largest number of cars delivered on the floor of the exhibition hall or to local representatives by the manufacturers for their exhibit: NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA CLEVELAND DETROIT ROCHESTER MINNEAPOLIS ATLANTA HARTFORD MILWAUKEE (2 Shows) BUFFALO KANSAS CITY DENVER | (Combined Showing) COLUMBUS ST. LOUIS BINGHAMTON DES MOINES SALT LARE Irv’ SYRACUSE LOUISVILLE No manufacturer or dealer exhibits a car equipped with Goodrich Tires unless he believes in Goodrich Tires, advocates Goodrich Tires — really prefers to have Goodrich Tires on his cars. Hence, this commanding lead represents an antrammeled preference in most of Americas great automobile shows and is a weighty recommendation of Goodrich Quality. The B. F. Goodrich Company AKRON ~~-~ OHIO Largest in the World Branches in all the Principal Cities comicbooks.com