Life, 1913-12-04 · page 111 of 112
Life — December 4, 1913 — page 111: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Pierce-Arrow automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The illustration shows an early 1900s motorcar arriving at a European village, suggesting American automotive superiority. The ad claims Pierce-Arrow cars have: 1. Reversed the trend of imported vehicles dominating the American market 2. Successfully exported to Europe, where they allegedly outperform European cars on their home territory The text boasts of American manufacturing prowess during an era when European cars (particularly German and French brands) were considered technically superior. The romantic European setting emphasizes Pierce-Arrow's ability to compete globally. This reflects early 20th-century American industrial confidence and emerging automotive dominance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Not only has the Pierce-Arrow turned the tide of imported cars so that there are today far less in proportion than some years ago—not only that, but the Pierce-Arrow in American hands has invaded Europe, giving greater satisfac- tion to its owners than a native car on its native heath. The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, Buffalo, New York