Life, 1915-02-04 · page 2 of 44
Life — February 4, 1915 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a satirical cartoon page** — it's a straightforward **automobile advertisement** for The White Company of Cleveland, manufacturers of "The White" motor car. The upper illustration shows an elegant crowd gathered in what appears to be a grand civic or institutional building, establishing an aspirational social context. The car depicted below represents luxury and engineering achievement. The advertising copy emphasizes The White as "the masterwork of masterbuilders," highlighting technical innovations like the mono-bloc engine, left-side drive, and electrical systems. The text positions the vehicle as a marker of sophistication and distinction for affluent buyers. This represents early 20th-century luxury automotive marketing, using social prestige and engineering prowess as selling points to wealthy consumers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ES ~ THE WHITE —the masterwork of masterbuilders The White is praised on all sides as the highest type of the work of men who are masters of their craft and who have the genius to think ahead. Down to the smallest detail the last standard of perfection is observed. Motoring connoisseurs everywhere acclaim The White as a new attainment in beauty, luxury and distinction. The finally-perfect streamline body marks the deft overcoming of the difficulties formerly confronting body designers. The conventional back of the front seat— always awkward—is absorbed in the center cowl, a gentle ripple in the streamline. This center cowl is but one feature—a natural development of the successful effort toward charm of form, richness of finish and elegance of equipment. White leadership is a principle Years ago The White presented as basic principles in its construction fundamental mechanical improvements which are every- where accepted today. The first mono-bloc, long-stroke, high-speed motor; the logical left-side drive; the first perfected electrical system combined with the valuable advantage of a non-stallable engine—all these, among others, have been White achievements. The White Motor Cars are exhibited and demonstrated by White dealers everywhere. THE WHITE COMPANY CLEVELAND Manufacturers of Gasoline Motor Cars, Motor Trucks and Taxicabs — 5 Raivguse