Life, 1911-04-06 · page 75 of 76
Life — April 6, 1911 — page 75: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not political satire. Uncle Sam endorses the Jones Speedometer brand by presenting scientific evidence of its superiority over competing magnetic speedometers. The page presents official endorsements from the U.S. Bureau of Standards, Army and Navy Journal, Columbia University, and Armour Institute of Technology—all documenting that magnetic speedometers vary by up to 28 degrees in accuracy depending on temperature, while Jones instruments remain mechanically reliable. The imagery of Uncle Sam pointing authoritatively toward government buildings reinforces governmental credibility backing the Jones product. This advertising strategy leverages public trust in federal institutions and academic authorities to promote a commercial good—a common early-20th-century marketing tactic. The "Which do you want?" closing question frames superior accuracy as an obvious consumer choice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SETTLES THE U.S. BUREAU OF STANOAROS There are two kinds of speed indicators—the JONES kind, which is mechanically accurate, and the magnetic kind, which is subject to variations as high as 28 degrees between extreme heat and cold. Read what the U. S, Bureau of Standards says about the JONES : Department of Commerce and Labor BUREAU OF STANDARDS Washington Jones Speedometer Co., February 7, 1911 Rochelle, N.Y. Gentlemen: The following are the results of the tests on your specdometers Nos. 197868. and 1y These figures are the mean of three runsat 70 and are given to the nearest half m m. pth 10 15 We wish to thank you for your courtesy in furnishing us with these instruments. We are returning same by prepaid express. Respectfully, S.W.STR ATTON, Director. WHICH DO YOU WANT THE JONES OR THE OTHER KIND? [Signed] The Report of the U and cninent engineering authorities. Read what the U. S. Bureau of Standards says about the magnetic type: Extract from Army and Navy Journal: “ Magnetic Specdometers used by automobiles to register speed, are SO) INACCURATE AS TO. MAKE THEM RACTICALLY t LESS demonstrated by an investi by the Bureau of Standards. dards, after a thorough investigation, reports that the magnetic instruments show a variation during hot and cold weather of twenty-cight per cent.” as is t completed Phe Bureau of Stan- Extract from Report of Columbia Un'versity: SURI D WINTE! Wh regions when act niles per he ancy of § miles per hour when actually going go miles per hour.” Extract from Report of Armour Institute of Technology: od results show that an uncompensated MAG* 1 R VAR FORMLY WITIL mputed on the low at a spced of $0 tometer would read 16.5% hour. At 25 miles per f which would miles per hour. Ato F. the sp high, or 8% miles fast at so miles p hour the error woul be halfas large.’ S. Bureau of Standards verifies the tests made by the leading Universitic They ALL acknowledge the superiority of the JONE! JONES SPEEDOMETER Dept., United Manufacturers, 250 West 54th Street, N. Y. comicbooks.com