Life, 1914-08-27 · page 6 of 44
Life — August 27, 1914 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Locomobile automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page shows "The Closed Car of the Year" — a luxury automobile with an enclosed cabin, a major innovation for the era. The illustration depicts a well-dressed couple (man in top hat and tails, woman in fashionable dress) admiring the vehicle. The text emphasizes artistic design details: custom lighting by Tiffany studios, imported French fabrics, tapestries, velvets, and specially dyed carpets. Interiors were designed by Mr. John J. Petit of New York. The advertisement positions the Locomobile as a luxury product, highlighting limited production (four cars daily) and specialized craftsmanship. This reflects early automotive marketing targeting wealthy consumers who valued bespoke design and fine materials—treating cars as luxury goods rather than practical transportation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tke CLOSED CAR of the YEAR HE NEW LOCOMOBILE is the car of the year because of its de- velopment in detail. Artists, associated with engineers, have designed) and developed Locomobile bodies. Artists, not engineers, have designed both exteriors and interiors, bringing them into complete harmony. The interiors have been designed and supervised by Mr. John J. Petit of New York, and finished in French tapestries, English broadcloths, French velvets and velours, selected and imported exclu- sively for the Locomobile. Lighting fixtures by the Tiffany studios. The silk curtains, laces, braids and carpets are woven and dyed specially to match the individual decorative schemes. In addition, Paris bodies, with mar- queterie- work, by Kellner et Ses Fils, Bail jeune Fréres, and Henry Binder. Also specially designed and finished bodies by Holbrook of New York. The Locomobile policy of limited pro- duction—not more than four cars a day—enables us to specialize successfully in detail, in appointment and in finish— enables us to create the Closed Car of the Year. The LOCOMOBILE COMPANY of America MAKERS OF FINE MOTOR CARS