Life — April 18, 1918 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a Packard Motor Car Company ad from Life magazine promoting the Packard Twin Six automobile. The headline "HOW MANY CYLINDERS?" references a contemporary competitive discussion in the automotive industry about engine specifications. The ad notes that the U.S. Secretary of War announced Liberty Motors (military aircraft engines) now use 12 cylinders, and argues that Packard's Twin Six incorporates similar design principles. The small biplane illustration at top connects to this military-industrial context—Liberty Motors powered WWI-era aircraft. The ad lists six consumer benefits (smoothness, silence, range, ability, economy, utility) to persuade buyers. The closing tagline encourages potential customers to consult current Packard owners. This reflects early 20th-century automotive marketing strategy: leveraging military specifications to establish civilian product credibility.