Life, 1914-05-07 · page 37 of 52
Life — May 7, 1914 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement from Life magazine's advertising section. The page promotes the Overland automobile by the Willys-Overland Company of Toledo, Ohio, priced at $950. The illustration shows a family (parents and children) in a touring car, emphasizing the vehicle as a practical family investment. The ad's argument is purely commercial: the Overland offers practical size ("not too large...not small"), family comfort, and a 30% cost advantage over competitors. The emotional appeal centers on family pleasure and togetherness — "broadening viewpoints" through automobile touring was a genuine selling point of the automotive age. The Canadian pricing information and call to "get your family out of doors" reflect post-WWI prosperity and the automobile's role in expanding leisure activities. There is no political commentary or satire present — this represents straightforward early-20th-century consumer marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Canadian Prices : f. 0, b, Toledo, Ohio. $1250 Completely equipped Duty Paid. $1425 With electric starter and generator. Duty Paid, 950 Completely equipped $1075—With electric starter and generator, f. 0. b. Toledo The Most Suitable and Sound Investment For The Whole Family IGHT now thousands of families are daily depriv- R ing themselves of an endless chain of economical pleasures, comforts and benefits that could be theirs just as well as not. Geta big handsome Over- land touring car into the very midst of your family, and you increase the pleasures and broaden the viewpoints of everyone in the house. Taking everything into careful consideration, the Overland is the most practical all-year-around-family- car on the market. It is not too large, nor is it bul or cumbersome. On the other hand, it is not small, dinky or stunted—but just the right ‘size for the full comfort, and the complete and everlasting enjoyment of every member of your home circle, And the price— Other cars of similar specifications cost a great deal more. How much? That varies, But in prac- tically every case a careful comparison will prove to you that an Overland costs a full 30% less than any other similar car made. In view of this can you afford to pay more for some other car that does not give you as much as you can get in the Overland? Remember the cost Is 30% less. Spring is here. Get your family out of doors all i can. There is an Overland dealer in your town. ook him up today. Catalogue on request. Please address Dept. 16. The Willys-Overland Company, Toledo, Ohio comicbooks.com