Life, 1912-08-29 · page 31 of 42
Life — August 29, 1912 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**, but rather a **straightforward automobile advertisement** from Life magazine circa 1913. The page promotes the Jackson "Olympic" automobile ($1,500), manufactured by the Jackson Automobile Company in Jackson, Michigan. The illustration shows a touring car with passengers, and the tagline "NO HILL TOO STEEP / NO SAND TOO DEEP" emphasizes the vehicle's capability. The ad's appeal targets middle-to-upper-class buyers by emphasizing luxury features uncommon at this price point: deep upholstery (10 inches), full elliptic springs, and notably, **quietness**—a selling point suggesting mechanical refinement. The text repeatedly highlights the absence of noise ("absolute silence," "you have to listen to hear it run"), suggesting this was a competitive advantage in early automotive manufacturing. A competing model, the "Majestic" at $1,850, is also advertised. The copy reflects the era's fascination with mechanical precision and engineering superiority as markers of quality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1913 Jackson ‘ 35 H. P. Long-Stroke (434x334) body with 10-inch upholste Top. Top Hood, Ventilat Demountable Rims, Extra Rim, Tire pedometer, O' rier, Robe and NO HILL TOO STEEP NO SAND TOO DELP “Olympic” *—$1500 oot Rails in Tonneau, Pump, Jack, Tire Outit and Tools, Unsurpassed at any price— in comfort, riding ease and silence Three things are yours in the Jackson “Olympic” to the same degree as in the highest priced and most luxurious car. Perfect comfort in the tonneau, duc to the roomy body and the extra deep upholstery. Riding ease such can gi Absolute silence, from the radiator fan at the front of the motor to the driving gears in the rear axle. Thus the Jackson ‘“‘Olympic”’ features which heretofore have made their prices. We have made the upholstery luxuriously soft—1o inches deep. We have made the seat backs shoulder high and tilted the seats slightly to the rear. And the body is very wide—the sides extending beyond the wheels. The spring action will be a revelation to you. The four full elliptic springs possess from 3314 to 100 per cent OTHER The “Majestic” at $1850 has a long-stroke (4)4 x $14) motor of 45 I. Its wheelba Starter, mohait top. top hood, windshield: Speedometer, oll gauge and gasoline and jack, It has powerful electric headiights with parabolic reflectors, flush ery for s only full elliptic springs, front and rear, places at your disposal the the costliest cars worth riven by the motor which charges a st Watch for out new sirccytinder touring cary ew lash ligh se when the motor is not running. Th be announced in a few weeks, and will he ready for e more ability to absorb road shocks than the ordinary motor car types. You actually have to listen to hear the ‘“Olympic’’motor run. You hear no click or slap of valves, because they are perfectly adjusted and enclosed. You do not hear the fan because of its extra-long plain bearing. You do not hear even the car- buretor's intake of air. The transmission is quiet because both shafts are mounted on bearings of the separated-ball type, that run in a bath of oil. The rear axle does not hum because the gears are of correct pitch, fitted to a thousandth of aninch. There is no interval between the transfer of the load from one tooth to the next; and the gears run between long roller bearings, with ball thrust bearings to preserve perfect adjustment. In power and durability we sincerely believe the motor to be the best in the world. It has proved out in the hardest sort of service, and in the severest road and track racing. Your local Jackson dealer has a specimen “Olympic” model. He will gladly help you corroborate all we have said here. Call on him; or write us for details and his name. MODELS ~ 1 self pump. tools The current for the lights is supplied by a dyname . full elliptic. front and re: JACKSON AUTOMOBILE COMPANY 1300 E. Main Street JACKSON; MICHIGAN 9 comicbooks.com