Life — September 25, 1913 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satire page**—it's a straightforward **automobile advertisement** for the Gray & Davis Starting-Lighting System, a manufacturer of car electrical components based in Boston, Massachusetts. The page features a photograph of the company's new factory building and describes their starter-lighting system's reliability in cars. It emphasizes practical benefits: easy cold-weather starting, simple operation via a foot pedal, and uncomplicated wiring. The phrase "This is another Gray & Davis year" suggests the company is claiming market success and widespread adoption among automobile manufacturers during the era shown (likely 1910s-1920s, based on the typeface and design style). There is no political or social satire present—this is period advertising.