Life, 1912-05-02 · page 39 of 58
Life — May 2, 1912 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tire company advertisement**, not satire or political content. B.F. Goodrich Co. (Akron, Ohio) uses this full-page spread to promote their tires and service network. The ad contrasts buying cheap, generic "just tires" versus choosing Goodrich's complete service ecosystem—100+ branches offering ongoing customer support, convenient replacements, and adjustments. The implicit argument: quality costs slightly more but delivers better long-term value and reliability. Key selling points emphasized: - 40 years of rubber manufacturing experience - "Made of real rubber" (suggesting competitors might use inferior materials) - Massive distribution network ensuring accessibility - Consistently high demand exceeding factory capacity The circular graphic stresses their factories have expanded production to meet demand—a confidence signal about both popularity and supply reliability. This appears to be early 20th-century advertising, likely pre-1920s, when tire quality and distribution were genuine competitive advantages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The time to decide is now— Will you secure inexpensive, pleasurable mileage, or— “Gust tires’’? “Goodrich Service” is no abstract phrase. It means, first of all, GOOD WILL service—and a square deal to all. It is backed up by the greatest organization ever provided to keep in touch with and care for the tire user’s wants. “Goodrich Service” is neither new, patentable nor sensational; it is as old as GOODRICH TIRES MADE OF REAL RUBBER ‘The Original American Clincher With the White Tough Tread, The integrally molded tire; built as a unit and cured as a unit—combining the qualities which only FORTY YEARS of rubber manu-. facturing experi- ence could produce. One hundred branches and ser- vice stations take care of the tire user after sale. A com- plete system of dis- There has never been a season when the direct unforced demand for Good- rich Tires did not exceed by thousands the utmost capacity of our fac- tories. The issue has been mct this year by a tremendously increased capacity which will enable us to care for dealers and users to the fullest extent. tributing houses—supplied with tires in all styles, to fit all rims, to suit all pur- poses—where replacements are always convenient and ad- justments always satisfactory to the tire user. Will you buy “just tires,” or partake of Goodrich Service —in both pleasure and mileage a proven quantity. THE B. F. GOODRICH CO. AKRON, OHIO Largest in the world. comicbooks.com