Life, 1915-05-13 · page 51 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 51: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a full-page advertisement, not satire or political commentary. It promotes "Nobby Tread" tires manufactured by United States Tire Company, featuring two tire images showing the distinctive tread pattern. The ad targets early automobile owners (spring car-buying season), emphasizing that experienced motorists repeatedly choose this brand. Key sales points include a 5,000-mile warranty and anti-skid capability—significant selling features for 1910s-era vehicles. The advertisement lists major American city locations where the product is visible on cars, establishing ubiquity and credibility through social proof. The closing section aggressively warns dealers against substituting competing brands, instructing consumers to demand "Nobby Tread" specifically or visit another dealer. This reflects early automotive-era marketing emphasizing durability and safety features to a still-skeptical car-buying public.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Nobby Reg. U. S. Pat. Office Watch the “Nobby Treads” On Fifth Avenue, New York. On Michigan Avenue, Chicago. On Broadway, Denver. On Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. On Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. On Broad Street, Philadelphia. On leading streets of cities and towns every- On Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington. where. On Every Thoroughfare see the tremendous number of “Nobby Tread” Tires on cars everywhere—you will find that men who have owned two, or three, or four cars—men who have experimented—use “Nobby Tread” Tires. If you are buying your first car this Spring, have it equipped with “Nobby Tread” Tires. Start right—take tke advice of these veteran motorists—and save expensive, useless experimenting. “Nobby Tread” Tires are now sold under regular warranty—perfect workmanship and material—BUT any adjustments are on a basis of 9,000 Miles Thousands upon thousands of veteran motorists now use “Nobby Tread” Tires on their front and rear wheels through all seasons, because they are such phenomenal mileage tires and real anti-skid tires. 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 he has no stock on hand insist that he get them for you at once—or go to another dealer. NOTE THIS:—Dealers who sell UNITED STATES TIRES sell the best of everything. PETER J. CAREY, PRINTER comicbooks.com