Life — December 14, 1911 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satire page** — it's a straightforward advertisement for the Silent Waverley Electric Limousine-Five, an early electric automobile manufactured by The Waverley Company of Indianapolis. The image shows a winter scene with a well-dressed chauffeur and passengers beside the vehicle parked near an elegant mansion. The advertisement emphasizes practical advantages: electric cars required no hand-cranking, wouldn't freeze in cold weather (unlike gasoline engines), and cost less to operate than gas cars. The ad targets affluent town and suburban residents, promoting the vehicle's reliability, comfort ("ample seat space for five adults"), and superior visibility. Prices ranged from $1,225 to $3,500. This represents early automotive marketing before gasoline vehicles became dominant.