Life, 1912-06-20 · page 29 of 44
Life — June 20, 1912 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Goodyear tire advertisement**, not satirical content. The page shows two men examining a car tire—likely a mechanic and customer—illustrating the product's appeal to everyday motorists. The "satire" is actually marketing rhetoric: Goodyear claims their "No-Rim-Cut Tires" (10% oversized) represent "finality in tires" after 13 years of perfecting. The company argues 200,000 users prove superiority through word-of-mouth, not salesmanship. Key sales claims: these tires prevent rim-cutting (allegedly affecting 23% of standard tires), last 25% longer, cost the same as competitors, yet generate only 8½% profit—implying Goodyear prioritizes quality over greed. For modern readers: this reflects early 1910s automotive culture when tire quality was genuinely variable and a significant purchasing concern. The advertisement's emphasis on testing, user testimonials, and cost-benefit analysis was persuasive marketing for that era, targeting the rapidly growing middle-class car-owner market.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE The Topmost Place in Tiredom It Took 10 Years to Perfect It Here is a tire which remained for ten years in obscurity, experts worked to perfect it. Then users found it out, and the demand for this tire suddenly changed from a rivulet to a flood. Last year we sold more Goodyear tires than in the previous 12 years put together. Over 1,100,000 have now been used, and the present demand _ is immensely larger than any other tire ever knew, With our mammoth capacity— with our factories running 24 hours per day—we are four weeks behind on our orders, Don’t Deceive Yourself That is the situation now—in the 13th year of the Goodyear tire. That is the verdict, after 200,000 motor car owners have actually tried these til Don’t say this demand is a passing sensation, due to good salesmanship. Don't deceive yourself by assuming that other tires offer an equal advan- age. Motor Car Owner Such an army. of users—200,000 strong—can't be fooled on tires. Our success is due solely to what they are telling other men about them. Finality in Tires Goodyear tires, in their construc- tion, represent finality in tires. We say this after 13 years. During that time we have compared some 200 fabrics—some 40 formulas for treads. We have compared every material, every method and_process which experts have ever devised. We have done this on testing ma- chines in our factory—where four tires at a time are constantly worn out under all sorts of road conditions, while meters record the mileage. (j00D How 200,000 Have Created an 1) 1) § f { Avalanche of Trade for No-Rim-Cut Tires 10% Oversize Users told others—and the others told others—thi! these patented That is the only reason why these tires jumped tires cut After all these tests—after 13 years -we know that these tires come as close to perfection as men can ever hope to get. Saving 48 Per Cent These perfected tires, by a pat- ented process, are made'so that rim- cutting is ended forever. This type is called the Goodyear No-Rim-Cut tire. Statistics show that 23 per cent. of d old-type tires are rim-cut. Cut tires save that 23 per Then these patent tires—No-Rim- Cut tires—are made 10 per cent. over the rated size. AKRON, OHIO No-Rim-Cut Tires With or Without Non-Skid Treads their tire bills in t j That means 10 per cent. more | aoe per cent. added carrying ca ci And that, under average c), dittons, adds 25 per cent. to the | mileage. So No-Rim-Cut tires save that plus that 25 per cent. Tens of t sands of motorists have proved t 854 Per Cent Profit Yet No-Rim-Cut tires cost pg} tically the same as other stand] tires. They used to cost one-ff} extra. |! Our multiplied output has cut f]| cost of production, and we have our profits. Last year our profi No-Rim-Cut tires was only 834 cent. Those are the reasons why J} Rim-Cut tires outsell all other tiff Why 200,000 men have alre}] adopted them, Why 127 motor] makers have this year contracted) Goodyear tires. And why more t)] one-third of all Show cars this were equipped with these pret tires. i You are bound to come to th) but while you are waiting your upkeep is doubled. Ask any ‘ who knows. | Our 1912 Tire Book— =e | 13 years of tire making—is fi with facts you should know. us to mail it to you. THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, Ohio Branches and Agencies in 103 Principal Cities More Service Stations Than Any Other Tire We Make All Kinds of Rubber Tires, Tire Accessories and Repair Out | Main Canadian Office, Toronto, Ont.—Canadian Factory, Bowmanville, Ont.) | ai books.com