Life, 1913-02-20 · page 2 of 48
Life — February 20, 1913 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon page** but rather a **full-page advertisement** for Gray & Davis, Inc., an automobile equipment manufacturer based in Boston, Massachusetts. The page promotes three products: an electric starter (6-volt), electric lamps, and a lighting dynamo for automobiles. Each product is illustrated with a photograph and accompanied by endorsement quotes from unnamed car manufacturers and companies like Chalmers and Pope-Hartford—all presented as "The Opinion of Peerless," "The Opinion of Chalmers," etc. This represents early 1913 automotive technology marketing, highlighting innovations like electric starters (which replaced hand-cranking) as safety and convenience features. The testimonials were standard advertising practice to build consumer confidence in new automotive technologies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GRAY & DAVIS QUALITY EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES Over 40 car manufacturers have adopted GRAY & DAVIS products for 1913. This, we believe, is unquestionable evidence regarding the popularity and quality of GRAY & DAVIS equip- ment. Demand these products on the automobile YOU purchase. ELECTRIC STARTER (6 volts ) A marvel of simplicity. No complicated controls—only a simple switch. The big feature is the small 6-volt battery charged automatically by the dynamo, It starts a car under any conditions, even in zero weather. Absolutely positive in operation—pressure on a pedal starts the engine. Will spin a 6-cylinder car for one and one-half hours—propel it 2 miles A big factor of safety. If car is stalled, you press pedal and car is pro- pelled by the starter. You don't have to change gears or touch throttles It is not sold direct to the owner—demand it on the car you purchase ELECTRIC LAMPS Your safety at night depends upon proper road illumination. Lamps that rattle, fall apart or give half-light, are not the kind you are entitled to when you buy a car. Some automobile lamps are little more than a shell of 1 and glass. Compare this grade with the substantial and highly efficient Gray & Davis Electric Lamps, which are the result of 17 years of lamp-building experience and are constructed in a great factory equipped with the most modern machinery. They are lamps of Quality. They produce the most brilliant light, are strong and sturdy, The Opinion of Chalmers and enhance the value and appearance of any automobile. “We believe it is the best lighting LIGHTING DYNAMO system built.” The GRAY & DAVIS Dynamo Lights the lamps irrespective of the condition of the battery. It possesses the very essential CONSTANT SPEED feature which insures unvarying, constant voltage. It lights lamps, charges batteries, provides current for power-horn, speedometer light and electric starter. It saves cost for recharging batteries and gas tank. Built in the largest auto-dynamo factory in the world. It was the first practical lighting system for automobile use. Has been in use over 5 years, demonstrated its value, proven its worth and is now recog- nized as the most highly efficient of all systems Insist upon getting Gray & Davis Equipment with the car you buy! Write for Complete Information GRAY & DAVIS, Inc., 55 Lansdowne Street, BOSTON, MASS. MANUFACTURERS OF AUTOMOBILE LAMPS, DYNAMOS AND ELECTRIC STARTERS comicbooks.com