Life, 1916-01-20 · page 6 of 44
Life — January 20, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement for the White Motor Company's 4-45 touring car**, not satire or political commentary. The ad features an illustration of an early 1920s automobile with passengers in period dress, parked before what appears to be a grand building entrance. The accompanying text emphasizes that White cars represent conservative engineering—no radical design changes, reliable performance, and refined craftsmanship. The messaging appeals to wealthy buyers willing to pay premium prices for proven quality and stability rather than experimental innovations. The "satire" in *Life* magazine was typically found elsewhere in the publication. This page represents straightforward luxury automobile marketing, targeting affluent readers of the era who valued tradition and reliability over novelty in their vehicles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
It is significant that for years past, none of the highest priced cars in this country have made any radical change in the type of their engine nor lowered their price. Conservatism in design and stability of value are marked characteristics of quality. They appeal to a class of owners who will pay the price of unfailing luxurious service and demand that it be proof against complication or experiment. The White is a conservative product. Innovations have never been permitted to complicate its well known performance, nor price to limit the refinement of its custom made body. ho White Company Clovoland Oho