Life, 1910-10-20 · page 43 of 44
Life — October 20, 1910 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a vintage automobile advertisement, not a political cartoon. It appears from *Life* magazine (likely early 1900s based on the car's design) promoting the Cunningham automobile manufactured in Rochester, New York. The ad emphasizes the car's engineering credentials—highlighting features like its "long stroke motor," chrome nickel gears, and balanced suspension. The marketing pitch stresses quality and reliability: the company claims their car has been driven across the continent multiple times "without breakage or replacement of any kind," positioning it among America's top three or four automobiles. At $3,500 (a substantial sum for the era), this was a luxury vehicle. The ad targets established dealers and buyers seeking prestige engineering. There is no satire here—this is straightforward commercial promotion typical of early automotive advertising that emphasized mechanical superiority and American manufacturing pride.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
yaret can all thout nard & (Small. $ ita Sei- Boston, ilIcocks. Butler py Sama $1.25) uel But- ) nist, by ribnet’s w Mat ) eswicke. This Car Contains Every Approved Feature ~ and Many Original and Advanced Ideas in Engineering Design 4 cylinders, 434 x 534 — 124" Wheel Base, 36" Wheels, completely equipped, as shown in cut, $3,500 Long Stroke Motor, Unit Power Plant, Chrome Nickel Gears, Large Valves, Perfectly Balanced Spring g Suspensicn, Power- ful, Silent, Reliable and Accessible @We offer the Cunningham car fully cognizant of the tending to minimize cost of operation and maintenance well carned and deserved esteem which is bestowed not found in others. on the three or four cars now conceded to be the @ We have been several years developing this car, deter- leaders in America. mined to build it as good as a car can possibly be built. How well we have succeeded is best attested by the fact that the model car has been driven a distance equal to three trips across this continent without breakage or G And yet we say without fear of the comparison, that the replacement of any kind. Cc unnir, al m will acquit itself most favorably in contrast = @ The car is manufactured (not assembled) by us in our with Amer best cars, 2 i any fea P own plant, which is thoroughly equipped with the most found to contain original and practical ideas in design modern automobile machinery. qe are thoroughly alive to the merits and prestige of these cars. Write for catalogue showing fine illustrations of all parts and different body styles — touring car, runabouts, close coupled limousines, etc., ete. JAMES CUNNINGHAM, SON & COMPANY, Rochester, N.Y., U.S. A. Responsible and Established Dealers Write for Open Territory THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY