Life, 1910-10-06 · page 5 of 60
Life — October 6, 1910 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satirical content. It's a full-page ad for the Thomas Flyer automobile, marketed as "World's Champion." The ad uses comparative analogies to explain the car's engineering advantages: the long-stroke motor works like a long-legged man outpacing a shorter companion; the large-valve design functions like a broad-mouthed bottle filling faster than a narrow one; the six-cylinder engine operates like a power-boat rather than an oar-driven boat. The map showing "New York to Paris Route" references the Thomas Flyer's actual 1908 racing victory—a famous long-distance automotive competition that served as effective marketing. The ad emphasizes "smooth, quiet, easy running" and claims ownership by "700 Owners of this Car," positioning it as an established, reliable choice for early automobile buyers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WORLD’S CHAMPION. Par NT acted of Oe eran sae" Ss, New York to 5: PARIS Paris Route ThomasFlyer gO. FOI-€ Door Topring You want a quiet, smooth, easy running car, of course. The Thomas 1911 6-40 car, with its long-stroke, large valve, six-cylinder motor, runs smoother, quieter and easier than any other BECAUSE: As the long-legged man strides easily along while his shorter com- panion hurries by his side—so the long-stroke motor attains its power with fewer revolutions and less effort, with 20% more power. As the broad-mouthed bottle fills and empties quicker than the small- mouthed vessel—so the large valve motor permits easy passage of gas in and out of the cylinders. Free passage of gas means more power. As the power-propelled boat runs with unchecked speed while the oar-driven boat jerks forward at each stroke—so the six-cylinder motor drives a car with less loss of momentum and less expenditure of power than the four-cylinder--motor. The effect is more power. Fewer revolutions, less effort, more power constantly applied reduce vibration, reduce friction, make gear changes unnecessary, eliminate jars and jerks, increase flexibility and therefore inevitably insure Smooth, Easy and Quiet Running of the Car. It does more: It reduces wear and tear on mechanism and tires; increases the life of the car by avoiding crystallization and breakage; reduces operation and up-keep expense, and makes possible the Eathosiam of 700 Owners of this Car. Send for book of details. igs >) Send for “Owners Wilt Tell You.” REMEMBER: 1; : REALIZE: The long-stroke, large valve, six-cylinder ; rc That the long-stroke, large-valve motor is motor is found ‘only’ in the Thomas Car. ri Pe used practically exclusively abroad. E.R. Thomas Motor Co., Buffalo, N. Y. XN = Branches: New York, Chicago and Boston