Life, 1912-09-05 · page 43 of 44
Life — September 5, 1912 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire**—it's a corporate advertisement disguised as editorial content, a common practice in early 20th-century magazines. The "content" describes Goodyear's business philosophy: employing talented engineers, granting them autonomy and profit-sharing, and using rigorous testing (comparative tire analysis on machines) rather than guesswork. The claim is that this human capital—"brains"—differentiates Goodyear from competitors. Key selling points highlighted: - **134 men became stockholder-partners** through results-based incentives - **No-Rim-Cut tires** (10% oversized) reduced tire failure by 23% and added carrying capacity - **Demand multiplied 12 times since 1909**, doubling every 8 months The advertisement uses an employee-partnership narrative to suggest Goodyear's superiority stems from treating workers well and valuing expertise—a progressive message for 1910s business journalism, though the actual profit-sharing was likely limited to management. There are no caricatures or satirical targets here; this is straightforward corporate messaging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
No-Rim-Cut Tires—10% Oversize Brains—the Vital Element We use in tires about the same materials as the best of other makers use. The difference in tires is due mainly to men—to their standards, their methods; to experience and ability; and, above all, to incentive. So for 13 years our main object has been to gather around us the ablest men. To supply those men with criterions—to leave them unhampered—to allow them vast leeway. Then to offer those men the utmost incentive to outdo rival makers. 134 of These Men There are 49 stockholders now at work in our fact watching quality in tires. 33 others are in charge of de- partments. branch manager, the whole try over, is a stockholder in the concern. More than nine-tenths of the Good- year stock is owned by the active men in the concern. All the men who do most toward Goodyear advancement share in the Goodyear profits. What These Men Brought About Years ago these men built a tire-test- ing machine, on which comparative mileage could be actually metered. Four tires at a time are thus con- stantly worn out, under all sorts of road conditions. Here they have compared 40 formulas for treads—some 200 separate fabrics Here they have compared all the various methods used in making tire Here they have compared rival tires with our own. othing was settled by guesswork— hing adopted because it was cheap Their object has been to make the best tire in existence. For none but that tire could hold topmost place. So, by these exact methods—by end- less comparisons—they learned how to build the best possible tire. Rim-Cutting Ended Oversize Adopted e found a way to —a way now controlled This ending of rim-cutting has, on the average, cut tire bills 23 per cent. For statistics show that 23 per cent. of ruined old-type tires are rim-cut. Then they made these tires—No- Rim-Cut tires—1o per cent. over the rated size. That means 10 per cent, more air—10 per cent. added carrying capacity. And We started out by employing the ablest men we could find. Then we send men every year to great technical schools to pick the ablest graduates. Thus we have built up, in the course of years, this brilliant organization. We left these men unfettered by expense, unrestricted by rules or opinions. And we made them partners in the concern when their results deserved it. That's the main reason why Goodyear tires have come to outsell all others. Are Now Partners that, with the average car, adds 25 per cent. to the tire mileage. To the perfected tires they added these two fea thus practically doubling the service. Profit and Service Others built machines for wrapping tires, which insured an even tension. ers built machines to cut the cost, by ale operation. Others have stood for modest capital ization, and for a minimum profit. Our profit last year on No-Rim-Cut tires was 8) per cent. Others in the selling end have created good will, by giving right service, by telling the truth, by fairness in every deal. As time went on, bined gave us ru! 1 these things com- nip of Tiredom. AKRON, OHIO No-Rim-Cut Tires With or Without Non-Skid Treads The Result to Date The demand for these tires, as men found them out, has grown like an ava- lanche. The demand has multiplied 12 times over since the year 1909. It has trebled in the past 12 months. It doubles now once in eight months. Over 100,000 new out from the factor’ these tires. They tract by 127 car makers. About every th year tires. this year go equipped with used under con- car now has Good- And our output is now hly. ree-year rest iF owners be these tires. —since to wake up to Now 200,000 users, or more, are tell- ing other men about them. Asa result, in the first six months of 1912 we sold 485.983 automobile tires. Go sce these tires at our nearest branch, or with any Goodyear dealer. A glance will show you what they mean to you, and you will join these converts, Tire Book—based on 13 years of tire making—is filled with facts you should know. Ask us to mailit to you. a Goodyear pneumatic tires are guar= anteed when filled with recommended pressu: ‘When filled with any substitute for air our guaranteeis withdrawn. THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, Ohio Branches and Agencies in 103 Principal Cities More Service Stations Than Any Other Tire THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YORK We Make All Kinds of Rubber Tires, Tire Accessories and Repair Outfits Main Canadian Office, Toronto, Ont.—Canadian Factory, Bowmanville, Ont. 63) comicbooks.com