Life, 1916-04-06 · page 79 of 80
Life — April 6, 1916 — page 79: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **vintage tire advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes Fisk Red Top tires, emphasizing their quality through claims of "metropolitan smartness, safety and mileage." The large illustration shows a stylized tire dominating the page. Below it, a decorative border depicts early automobiles at what appears to be a racing or touring event, suggesting the product's performance credentials. The ad highlights Fisk's "Free Service" network—over 100 branches nationwide offering free help and advice to motorists regardless of tire brand. This was a notable selling point in the early automotive era. The small icon on the right shows a cherubic figure (the "Fisk Boy," likely the brand's mascot) asking "Time to Re-tire? (Buy Fisk)"—an early example of brand mascot advertising. This reflects 1920s-era marketing strategies emphasizing service infrastructure and customer support as competitive advantages in the emerging automotive industry.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
rte- ipal The was ow- ners vere 1 di- aled ours ough reat- bar- it be mn of s is hud- nto pub- y of d the which ty of ars cago y. it’s Huh! burbs RED TOP TRADE MARK REG. U.S. PAT. OFF, (COMBINES metropolitan smartness, safety and mileage to the highest degree. It is the successful attainment of a high ideal, the carefully studied analysis of seventeen years of practical manufacturing experience and an application of that knowledge to the benefit of the motorist. Unique Fisk Free Service More than one hundred (100) Fisk Branches, covering the entire country, stand ready to serve motorists with free help, advice and instruction, re- gardless of the make of tire used. Con- sult telephone directory for local Fisk Branch and avail yourself of this jag Remarkable Service. bey Fa PMMA TO TY i477 NAIT by sUtuanreceyceaneravecntcuavucvacuvueentavyneneaeuenenecueneeaueeeneennaeeeeecuetuveuneun EAMUAUUCUUUELOLOUUTUCUUOT CLOVE UUVLAEUOUVEETSUSUOTCTORELUA EEUU OULU TULLE DOE E DY comicbooks.com