Life, 1911-03-02 · page 31 of 52
Life — March 2, 1911 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a cartoon or satire—it's a **straightforward automobile advertisement** from Life magazine's early automotive era. The page advertises the Rambler motor car manufactured by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The ad highlights practical features aimed at early-1900s motorists: a spare wheel (novel at the time), ease of tire changes, an offset crankshaft for smooth driving, and reliable brakes. The text emphasizes comfort, safety, and convenience—selling points for a vehicle class still establishing itself against horse-drawn carriages. The illustration shows a side-profile technical drawing of the vehicle, labeled with specifications ("Sixty-five Toy Tonneau," "Forty-inch Wheels"). This is typical period advertising: detailed, informational, and designed to demonstrate mechanical superiority. There is no political or satirical content here—merely commercial promotion of automotive technology to a readership learning about motorized transportation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LT HUTCH TM AAA Sixty-five Toy Tonneau HUH i mi F you drive a Rambler the pleasure of your outing is not converted into drudgery by tire trouble. The Rambler is the only American car equipped with the Spare Wheel. Fitted with a perfect inflated tire, it may be quickly and easily changed for a wheel with a damaged tire. No tiresome pumping in the hot sun or cold rain and you avoid the dirt so disagreeable to the well groomed. This eliminates worry about tire trouble which so often mars atrip. Every feature of the Rambler is designed for the owner’s comfort, safety and convenience. The Offset Crank Shaft enables you to throttle down on high gear no faster than a man usually walks; to glide along quietly in crowded traffic without frequent gear shifting and obviates the necessity of rushing the hard pulls through sand and up grades. The Straight Line Drive saves power; big wheels and tires give added comfort and tire economy; the brakes are large enough to provide a feeling of security and the safety starting device protects you from injury while cranking. A telephone message to the nearest Rambler repre- sentative will bring a Rambler to your door for inspection. A postal will bring you the new catalog. The Thomas B. Jeffery Company Main Office and Factory, Kenosha, Wisconsin Branches: Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, San Francisco, New York il TT ATA