Life, 1911-09-21 · page 10 of 52
Life — September 21, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Packard Motor Car Company advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The ad celebrates a remarkable feat: a Packard truck becoming "the first motor truck to cross the continent entirely under its own power," departing New York July 8th and arriving in San Francisco August 24th while carrying a 3-ton load throughout. The accompanying illustration shows the truck navigating dramatic desert/mountain terrain, emphasizing the vehicle's durability and capability under extreme conditions. The ad's central argument: Packard trucks are built to "surmount difficulties much greater than they encounter in actual service," making them a safe, reliable investment. The company notes its 3-ton trucks operate in 137 trade lines across 205 cities, supported by service depots in 104 cities—positioning Packard as an established, trustworthy manufacturer for commercial hauling purposes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The first motor truck to cross the continent entirely under its own power. Left New York July 8th; reached San Francisco August 24th. Carried a 3-ton load all the way. This is a remarkable demonstration of the stamina and capability of the Packard truck under every conceivable condition of hauling. The trip is one that has been accomplished by only a very few automobiles. The venture has been regarded as virtually out of the question for a heavy truck. It was easily within the ability of the Packard truck because both Packard trucks and Packard cars are built to surmount difficulties much greater than they encounter in actual service. Their margin of efficiency is your margin of safety in purchasing Packards for whatever purpose. The Packard 3-ton truck is used in 137 lines of trade and in 205 cities. Dealers with Packard standard Service Depots in 104 different cities. Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan comicbooks.com