Life, 1914-06-25 · page 43 of 45
Life — June 25, 1914 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **a full-page advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. It promotes "Nobby Tread" tires made by United States Tire Company. The page features two photographs of tires mounted on wheels at the top, showing the tread pattern. The advertisement argues that automobile owners—especially taxicab companies operating on tight profit margins—should buy tires based on "ultimate economy" and cost-per-mile rather than initial price. The pitch emphasizes that taxicabs worldwide use Nobby Treads because they offer anti-skid protection, durability, and lowest lifetime cost, even though European importers pay extra freight charges. The warranty covers 5,000 miles of use. A U.S. Rubber Company seal appears, signaling corporate legitimacy. The closing warns against cheap substitutes and insists readers buy only from authorized dealers. This reflects early 20th-century tire industry competition and the emergence of data-driven purchasing arguments in American advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nobby Reg. U. S. Pat. Office B 1 B 1 | 1 Automobile owners everywhere are rapidly learning to buy tires on a real business basis, viz.: the basis of ultimate economy. That is the reason why “Nobby Tread” Tires are today the largest selling high-grade anti-skid tires in the world. Take the taxicab as a concrete example,—taxicab companies have to operate on a business basis— they have to buy tires on a business basis. That is why today In Europe and the United States thousands of Taxicabs use “Nobby Treads” Taxicab companies are the most constant users of tires. They have to watch tire mileage expense all of the time. Taxicabs must have real anti-skid protection—real tire dependence—real freedom from puncture delays—and lowest cost per mile tires. me of our best taxicab customers are in Europe—in “Nobby Tread” spite of the extra cost of freight charges, duties, etc., they import “Nobby Tread” Tires simply because on a business basis they are cheaper in the end. “Nobby Tread” Tires solve any automobile owner's tire problems the day he decides to buy tires ona business basis. Based upon their remarkable mileage records Tires are now sold under our regular warranty—perfect workmanship and material—BUT any adjustments are on a basis of per mile. he has no stock on hand, Thousands upon thousands of veteran motorists now use “Nobby Tread” Tires on their front and rear wheels through all seasons, because they give real anti-skid protection and the lowest cost 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 i, insist that he get them for you at once—or go to another d NOTE THIS—Dealers who sell UNITED STATES TIRES sell the best of every! comicbooks.com