Life, 1917-06-14 · page 29 of 38
Life — June 14, 1917 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a full-page automobile advertisement, not a political cartoon. The Chandler Motor Car Company announces a price increase of $200, effective July 1st, raising the base model from $1395 to $1595. The ad attempts to frame this increase positively, claiming the company has historically kept prices low while improving quality. It attributes the price rise to uncontrollable external factors: increased material costs, labor market conditions, and transportation problems—likely referencing post-World War I economic inflation and supply chain disruptions. The company emphasizes that even at the higher price, Chandlers remain underpriced compared to similar-quality vehicles, and urges readers to purchase before the deadline to lock in the lower price. The ad lists five body styles available at various price points.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1041 Chandler Price Must Advance $200 June 30 The price of the Chandler Six becomes $1595 on the first day of July. The present model, identically the same car, will be continued after that date. It has always been a basic part of Chandler policy to keep the Chandler price low We have kept it low. Men considered the original Chandler price of $1785 established four years ago an impossible price. Later when the Chandler Com- pany reduced that price to $1595 the trade thought we were courting disaster. Further reductions came as a positive shock to the industry. Meanwhile the Chandler business grew to front-rank proportions. The Chandler car. was never cheapened, but, rather, improved and refined from season to season until the whole motor car purchasing public has come to recognize that the Chandler car is a car of surpassing values. UNTIL THAT DATE THE PRICE REMAINS $1395. We have sold the Chandler for hundreds of dollars less than cars of similar quality Now, however, the Chandler price must be ad- vanced. It must be materially advanced to cover greatly increased costs which have arisen this Spring by reason of unprecedented conditions in the material supply and labor markets and in problems of trans- portation. This is a condition which we cannot control. It is a condition which we must meet. At $1595 the Chandler car will still be under- priced. By test of any conceivable comparison this statement is a provable fact. Now you can buy this great Six at $1395 f. 0. b. Cleveland. While the $1395 price holds, the demand will continue to greatly exceed our production, and we cannot guarantee deliveries. FIVE PLEASING TYPES OF BODY Seven-Passenger Touring Car, $1305 Seven-Passenger Convertible Sedan (Fisher Built), $2095 Four-Passenger Roadster, $1305 Four-Passenger Convertible Coupe (Fisher Built), $1995 Limousine, $2695 All prices F. O. B. Cleveland Write us teday for catalog and booklet “See How the Chandler Checks With High-Priced Cars.” This booklet tells how other medium-priced sixes do not check with high-priced cars Write today, and see your dealer. Address Dept. D. CHANDLER MOTOR CAR COMPANY New York Office: 1790 Broadway CLEVELAND, OHIO Cable Address: “Chanmotor” comicbooks.com