Life, 1913-01-23 · page 25 of 40
Life — January 23, 1913 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The page promotes Peerless Motor Company's trucks, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The illustration shows an early motorized truck (appearing to be from the 1910s-1920s era) hauling a large cargo bed, demonstrating the vehicle's capability. The ad emphasizes practical benefits: a 5-ton truck making daily runs between Babbitt, New Jersey and New York City, hauling full loads on steep grades where horse-drawn wagons would carry only half loads. The "Peerless Policy" section uses marketing language typical of the period, claiming superior build quality and selective dealer distribution as selling points. The reference to horse-drawn vehicles as comparison underscores the historical moment—motor trucks were still relatively new technology competing against established transportation methods. **For modern readers:** This represents early automotive advertising emphasizing reliability and performance specifications to convince businesses to adopt new truck technology over traditional horse transport.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PEERLESS TRUCKS Travel All Roads with Capacity Loads IX or seven trips between Babbitt, N. J., and New York City S make the average record of this 5-ton Peerless Truck seventy-five miles a day. It hauls capacity loads in all seasons over 13 per cent ades that are difficult for horse drawn vehicles reduced to half loads. wo other Peerless Trucks are operated satisfactorily over the same THE PEERLESS POLICY Right Trucks and Right Selling states the Peerless Policy in five words. Convincing evidence of satisfactory performance is the best proof that Peerless Trucks are well built. Sales only where conditions point directly to the profitable operation of Heavy Duty Trucks is an additional safeguard to all prospective truck purchasers. Dealers in all prominent cities The Peerless Motor Car Company Cleveland, Ohio Makers also of Peerless Passenger Cars comicbooks.com