Life, 1914-08-06 · page 6 of 40
Life — August 6, 1914 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward advertisement for White Motor Trucks, published in *Life* magazine (page 210). The ad makes marketing claims common to early automotive advertising: White trucks are "the Nation's Choice," the largest-selling commercial trucks, superior in construction, and most economical to own despite higher initial cost. The central image shows a radiator badge labeled "This Radiator is the Distinctive Sign of White Trucks." There is no political commentary, caricature, or satirical content here. *Life* magazine carried paid advertisements alongside its editorial content. This represents genuine period advertising rhetoric emphasizing durability, reliability, and value — appeals that remain standard in truck marketing today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHITE MOTOR TRUCKS Are the Nation’s Choice BOTH IN THE QUANTITY OF TRUCKS SOLD AND IN THE VALUE OF TRUCK SALES, WE ARE THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES IN AMERICA. Official Records of the Motor Truck Industry Verify This Statement This Leadership of the Truck Industry is of the utmost importance, both to the many who already own White Trucks, and to the many others, who will eventually purchase White Trucks. TO THE OWNERS OF WHITE TRUCKS THIS LEADERSHIP proves the cor- rectness of your judgment in selecting your motor truck equipment. It shows that you have chosen the same motor truck that the majority of truck users in America have selected. f In practically every case, this selec- || tion has been the result of a process \\ of rigid experimentation and elimina- tion, in which White Trucks have proved their superiority over all others. This preference for White Trucks by the largest users of motor trucks as well as by the majority of motor truck users tees that your investment is protected by a successful, well established manufacturer, having a superior organization for rendering permanent and e coe service during the lifetime of the tru is the Distinctive Sign of a White Trucks + a Sah tit TO FUTURE OWNERS OF WHITE TRUCKS THIS LEADERSHIP is conclusive proof that White Trucks must be superior to all others, because White Supremacy is not measured in num- bers alone, but in value as well. With so many makes of motor trucks on the market, all clamoring for reoogultion, indisputable suprem- 3) acy can gained only by superior merit. Untruthful advertising, bargain prices, e erated claims and tees that cannot be fulfilled may make the first sale, but only superior merit can create the confidence which brings continuous repeat orders. The record of continuous repeat orders whereby the foremost firms in America have i huge fleets of White Trucks, after ex- perimenting with other makes, is a convincing reason why you should use White Trucks. } i i } WHITE TRUCKS ARE MOST ECONOMICAL TO OWN That White Trucks are aighiy higher in price, makes White Leadership in the truck in- dustry even more complete. It is plain evidence that White construction is so superior that the higher first cost of a White Truck is economy in the long run—proof that White Trucks last longer and cost less to operate and maintain, making them the most economical trucks to own. White Trucks are built in capacities of %, 114, 3 and 5 tons. A SUITABLE SIZE FOR EVERY VARIETY OF SERVICE THE WHITE Se COMPANY CLEVELAND MANUFACTURERS OF GASOLINE MOTOR CARS, MOTOR TRUCKS AND TAXICABS comicbooks.com