Life, 1911-02-16 · page 3 of 44
Life — February 16, 1911 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a satirical cartoon page**, but rather a **straightforward automobile advertisement** disguised as editorial content in Life magazine. The page advertises the White 30-Horsepower Torpedo Gasoline Car by presenting testimonials from four prominent businessmen. Each letter purports to document actual operating costs and performance benefits—fuel economy (19-21 miles per gallon), quietness, cleanliness, and reliability. The framing emphasizes that these are real business owners whose "integrity and judgment must be respected," lending credibility through appeal to authority rather than satire. This was common early-1900s advertising practice: using endorsements from recognizable community figures to build consumer trust. The company address (Cleveland, Ohio) and detailed specifications indicate this is genuine product promotion, not social commentary or political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The White 30-Horsepower Torpedo Gasoline Car What the White Gasoline Car Costs to Run to its lowest terms in the White ‘30’? Gasoline Car. This is proved by the White in the hands of its owners, and its owners have here testified to the facts. Read what they say and then remember that such results come from perfect con- struction —from advanced engineering Evie tow of operation is brought “I have averaged from 19 to 21 miles, in gen- cral touring, per gallon of gasoline, and this I consider extremely economical.” (Signed) W. E. CROFUT, The Forest City Rubber Company. “A short time ago I made a trip from Cleveland to Canton, by way of Brecksville and return. This is a very hilly and sandy road, and my running time was 22 miles an hour. To my surprise I found that I had run that day 136 miles on 534 gallons of gasoline.” (Signed) J. P. HARRIS, The Cleveland Gas Appliance ‘Co. ideas carried out ina masterly, practical manner. No untried porapice “ne experiments—no mere theories can cut down such costs. We have hundreds of letters like these in our files—all telling of actual running expense. Read the few here and let them guide you in the purchase of your motor car. “The fuel economy is very good, being an actual average of 20 miles per gallon, running on country roads at an average speed of 30 to 35 miles.” (Signed) A. R. McKNIGHT, W. S. Tyler Company. “The characteristics of your car which please me most are its quietness in operation, its extreme cleanliness and the economy in upkeep and gasoline consumption.”’ (Signed) S$. STERLING McMILLIN, The Marble & Shattuck Chair Company. These men are prominent business men whose integrity and whose judgment must be respected in any community. Each letter represents a careful record of the operation of the writer’s own White Car. Let us send you the White catalog and the complete letters describing other White Motor Car features. 338 comicbooks.com