Life, 1912-08-08 · page 2 of 40
Life — August 8, 1912 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a Stevens-Duryea automobile advertisement announcing their new Model C-Six. The ad emphasizes design innovation—describing how the hood integrates with the body, and how graceful curves flow from radiator to rear. Technical features are highlighted: new spring design, quiet motor, comfortable upholstery, and a rear seat that can be raised or lowered. Pricing ranges from $4,500 to $5,950 for various configurations (touring cars, roadsters, limousines). The company tagline calls them "Pioneer Builders of American Sixes." The illustration shows a side-view of the open-air automobile. There's no satire present—this is straightforward early automotive marketing emphasizing luxury and engineering superiority in the pre-WWI era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Published every Thursday. Annual Sabscripbos Five Dollars. Single Copies. Ten Cents Price in Engiand, Sixpence Entered atthe Post Ofice at New York, N.Y. Class Mail Matter Copyright in England and the British Possessions Announcement— The New Leadership In the new Model C-Six, the Stevens-Duryea takes a vew leadership—a body design so strikingly original, and at the same time so harmonious and beautiful that it may conservatively be called the design of the future. The hood is now really a part of the body, as it should be. It rises and widens gradually from the radiator to the body proper, meeting it gracefully with an upward and outward curve at the windshield and eliminating the vertical dash. From this point, the body lines are carried in continuous curves to the rear, The entire rail of the open cars is upholstered from windshield to tonneau. The mud-guards add gentle flowing lines to the gracefulness of the car. Comfort is ensured by a new design of springs— in itself a great advance; in the quiet motor; also in the wealth of depth of upholstery; and a rear seat which may be instantly raised, lowered, carried forward or backward. Prices of Model C-Six Seven passergers ; wheel-base, 138 inches Touring Car, $4750 Limousine, $5750 _Berline, $5950 Five passengers ; wheel-base, 131 inches Touring Car, $4500 Demi-Berline, $5550 Two passengers ; wheel-base, 131 inches Roadster, $4500 Coupelet, $5200 Seven passengers ; wheel-base, 131 inches Limousine, $5500 Berline, $5700 Standard equipment — Electric lights with generator, power driven tire- pump, Warner speedometer, starting device, with gas-tank, Universal - position windshield, to which the top, when up, is firmly attached without straps. The Stevens-Duryea leadership of 21 years, in the economical development and full delivery of power to the rear wheels, is established more firmly than ever by this new model “ C-Six”’, which has also set a new standard of quietness, smoothness and comfort for the fine high-powered car of America and Europe. Stevens-Duryea Company Chicopee Falls Mass “Pioneer Builders of American Sixes" Model C-Six Seven Passengers $4750