Life, 1914-03-05 · page 41 of 60
Life — March 5, 1914 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a straightforward **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It appears on page 417 of *Life* magazine. The ad features a large photograph of a tire with text emphasizing honest marketing. Kelly-Springfield's key message is a **candid admission**: their tires are "not impervious" to damage—they're not perfect or indestructible. Instead, the company argues their value lies in quality rubber and expert hand-craftsmanship, asking consumers if that's "fair enough." This approach reflects early 20th-century advertising strategy: rather than make exaggerated claims, the company builds credibility through transparency about limitations while highlighting genuine manufacturing excellence. The ad lists branch offices across major U.S. cities and distribution partners, indicating this was a nationally significant tire manufacturer.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
aid cag 4 vg ee Kelly-Springfield Much as we want your patronage, we don’t want it under misapprehensions. Kelly-Springheld Tires and Tubes are nof impervious. They merely contain all the excellence that real rubber, hand-made according to the longest experience in the field, can give them. Isn’t that fair enough? Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., Cor. B’way & 57th St., N. Y. Branch offer in New Yark. Chicago, Philadel, Botan St. Leda, Daze, Caginna, San Francnn, Lon Angdkey Cleveland, Bakinore, Seale The Hearn Tire & Rebber Co., Columbus, O. Southern Hardware & Woodstock Co., Ltd., New Orleans, La. ing Tire & Rubber Co.. Houston, Texas Atkinson Tire & Supply Co., Jacksonville, Fla, \ubber . Central Rubber & Suppl; Se lndianapols, lad. %. Kee Atte Tee Companys Lands Tocca ‘ee Company, Bernard & Michael, Buffalo, N.Y. % comicbooks.com