Life, 1912-01-04 · page 96 of 108
Life — January 4, 1912 — page 96: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **primarily an advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It's a full-page ad for B.F. Goodrich tires from the Akron, Ohio company. The page features small illustrations at the top showing two men in profile (appearing to be ordinary motorists rather than specific caricatures), flanked by decorative lighting fixtures. The ad uses the metaphor of tires as a "foundation" for safe motoring—equating tire quality with peace of mind and confidence while traveling. The marketing pitch emphasizes American manufacturing quality, durability ("best in the long run"), and versatility for different driving conditions. The phrase "Travel Tire Care Free!" is a pun playing on "carefree" travel. There is no satirical content or political commentary visible. This represents straightforward early 20th-century automotive advertising emphasizing reliability and American industrial superiority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Travel Tire Care Free! The foundation of peace of mind when motoring is the foundation of your car—its tires. An insecure foundation destroys confidence—and may even provoke disaster as well as annoyance. Those who roll along on are supported by the best rolling stock that American skill can produce, from the cream of the world’s cotton and rubber markets. A Goodrich equipment, consisting of selected fabric, woven and laid together according to our specifications, covered with the toughest tread in existence, forms a shock-resisting and almost im- penetrable unit. Best on heavy closed cars, for city use, as they are best for long distance touring —under all conditions Best in the Long Run The B. F. GOODRICH Company Akron, Ohio Largest In the World Branches in the Principal Cities Fats Depots Everywhere a Wholesale Tire