Life, 1911-01-19 · page 2 of 44
Life — January 19, 1911 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Columbia Motor Car Company advertisement**, not political satire. The upper illustration depicts fashionable women (dressed in 1910s-era clothing and large hats) admiring or discussing automobiles, establishing Columbia cars as a luxury product for the wealthy and genteel. The advertisement's text claims Columbia cars represent the pinnacle of automotive quality, mentioning they've maintained this reputation "for sixteen years." It emphasizes exclusivity: only 1,000 Columbia cars are built annually with "infinite care." The lower illustration shows the car's interior and construction details—a common advertising technique to demonstrate craftsmanship and engineering quality. This is essentially a **prestige marketing pitch** rather than commentary or satire—positioning Columbia as one of "three best cars built" for discerning buyers who accept nothing less than excellence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HOSE who are satisfied only with the best use Columbia cars. Birth, tradition, environ- ment and character forbid their accepting less. Columbia cars have held this regard for sixteen years—from the beginning of the motor car, in fact. Columbia cars are built ina factory big enough to build 5000 cars. Only 1000 Columbia cars are built annually and these with infinite care. Every refinement of detail characterizes them. They have many exclusive features. Send for complete catalogue. The Columbia Motor Car Company Hartford, Conn. Licensed under Selden Patent —— comicbooks.com