Life, 1913-11-20 · page 27 of 44
Life — November 20, 1913 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a political cartoon but a **commercial advertisement** for the Ohio Electric Car Company of Toledo, Ohio. The page features a photograph of a well-dressed woman at the wheel of an electric automobile, positioned as a glamorous endorsement. The ad emphasizes the car's "distinction" through technological features: magnetic control, double drive, and magnetic braking—all presented as exclusive patents. The copy appeals to early 20th-century consumers by highlighting ease of operation (finger-pressure controls), safety, and privacy (double drive enables solo driving or private seating). Notably, the ad acknowledges competitors are imitating the Ohio's features, positioning imitation as flattery ("the Ohio double drive...is now being widely imitated"). This reflects the competitive electric automobile market of the 1910s-1920s, before gasoline vehicles dominated. The elegant presentation targets affluent consumers—particularly women drivers, a growing market segment—by emphasizing comfort and technological sophistication over raw power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Distinction! In design, appointments, operating simplicity, exclusive features— the Ohio Electric dominates These features are exclusive to the Ohio, We hold patents, also, on the double drive from both Prove it yourself by a triparound the various showrooms in your town. Compare the magnetic control of the Ohio with the old-fashioned lever control. Note from the picture how easily the disc which governs every operation of the car fits into the driver's hand. And remember that a slight pressure of the finger operates the magnetic brake, which retards the car instantly, anywhere, without the slightest danger of skidding. front and rear seat. This insures privacy when alone, or safetywhen with guests. Naturally, it met ith immedi 1 overwhelming popular favor. Naturally, also, it is now being widely imitated. But the Ohio double drive, magnetic control and magnetic brake form a perfect operating com- bination that no other can give you, and that is endorsed by thousands of enthusiastic owners. Literature on request. The Ohio Electric Car Company, 1505 W. Bancroft St., Toledo Gibson Electrics, Ltd. Ontario Distributors Toronto Canada OHIO THE ENVIED ELECTRIC comicbooks.com