Life, 1914-08-13 · page 6 of 40
Life — August 13, 1914 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire page**—it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for Studebaker vehicles, published in *Life* magazine. The page advertises four Studebaker models with prices ranging from $985 to $1,450. It emphasizes manufacturing quality, value, and competitive advantages: Studebaker manufactures most of its own parts (unlike competitors who source externally), enabling better quality control and lower costs. The "Proof of Studebaker Value" section lists technical specifications and manufacturing practices intended to justify the brand's competitive pricing. This was standard early-20th-century advertising strategy—using detailed technical claims to build consumer confidence in automobile purchases. The silhouette illustrations show the vehicle designs typical of the 1910s-1920s era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Sli \ Six—5-Passenger *1385 | In Canada $1750 7-Passenger $1450 In Canada $1875 All Prices F. O. B. Detroit or Walke The New FOUR Touring Car and Roadster The net result_of the improvements itemized in the specifications printed herewith is: More Power; Less Weight; Greater Strength; Increased Economy ; More Roon Added Comfort ; Greater Beauty, Specifications Two Body Styles; Five-Passenger Touring: Three: Passenger Roadster. Wheelbase—108 inches. roke (s-inch), Small-Bore. (3¥%-inch) Mo- Four Cylinders, en Bloc, Exhaust Manifold ast Separate. mokeless, Non-Leaking Lubrication System. Larger Valve Openings. Pressed Steel Push-Rods. Annular Piston Rings. Tubular Radiator with Auxiliary Water Tank. ‘owned Fenders, Special, Dimming Headlights. roo Pounds Lighter. 12x 2% in. Brakes. Hot-Jacketed Sehebler Carburetor Bolted to Cylin- ders Magnetic, Non-Leaking Gasoline Gauge, the Only One Approved by. Insurance Underwriters. Generous Footroom in both Compartments, in. Goodrich Tires on Q. D. Demountable Safety Tread on Rear. jan Type Top. * Built-in Rain and Clear Vision Ventilating Wind- shield, Attaching Rigidly to Full Pieating Rear Axle, Shaft Locking into Taper Full Equipment of 13 Timken Roller Bearings. Irreversible Steering. Flush Dash Equipment. Ex Rim and Carrier. 24 Finishing Operations in Painting Bodies Stude- baker Blue. ~ The Simplest and Most Accessible Motor in America. shown in more than five thousand cities, the world over— In our judgment these new Studebakers place every other “Six” and every other “Four” on the defensive— Studebaker cars are manufactured practically complete in Studebaker factories—more nearly so, we believe, than can be said of any other car. They carry only one profit—that of the legiti- mate manufacturer. And it is this one-profit idea of manufacturing, together with the vast volume of the Stude- baker output, that is responsible for. the truly remarkable value that you find in Stude- baker cars. Verify these statements for yourself—by care- ful and immediate inspection of the new Studebaker models, Proof of Studebaker Value TT: new Studebaker cars are now being Eighty companies in the United States sell automobiles. Only ten of them manufacture the majority of parts in their cars. Of these, we believe Studebaker makes the greatest Proportion of parts. We make all our castings, springs and forgings. We heat-treat our gears and forged parts. We make our aprons, hoods, fenders and other stamped parts. We make the bodies and tops. Except tires, electrical equipment, Timken bearings, carburetors and a few minor items, we manufacture— in our own factories—all parts of Studebaker cars. Being complete manufacturers, we are able to build better cars, and to put better value into our cars, at a stated price. STUDEBAKER, Detroit Canadian Plant, Walkerville, Ont. FOUR Roadster FOUR Touring Car $985 $985 In Canada $1250 In Canada $1250 The New SIX 5-Passenger and 7-Passenger The elements of greater value listed in specifications printed below result in tso pounds reduction in weight, with in- creased strength ; Even greater gasoline economy ; Increased tire economy ; Increased ease of operation; More power; More room and added comfort. Specifications Five-Passenger and Seven-Pas Wheelbase—121 Long-Stroke (s-inch), Small-Bore (3 tor; Six Cylinders, en Bloc. Smokeless, Non-Leaking Lubricating System. Larger, Valve Openings. New, Exhaust-Silencing Muffler. Annular Piston Rings. Cellular Radiator. Lighter Reciprocating Parts. Crowned Fenders. Lightened Clutch Operation. 150 Pounds Lighter. 15 x 2% in. Brakes. , 34_x 4 in, Goodrich Tires on Q. D. Demountatie Rims; Safety Tread on Rear. Roomier Front Compartment; Roomier Rear Com partment. Continuous Aluminum Footboard. One-Man Type Top. . Built-in Rain and Clear Vision Ventilating Wied shield, Attaching Rigidly to Top. . Scientific AntiRumble Gasoline “Tank in Cost Magnetic, Non-Leaking Gasoline . the Only One. Approved by fnsurance. Underwriters Full Floating Rear Axle, Shaft Locking into Taper at Hub. Equipment of 13 Timken Roller Bearings Uniform Caps cn ail Four Hubs. Irreversible. Steering. Removable Instrument Board. ocking Ignition and Lighting Switches. 24 Finishing Operations in Painting Bodies S baker Blue. inch) Me