Life, 1911-08-10 · page 6 of 40
Life — August 10, 1911 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a full-page ad for the Warner Auto-Meter, a speedometer marketed as a quality indicator for automobiles. The ad argues that a car's speedometer reflects manufacturer reliability—a "hall-mark of quality." It targets buyers uncertain about vehicle quality, claiming the Warner Auto-Meter's presence indicates good engineering throughout the car. The ad emphasizes the device's accuracy and sensitivity as proof of superior craftsmanship. The page includes images of the actual meter and promotes the New Model M2 ($125). The bottom lists the Warner Instrument Company's headquarters in Beloit, Wisconsin, and branch locations across major American cities. There is no political cartoon or satire present—this is straightforward early-1910s automotive advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Warner Auto-Meter is Recognized as the “Hall-Mark of QUALITY” on an Automobile ROSPECTIVE buyers and those in doubt decide on the quality of the car from the speed indicator it carries. Note Why This Is True — The speed indicator is the most looked-at thing onacar. The driver refers to it constantly every instant the rar is in motion, Aside from indicating speed and distance it is used to check up every important operation of the car—to determine the efficiency of tires, how much gasoline per mile is being used, and in many other ways if audits the car's performance. Because of its marvelous sensitiveness and accu racy and its ability to continuously give perfect serv- ice during the life of many cars, the Warner Auto- Meter is the speed indicator used on the choicest and best cars everywhere, The Warner is so generally used on Quality cars that its presence on an automobile is accepted by the motor- ing public as evidence that the car it- self is good and reliable. It is an everyday occurrence to hear one motorist say to another: “I don't sce the name of the car, but it must be @ good one, for it has a Warner on it.” It is logical that it should be so. Car designs are so uniform that it is difficult to tell one car from another—or the poor from the good by looking at them. For the points which make one car better than another are concealed under the hood—or the floor—or are covered with paint and varnish. The Warner Auto-Meter is always in plain sight. Its supreme quality is generally known. It implies the same quality throughout the car. Of course there are the uncaring in the auto- mobile world as elsewhere, Anything that runs is to them a “good automobile.”” Any speed in- dicator is “good” if the hand moves. The term “sweet running motor” has no meaning to them and “accuracy and exactness in the speed in- dicator is a secondary consideration to price. We cannot sell—nor do we want to— the man content with inferiority and who puts price before performance. One part of our trade is drawn from the car manufacturer who makes a good, reliable car—and who refuses to be influenced by the fact that “he docs not make it and is thereby not responsible,” to equip his good car with an inferior and unreliable speed indicator. Such manufacturers either equip with the Warner or insist that their dealers and agents recommend it as of even quality with their car. The other part of our trade comes from the car buyer who purchases a good car and desires every item of equipment to be in harmony with it. Those who care, specify and insist on the WARNER AUTO “The Aristocrat of Speed Indicators” 2 rel —— WARNER ESEREE New Model M2,$125 ‘The New Model M2 has an Extra Trip Reset, per- model {8 supplied with Warner large-Ogure odometer. ‘Season, 100,000 mites and repeat. ‘Trip. 1,000 miles and repeat. Electete lights over clock and under bezel of to- strument. The most popular Warner model. Style, Odometer and fais different. ‘Any model, with 100 mile per hour apeed dial, at slight additional charge. All regular diais show any speed up to 60 miles an hour. The 1912 Unbreakable Shaft Casing ‘This ls made from two alzes of Migh Carbon Spring Stecl Wire (construction patented) wound Into an oll-tight flexible tube which eannot be broken in use. ‘This overcomes shaft troubles under greatest speed strains, Jars or shocks. The Warner can be secured through reputable Automobile dealers in any city or town in the United States. dealers and their customers. Warner branches are maintained in all the principal cities Warner Instrument Company Main Offices and Factory 1171 Wheeler Avenue, Beloit, Wisconsin Branch Houses Maintained at Atlanta Boston Buffalo Denver Detroit Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Indianapolis Kansas Philadelphia Pittsburg Portland, Ore. for the convenience of these Inquiry to Beloit or at our branches is invited for Warner literature. San Francisco Seattle St. Louis (122) comicbooks.com