Life — April 26, 1917 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Michelin Tires Advertisement This is primarily a **Michelin Tire Company advertisement**, not political satire. The page features the Michelin Man (Bibendum), the company's mascot—a rotund, tire-like figure made of stacked rings—endorsing their tire tubes. The ad uses verse to argue Michelin tubes are superior: they won't become "stale or porous," are naturally red (not artificially dyed), and have a "rounded" shape "like a curler." The testimonial claims they outlast competitors and won't be "sometimes sell you." The lower illustration shows the mascot recommending the product to potential customers—three figures in 1920s-era clothing and goggles (suggesting early motorists). This is straightforward commercial messaging with no political content—typical early 20th-century advertising humor.