Life — October 5, 1911 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Baker Electrics Advertisement This page is primarily a **commercial advertisement** for Baker Motor-Vehicle Company of Cleveland, Ohio, not political satire or editorial content. The ad promotes Baker electric automobiles, showing a vintage early-1900s electric car in a scenic landscape with birch trees. The copy emphasizes the vehicle's advantages for "long distance service over good roads, between town and country," highlighting its "superior electrical design, mechanical refinement, and frictionless shaft drive." The "Shaft Driver" logo suggests this was a notable selling point. The advertisement appeals to middle-class drivers seeking reliable transportation, positioning Baker electrics as superior to competitors. This reflects the pre-WWI era when electric vehicles competed seriously with gasoline engines before internal combustion ultimately dominated the market.