Life, 1910-11-03 · page 68 of 72
Life — November 3, 1910 — page 68: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **automobile advertisement**, not a cartoon or satire. The page promotes the McFarlan SIX automobile, priced at $2100, "completely equipped." The advertisement makes a competitive pitch for six-cylinder over four-cylinder cars at comparable prices. It references the car's racing performance at Indianapolis on September 5th (year unclear from OCR, but context suggests 1911), where McFarlan vehicles finished third and fifth in a 200-mile race, with one car completing the entire race without stopping or changing tires. The text quotes an editorial from the Boston Post endorsing the vehicle's reliability and value. **There is no satire or political content**—this is straightforward early-automotive-era advertising emphasizing mechanical superiority and real-world racing proof of performance. For modern readers, the appeal to fuel efficiency (17 miles per gallon) and durability would be notable marketing angles from the 1910s-1920s period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
6 cylinder, 354x 4, Unit Power Plant—3 to 60 miles an hour— 120" wheel base, 36" wheels—price, including top and lamps, $2100.00 @The McFarlan SIX for 1911 illustrated above is ufiquestionably the best motor car value on the market to-day. @ It isn’t a new and unttied car. It is a thor- oughly developed, thoroughly standardized car that has demonstrated by actual perform- ance every good quality a motor ¢ar should possess. g Why be contented with a four-cylinder ear when you can buy a sweet running six for practically the same price? The editorial on the right from the Boston Post of September 18th leaves nothing for us to say why you should prefer the McFarlan Six. McFarlan Motor Car Company, Desk H,. Connersville, Ind. Builders of Six-Cylinder Cars Exclusively McFARLAN CAR MAKES A HIT The McFarlan Motor Car Company of Con- nersville, Ind., entered one of its regular stock models, six-cylinder cars, in the 200-mile event at Indianapolis, on Sept. 5, and, although this was their first race, the car made the 200 miles in 183 minutes and 15 seconds, running 17 miles for every gallon of gasoline consumed, which would seem to prove that the six-cylinder caf, or, at any rate, the McFarlan six-cylinder car, is very economical in the consumption of gasoline. The wonderful performance of the McFarla aix in this event was one of the star features of the Indianapolis meet. There were 12 cars started in the race; seven finished. Of the two McFartans in the race, No. 23, driven by Barn- dollar, finiehed third, and this was the onty car im the race that did not stop duriag the 200 miles im that Tong and gruciiing contest, No. 24, McFarfaw six driver by Clemmens, stopped once and finished fifth. Both drivers, Barndoflar aad Clemmens, reported after tte race that theif cars were itt’ as’ good! condition’ ax when they started, ans! both’ cary’ went! through’ the entire’ thee’ without’ charge’ of tires, In’ the freeforall’ Handicap’ thesi” two’ Mo- Farland’ finished! first’ and’ third! respectively, again' proving’ their speed ‘and’ stamina: THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY comicbooks.com