Life, 1914-05-07 · page 52 of 52
Life — May 7, 1914 — page 52: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Baker Electric automobile advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The page from *Life* magazine (May 7, 1914) shows a side-view photograph of a Baker Electric vehicle parked in front of an ornate building with flowering vines. The advertisement's text argues for the Baker's superiority by claiming that, unlike competitors, Baker prioritizes **durability and structural integrity** over trendy but short-lived features. This suggests the electric car market of 1914 was competitive, with manufacturers competing partly on novelty. The ad positions Baker as the sensible, long-lasting choice. There is no satire or political reference—this is straightforward commercial advertising using *Life*'s prestigious editorial platform to reach affluent readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Compare a three or four year old BaKer with any other electric of equal age. Then you will better appreciate why, in the Baker, novel short-lived features have always been subordinated to all-around structural quality.