Life — October 23, 1913 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. The Ohio Electric Car Company is marketing their "Ohio" brand electric automobile to women, emphasizing "exclusiveness" through two patented features: a "double drive" and "magnetic control." The image shows a well-dressed woman operating the vehicle, positioned to appeal to female consumers. The ad emphasizes mechanical sophistication and ease of operation—key selling points for early automobiles marketed to women, who were often considered the primary market for electric cars (seen as safer and easier to drive than gasoline vehicles). The text stresses that "thousands of satisfied owners endorse" the product, using social proof to build credibility. This reflects early-1900s automotive advertising targeting middle and upper-class women as buyers or decision-makers.