Life, 1913-10-16 · page 29 of 44
Life — October 16, 1913 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **car advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes the 1914 Hupmobile as a superior automobile through testimonial-style marketing. The page opens with a narrative: a Hupmobile dealer at a convention claims he's never encountered competition for the car—a boast meant to impress potential buyers. The advertisement then rhetorically asks readers if they've ever heard anything but "kind words" about the Hupmobile, implying universal praise. The bulk of the page lists reasons why the Hupmobile stands "alone"—superior materials, distinctive design, powerful engine. The illustration shows a family (two adults and a child) in the vehicle, emphasizing its appeal as "the car of the American Family." The small photograph of a girl being driven to school in rainy weather suggests safety and reliability. This is standard early-automotive advertising: establishing brand superiority through claimed uniqueness and family-centered messaging. There is no satirical content visible; it's straightforward promotional material.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a SENIESE: Hupmobile WO or three weeks ago Hupmobile dealers from all parts of America -and Europe as well came together in convention at the factory to see this new car. And one man swept the convention by saying what everyone else had thought but had not. said. For ten minutes he had been telling of the hold of the Hupmobile on his big Western territory; and-the crowd went wild when he suddenly drawled, by way of climax :— “Boys — when yuh talk to me about competition — I — don’t — know — what — yuh — mean... I never met up with it!” And do you: know, my dear sir — you who are thinking of buying a car — that this dealer merely expressed a condition that exists everywhere? Stop and think—have you ever heard any but kind words of the Hupmobile? Isn't it always spoken of separately — by itself? Isn't it always singled out, and not grouped, as other cars are grouped together inva low priced class? And do you know why? Why This 1914 Car is Unique and Alone The Hupmobile is in a class by itself because it has a sturdy pressed steel frame. The Hupmobile is in a class by itself because it has a pressed steel Pullman body. The Hupmobile is in a class by itself because it 1s the biggest user of aluminum of any moderate priced car. The Hupmobile is in a class by itself because it is the biggest user of high priced steel of any moderate priced car, The Hupmobile is in a class by itself because it has a powerful long-stroke motor, 3% in, x 5% in. The Hupmobile is in a class-by itself because it has an individual, distinctive design. The Hupmobile is in a class by itself, in other words, because by its careful and exhaustive attention to the most intimate details of construction—and by its use throughout of the finest materials obtain- able, no matter what the cost—it has justified our belief that it is the best car of its class in the world. Hupp Motor Car Company, 1231 Milwaukee Ave., Detroit, Mich. hirl off to school in a Hupmobile on wet and stormy days, instead-of-being drenched or chilled by exposure to dangerous and inclement “32” Touring Car or Roadster— $1050 f. 0. b. Detroit In Canada $1230 f. 0. b. Windsor SPECIFICATIONS Four-cylinder long-stroke motor, 34x 4 inches; unit power plant. | Selec: tive type transmission sliding gears. Center control. Full floating rear axle. 106 inch wheel base. Tires. 3Y D. Rear shock absorber. Magneto cover EQUIPMENT Hlectrie) horn; rain vision ventilating shield; ‘mobair top wi Hupmobile Jiffy curtains; "ps ter; cocoa mat in tonneau; P €; oil lamps; tools. Trimmings, \d_ nickel, “32” “Touring Car, or Two-passenger Roadster with Westinghouse two-wnit electric generator and starter; elec- tric lights; e tires, 3384; de- mountable Peli rim and tire carrier at 200 f. 0. b. Detroit. in Canada #1380 1, 0. b. Windsor The car. of The American Fam comicbooks.com