Life, 1918-04-18 · page 29 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Robbins & Myers Motors, a Springfield, Ohio manufacturer of electric motors. The image shows two businessmen in suits reviewing what appears to be a "Final Cost Report" or similar document, with an electric motor displayed prominently. This visual establishes the advertisement's premise: efficient motors reduce operational costs. The text argues that by maintaining production equipment and reducing maintenance expenses through reliable motors, businesses increase profitability. The ad emphasizes the company's 21 years of experience manufacturing motors ranging from 1-40 to 30 horsepower for factories, stores, offices, and homes—including applications in vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and other electrical appliances. This represents typical early-20th-century industrial advertising: appealing to business managers' desire for cost efficiency and reliability. The tone is earnest and corporate, not humorous or satirical.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
utting Maintenance Expense When returns are all in and department costs figured to a hair, then do the efficiency figures of equipment operated by Robbins & Myers Motors speak for themselves. For here figures become eloquent with a directness that is unmistakable. Here the tangible and intangible elements of production stand illumined in the balance shect. Representative concerns who have well learned their lesson know that maintained production and reduction of maintenance cost are largely matters of right operating equipment. To them, Robbins & Myers Motors are veritable guar- antees of production and low maintenance expense. A motor that keeps wheels turning without gaps of idleness is a good investment. Back of every R & M Motor is an experience of 21 years in the building of motors from 1-40 to 30 horsepower—motors for the factory, store, office and home. These include motors for general power services and motors of special design as a built-in part of the better vacuum cleaners, washing machines, addressing and mail- ing machines, coffee grinders, meat choppers and other clectrically-driven labor saving devices. A Robbins & Myers Motor on any of these devices is a sure sign of super-quality throughout. Power users, electrical equipment manufacturers and dealers find a marked value, performance and_ prestige in Robbins & Myers Motors. Detailed information upon request. The Robbins & Myers Co., Springfield, Ohio For Tewenty-one Years Makers of Quality Fans and Motors Branches in All Principal Cities Robbins & Myers Motors comicbooks.com