Life, 1914-01-22 · page 6 of 40
Life — January 22, 1914 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a 1914 Oldsmobile advertisement from *Life* magazine featuring a side-profile photograph of a luxury automobile. The headline "The Survival of the Fittest" uses evolutionary language to position Oldsmobile as superior to competitors. The advertising copy argues that the auto industry was consolidating around quality vehicles, and that consumers now demanded six-cylinder motors with "reputation, experience, and stability"—implying competitors were failing. The text boasts the 1914 Oldsmobile represents "honest policy and engineering," positioning it as the dominant survivor in competitive automotive manufacturing. Pricing is listed: $2,975 for a phaeton, with options for seven-passenger and limousine versions. No political figures or social satire are present—this is straightforward commercial promotion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Survival of the Fittest Never, since the beginning of the automobile industry, has there been such a determined in- sistence for genuine motor car value as there is at the present time. Olds Motor Woxks has built into the Oldsmobile, since the very first model, a quality which has represented the utmost in automobile practice and engineering. © 1914 Oldsmobile is the development of this foresight and honest policy and now stands —the greatest of all sixes. Throughout the entire automobile manufacturing field are makers who are exploiting sixes, but the public is now educated to appreciate quality and reputation in a motor car, just as in any other commodity, and the ine e has happened—the demand is now for as inder motor car with reputation, experience, and stability behind it—the day of the makeshift is over. The popularity of Oldsmobiles this year is a natural outgrowth of this insistent desire for quality. The Oldsmobile was a pioneer in the six-cylinder field, and during the past decade has wit- nessed the passing of many new comers. Now, that the time has arrived when motor car purchases are made on merit alone, it has been fittingly and deservedly acclaimed the greatest six-cylinder motor car ever produced. Combination 4 or 5-passenger Phaeton touring body type $2975 Seven-passenger touring body $175 extra Limousine $4300 Catalog Mailed on Request Branches or Dealers in Principal Cities OLDS MOTOR WORKS Lansing, Mich. comicbooks.com