Life, 1917-09-13 · page 33 of 44
Life — September 13, 1917 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tire advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a straightforward commercial for Republic Tires, published in *Life* magazine (page 433). The ad promotes Republic brand automobile tires using the "Prödium Process," claiming superior durability tested worldwide—New Zealand volcanic roads, African terrain, American desert and timber roads. The company emphasizes their tires "last longer" due to this proprietary rubber treatment. The page features an image of the "Staggard Tread" tire design on the left. Republic Rubber Company, based in Youngstown, Ohio, claims to have invented the first effective rubber non-skid tire and highlights their "Black-Line Red Inner Tubes." There is **no cartoon or satire here**—this is simply period advertising using testimonial-style claims about real-world tire performance to market their product to consumers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Performance of The Republic We have reports, now, on the performance of Republic Tires on the worst roads of the world, The virtues of the Prodium Process in prolonging tire life are again conclusively demonstrated. New Zealand, for instance—with mere trails through volcanic rock—reports mile- age almost beyond belief. On the trackless African veldt, Republic Tires have proved their greater wear-resist- ance. From the gumbo roads of our west; the hot California deserts, the timber roads of Min- nesota, comes the same report:— Republic Tires do last longer. This is due to the Proédium Process, which was discovered and developed in Republic laboratories. It makes rubber tremendously strong and tough and long-lived to a remarkable degree. Republic Black-Line Red Inner Tubes have a reputation for freedom from trouble The Republic Rubber Company, Youngstown, Ohio Originator of the First Effective Rubber Non-Skid Tire Republic Republic Staggard Tread STAGGARD iden ca-a0-i808 Tread REPUBLIC TIRES