Life — May 25, 1911 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Packard Motor Trucks Advertisement This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward advertisement for Packard Motor Trucks, appearing in *Life* magazine circa 1910. The ad promotes a truck operated by Yawman & Erbe Manufacturing Company in Rochester, New York. The key sales pitch is **economic efficiency**: one Packard truck replaced four horse-drawn teams while costing only $9.92 per day versus $20 daily for the teams it displaced. The illustrated truck showcases the vehicle's capacity and modern design. The ad emphasizes Packard's growing market presence (122 trade lines, 162 cities) and customer loyalty (43% of buyers purchase additional trucks). This reflects early automotive advertising's focus on **demonstrable cost savings** to convince businesses to adopt motorized transport over traditional horse power.