Life, 1913-01-09 · page 9 of 100
Life — January 9, 1913 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a political cartoon or satirical content—it is a straightforward **automobile advertisement** for the Oldsmobile Six, presented as a full-page ad in Life magazine. The image shows a side profile of an early 1920s automobile parked under an arched structure. The accompanying text promotes the vehicle's features: its advanced engineering, balanced design, "rugged strength," and reliability. Three pricing tiers are listed ($3350, $3200, $3200), and the ad emphasizes luxury features like a Delco self-starter and electrical systems. The only potential mild satire appears in the phrase describing Oldsmobile's "fifteen years' standing"—subtly suggesting durability and tradition versus newer competitors. However, this is marketing rhetoric rather than satire. The page is fundamentally commercial, not editorial commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE OLDSMOBILE SIX has been well de- scribed as ‘a new car with old traditions.” New, because it represents the very latest and the very best in advanced improvements and refinements of body design, chassis and equipment: old, in the Oldsmobile traditions for rugged strength and confidence inspiring ability—traditions of fifteen years’ standing. . . . We believe this combi- nation is practically unique among manufacturers of high grade six rs—and worth the critical analysis of every purchaser. Power and flexibilit dominant feature,— slow travelling on direct drive, with smooth and especially rapid acceleration. Thus the car is a delight to handle, in traffic or on the open road. While lighter in actuality as well as appearance, Seven Passenger $3350. Com plete equi pment—Delco self Warner speedometer and clock. 1 tim, demountable rims, powe inch springs, luxurious upholstery 12 inches deep. We have direct factory representatic to shone you this model-—or write Jor cataleg to the Five Passenger $3200. the car will “hold the road" and resist skidding on account of its balance and low center of gravity. The long low body lines, wide doors and sloping hood are of entirely new design. The equipment, briefly specified below, is more luxurious than ever. The new and lower prices for the Oldsmobile are based on increased factory developments and econ- omies, and the car, in appearance and performance, is one of the most successful ‘‘sixes” on the market. The Delco self starter, lighting and ignition system, the best known positive device, is regularly used. The eighty ampere hour storage battery has sufficient energy to drive the car on electric source only. A power driven air pump for tire inflation is attached to the motor. Four Passenger $3200. all the principal cities, and dealers from coa OLDS MOTOR WORKS, Lansing, Michigan comicbooks.com