Life, 1912-09-19 · page 27 of 44
Life — September 19, 1912 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **car advertisement**, not political satire. The Garford Company uses an illustration showing wealthy Americans returning from European travel, arriving by ship and being transported in Garford automobiles from the docks. The appeal is **aspirational**: the ad claims that America's "most distinguished men and women" and "prominent families" choose the Garford "Six" (six-cylinder model). By showing the car ferrying the wealthy and well-traveled, the advertisement suggests that owning a Garford signals refined taste and social status. The imagery depicts the 1910s-era leisure class—Americans wealthy enough to take transatlantic vacations—creating an implicit promise that buyers can align themselves with this elevated social circle through automobile purchase. This reflects early automotive advertising's strategy of linking car ownership to class aspiration, before mass production made cars commonplace.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S the hot weather gradually melts away and the wel- ‘come cool fall season drifts into its place, the great transatlantic ners bring home scores of prominent Americans who. have been roaming over the globe In search of rest, recreation and retirement. The landing of these Steamers {s an impressive sight. ‘The streets are jammed with motor cars, waiting to whirl these travel stained men and women back to their American homes. It ig rather a convincing sight to pick from this multitude of going and coming automobiles the vast number of Garford “Sixes” which line the docks. And as you see these world-famed people step into their Garfords you become deeply interested in the many familiar faces you see. They bring to your memory some of the most prom|- nent families in America. The Garford has always been the choice of America’s most distin- guished men and women. The success of the Garford * is ona par with the fame of it tinguished owners. In this car, every six cylinder fundamental hax reached the point of perfection. It has the most perfect fuel distribu- tion. The most perfect lubrication and ‘carburetion. It Is the most econoinical Six built—giving better than eleven miles per gullon of gasoline on tour. It ts a most per fectly balanced Car, due to correct distribution of weight and exact spring suspension. It rides with the g-eatest ease and the most luxurious comfos The Garfor fs the most highly developed six cylinder car in America. Enjoy ‘a demonstration and be convinced. Catalogue on request The Garford Company Elyria, Ohio comicbooks.com