Life, 1914-04-23 · page 43 of 44
Life — April 23, 1914 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes United States Tire Company's "Nobby Tread" automobile tires, featuring two tire images showing the distinctive tread pattern. The ad's selling points emphasize the tires' deep, prominent tread "nobs" (knobs) that supposedly reduce punctures by 90% compared to average tires—since debris gets caught in the protrusions rather than reaching the tire itself. The copy claims these are "two tires in one" due to their durability, warranted for 5,000 miles, and marketed as "real anti-skid" tires. The appeal to "veteran motorists" suggests this appeared during or shortly after WWI, when returning soldiers represented an aspirational consumer demographic. The warning against substitutes reflects competitive pressure in the early auto-tire market. This is straightforward product marketing with no satirical content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Punctures 90% Less Investigations prove that with “Nobby Tread” Tires punctures are 90% less than with the average tire. The big, thick “nobs” on “Nobby Tread” Tires stand out so far from the shoe that nails, glass, sharp stones, etc., hardly ever reach the shoe. Study the “nobs,” their size, their thickness, and the wy they are placed, and you will understand why. And remember this—you Rave got to wear out these big, t! ick, tou nobs” before you even start to wear out the extra strong tire underneath—that is one reason why experts call “ Nobby Treads” Two Tires in One The original wear-resisting quality, the quantity of rubber, the methods of construction—all have been rigidly maintained in “ Nobby Tread” Tires, and maintained regardless of cost and regardless of price competition. “Nobby Tread” Tires are the largest selling high-grade anti-skid tires in the world, and theyare REAL anti-skid Tires. Based upon their remarkable mileage records “Nobby Tread” Tires are now sold under our regular warranty—perfect workmanship and material—BUT any adjustments are on a basis of Thousands upon thousands of veteran motorists now use “Nobby Tread” Tires on their front and rear wheels through all seasons, because they are such phenomenal mileage tires and real anti- skid tires. United States Tire Company DO NOT BE TALKED INTO A SUBSTITUTE Your own dealer or any reliable dealer can supply you with Nobby-Tread" Tires. If he has no stock on hand, insist that he get them for you at once—or go to another dealer Note this—Dealers who sell UNITED STATES TIRES ell the best of everything. comicbooks.com