Life — May 11, 1916 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Front Wheel Control (Advertisement) This is primarily a **product advertisement** for Weed Chains—tire chains for automobiles—rather than political satire. The page argues that chains should be installed on **all four tires**, not just rear wheels as was common practice. The advertisement compares front-wheel skidding to train wheel problems, warning that front-wheel skids caused many automobile accidents. It positions chains as safety equipment comparable to bicycle riders' need for wheel control. The imagery shows a locomotive (left) and an early automobile (right), contrasting established rail technology with newer automotive safety needs. The manufacturer—American Chain Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut—uses this editorial-style argument (attributed to *Scientific American*) to promote their product as essential for accident prevention.