Life, 1915-11-04 · page 3 of 56
Life — November 4, 1915 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Weed Anti-Skid Chains, tire safety devices. The advertisement uses emotional appeal rather than humor: it depicts a mother and child asking "Why doesn't Daddy come home?"—implying the father died in a car accident caused by skidding. The illustration shows a car accident scene. The ad's argument is straightforward: winter driving on wet roads causes skidding accidents; tire chains prevent this. It appeals to family safety concerns, suggesting chains are "the only positive safeguard against skidding." The ad emphasizes that taxi companies, delivery services, and large fleet operators use Weed Chains because they understand accident costs and liability. This represents early automotive safety advertising using fear-based messaging common in the 1910s-1920s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
et ate HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED lid The above illustration will prevent { hundreds of disastrous skidding acci- dents, because it will make negligent and a>. = inexperienced motorists think and act. On the next rainy day they will be prepared for wet, slippery asphalt and treacherous mud— their tires will be equipped with the only positive safeguard against skidding— Weed astissa Chains ie These Facts Should Persuade You to Think and Act Now, Before It’s Too Late: ; ‘ Dealers who sell the most tires are the larg- est sellers of Weed Chains, and they recom- mend Weed Chains regardless of what brand operate large fleets of cars—use Weed Chains. They all use Weed Chains to save lives and property. They do it to save themselves or type of tire they sell. Every car manufac- turer uses Weed Chains on his service, demonstrating and test cars. The great taxicab companies, the delivery services of big businesses in every line—all the great well informed organizations who from damage suits. They know how often skidding causes disastrous accidents and how much it costs to repair the damage. They all know, through experience, that there is no substitute for Weed Chains. Weed Chains are sold for all brands and types of tires by deaters everywhere. So, stop at your dealer's today and ‘‘Weed Chain ALL FOUR TIRES To Safety’’, before it's too late. Weed Chain Tire Grip Company, Bridgeport, Conn. Also Manufacturers of Tire Chains especially constructed for Single and Dual Solid Truck Tires — Motorcycle Tire Chains, Dobbins Blow-Out Chains, etc. Mancfactared for Canada by Dominion Chain Company, Limited. Head Office: Shaughnessy Bldg., Montreal, Canada fi comichooks.