Life, 1913-01-09 · page 19 of 100
Life — January 9, 1913 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward advertisement from Life magazine for Gray & Davis automobile electrical equipment. The page lists dozens of 1913 car manufacturers (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Packard, Studebaker, etc.) that used Gray & Davis electric lamps, starters, and dynamos. The prominent Auto Show illustration is simply decorative branding. The ad emphasizes that Gray & Davis components were standard equipment on "America's leading cars," lending credibility through association. A sidebar explains the three products: the electric starter (which replaced hand-cranking—a genuine innovation), the dynamo (charging system), and electric lamps. **For modern readers:** This reflects the early automotive era when electric starting was a major luxury feature. The sheer number of car brands listed shows the fragmented, competitive auto industry before consolidation. The ad's strategy—demonstrating widespread adoption—remains standard marketing practice today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Here are the names of the auto- mobiles that carry Gray & Davis Electric Lamps, Starter, Dynamo —or all three in combination. MIDLAND Dyaame, Lamps ‘Starter, Dynamo AMERICAN NATIONAL Lampe ‘Starter, Dynamo, Lamps APPERSON NORWALK UNDERSLUNG SIX ‘Starter, Dyeemo, ‘Starter, Dyname AMES “Kentucky Thoroughbred” PAIGE-DETROIT ‘Staster, Dynamo, Lampe - ‘Starter, Dyname CADILLAC PATHFINDER Lampe ‘Starter, Dynamo ° patiaens ors Other Good Cars Will Carry ‘Starter, Dyname, Lamps CHEVROLET PILOT E GRAY J D ne 18 Dynamo ‘Starter, Dyname + + eta SES MARIFORD quipment During 1913 yee Siscen Dream, Lemee Contracts with additional manufacturers are now being CRAWFORD PRATT-FORTY closed. The automo! ‘Starter, Dynamo, Lamps Starter, Dynamo, Lamps lence and quality of this eq) * DAVIS. REO find these products on America’s leading 1913 cars. Starter, Dynamo, Lamps Starter, Dynamo, Lampe . ELECTRIC STARTER, 6 volts 5 Positive in operation, Remarkably powerful, Requires OKC but a 6-volt battery which is charged automatically with- x out expense by the Dynamo. . STEARNS. LIGHTING DYNAMO a p ; Starter, Dyseme This small, compact machine is driven by the engine. It STODDARD-DAYTON lights lamps, charges batteries and furnishes current for | Beauty 3 Dyname, Lampe the Electric Starter. 9 resort B.A.GRAMM’S TRUCKS (Canada) TOURAINE skit scat Gotoes Laas PSE ELECTRIC LAMPS ple to the _ HAVERS TUDHOPE GRAY & DAVIS Lamps offer the highest type of auto- iptziunj Drees aces mobile illumination. Powerful, brilliant lamps, po LENOX grace and distinction. Demand GRAY & DAVIS Elec 5 VELIE Starter, Lighting Dynamo and Electric Lamps on the car ot “ots Wa you buy. Write for Complete Information. LOZIER : WHITE as yore GRAY & DAVIS, Inc. SS Lansdowne St., BOSTON, MASS. LUVERNE “60” WINTON Sako Manufacturers of Automobile Lamps Mies tne Dynamos and Electric Starters MARITIME Se , CHICAGO ~ comicbooks.com