Life, 1912-04-04 · page 53 of 80
Life — April 4, 1912 — page 53: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page promotes the Truffault-Hartford shock absorber as a standard feature in quality cars. The illustration depicts well-dressed gentlemen (likely businessmen or car owners) standing on a city street corner—specifically Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in New York—observing passing automobiles. The image serves as a sales pitch: if you stand at this prominent location, you'll notice how many "better cars" feature this suspension technology. The ad emphasizes that the shock absorber has 15 years of development history and is now standard equipment on 22 leading car models. The tagline "Makes Every Road a Boulevard" suggests the smoother ride quality. Pricing information ($60–$15 for four models) and contact details for Hartford Suspension Co. (Jersey City, NJ) appear at bottom. **For modern readers**: This reflects early 1920s automotive marketing—shock absorbers were still a competitive feature worth advertising prominently, and brand visibility at major city intersections was considered evidence of popularity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a -LIFE- ost of the Better Cars have the [rutfault -Fariford SHOCK ABSORBER Stand on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty-second street or any prominent place where automobiles are passing and notice the large number that are Truffault-Hartford equipped. Twenty-two of the leading cars have them when they leave the factory— it’s part of their standard equipment. What's the reason for this wonderful popularity, you say ? Fifteen years’ experience, fifteen years of elimination of all the forms that proved impract and the final production \ of a shock absorber that controls spring action without stiffen- ing the springs—a shock absorber that “(Makes Every Road a Boulevard”’ Today no car is complete without this unique your car is not already equipped see or write to any of our branches. latest catalog is worthy of your attention. Let us send you a copy. Four models—$60.—$45.—$25.—$15. HARTFORD SUSPENSION Co. Edw. V. Hartlord, President 165 Bay Street, Jersey City, N. J.