Life, 1911-12-14 · page 39 of 40
Life — December 14, 1911 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page automobile advertisement**, not satirical content. It promotes the Stearns-Knight car and its "Silent-Knight" sleeve-valve motor engine. The ad makes technical claims: the Knight motor allegedly reduces noise, eliminates gear-shifting troubles, and provides smoother operation than competing engines. It appeals to authority by noting that European luxury manufacturers (Daimler, Panhard, Mercedes, Minerva) use the same engine technology, and that 8,000 Knight-motored cars operate successfully in Europe. The "satire" label on *Life* magazine reflects the publication's general irreverent tone, but **this specific page contains straightforward marketing copy**, not political satire or jokes. The humor, if any, lies in the earnest, hyperbolic sales language typical of early 20th-century advertising ("royal welcome it richly deserves"). There are no identifiable caricatures or political figures. This is commercial advertising appearing in a satirical magazine's pages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE ULTIMATE CAR KNIGHT TYPE MOTOR SATISFACTION | IN STHE HANDS OF OWNERS In the hands of satisfied owners, everywhere, the Stearns- Knight is receiving the royal welcome it richly deserves. His- tory is again repeating itself in America, for in Europe some 8000 Knight-motored cars are running in the hands of owners. Four great European factories—Daimler, Panhard, Mercedes and Minerva—leaders of the old world—are using the Knight”’ type engine. The result is the same in America as in Europe—satisfaction in the hands of owners: That is why our sales have doubled—even trebled—since our adoption of the Knight type sleeve valve motor. And the reason? The Stearns- Knight adds to the joys of motoring; it eliminates many of the old draw- backs; it gives freedom from incidental troubles—the things that mar an otherwise perfect tour; it increases the power—minimizes gear shifting— eliminates noise; it does away with timing gears, valve stems and other clashing, noise-producing parts; it eliminates valve grinding and timing. THE F. B. STEARNS CO. Ceyeland BRANCHES: New York - Pittsburgh - Atlanta - San Francisco Dealers in all other principal t towns and cities. Equipment of the Stearns-Knight includes: Warner Auto-Meter Model K, Banker Windshield, Klaxon Horn, Vesta ator Lighting System, Silk Mohair Top and Cover, Ce Demountable Rims, Muffler Cut-out, Footrest, Robe Rail, ‘Trunk Rack, Bulb Hom, etc. ‘Silent- And above all, it insures smooth, harmonious operation under all condi- tions, it has a power plant quick, alert and willing ; its power is produced in a quiet, steady flow, with absence of vibration. In brief, the Stearns- Knight has marked a new era in motoring—that is the verdict of owners from coast to coast. In the hands of every man interested in motoring, there should be ae Story of the Stearns-Knighkt Motor”? a booklet that tells of this great revo- lutionary change in the automobile world. It gives facts and figures of exceptional interest. We will send it to you for the asking—just mail us the coupon. The F. B. STEARNS CO, Cleveland, O. Send your booklets conceming the new Stearns-Knight Name Address comicbooks.com