Life, 1915-08-19 · page 6 of 48
Life — August 19, 1915 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **luxury automobile advertisement**, not political satire. It announces the Locomobile Company's "Closed Coach Work" — high-end car bodies crafted with refined interiors designed by Miss Elsie DeWolfe, a noted decorator. The ad's only satirical element is its opening comparison: the Locomobile positions itself as America's equivalent to three prestigious European cars from England, France, and Italy. This is aspirational marketing — claiming American manufacturing rivals European luxury and craftsmanship. The illustration shows a well-dressed couple with a fashionable automobile and countryside estate, reinforcing the product's elite status. The "$5400 upwards" price tag (substantial in this era) confirms this targets wealthy consumers. There is **no political commentary** here — purely commercial messaging dressed in refined graphic design.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Announcing LOCOMOBILE CLOSED COACH WORK There are three cars with hyphenated names built abroad. Each is produced in limited quantities; each is very beautifully engineered and of ultra-smart appearance. The Locomobile is to America what these three cars are respectively to England, France and Italy. Only Four Locomobiles are built a day. This limit of production has never been exceeded in the seventeen years the Locomobile has been manufactured. The Chassis is highly specialized and has a reputation for soundness. The Coach Work is luxurious and in good taste. It is distinguished by conventional lines and simple fittings and fixtures that harmonize with each other perfectly. Locomobile Standard Coach Work Interiors are by Miss Elsie DeWolfe, a foremost expert on decoration and an international authority on good taste. Prices $5400 upwards for Standard Closed Coach Work. The LOCOMOBILE COMPANY of America MAKERS OF FINE MOTOR CARS comicbooks.com