Life, 1918-04-25 · page 5 of 40
Life — April 25, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. The page promotes Miller Uniform Tires from Akron, Ohio, circa early 20th century. The central image shows a man in a Miller jersey signing a tire—a marketing claim that company builders personally inspected each product. The headline "99 Millers in 100 Outrun Guarantees" plays on the company name, suggesting reliability. Key selling points include uniformity, safety features ("geared-to-the-road" treads for traction), and that Miller tires outsold competitors at retail. The advertisement emphasizes quality control and craftmanship, contrasting Miller's consistency against competitors' variable standards. There is **no political or satirical content**—this is straightforward early automotive industry marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
99 Millers in “Each Miller Champion signs every tire he builds’’ 100 Outrun Guarantees Uniform Tires That Only Masters Can Make age one tire may have given. All manufacturers have their “lucky” casings—so judge by averages alone. And don’t gauge quality by guarantees. No written warrant can mend a blow-out when you are miles from nowhere, in a ditch, Take the safe course as proved by everyday averages cov- ering thousands of tires run by private owners. Dz: judge any make of tires by the exceptional mile- That proof shows this—that Miller Tires are uniform. That 99 Millers in 100 outrun guarantees. That not even 1 per cent have to be adjusted. Today the Miller outsells every other makeat retail in Akron, Ohio, where 70 per cent of American tires are made. Several manufacturers are building many good tires. For methods today are known to all makers. Machines are standard, as are grades of cotton and rubber. But workmen differ radically. And just so much must tires vary also. Only by making handwork uniform, as Miller has done, can tires be made as uniform as Miller Tires. Builders 96% Efficient Miller Tire Builders are a regiment of champions—they average 96 per cent efficient. Each man is rated on every tire he builds. If ever one comes back, his score is penalized. Of those who try to win a place among them, only about one man in 25 succeeds. Geared-to-the-Road The Miller tread is geared-to- the-road. So the caterpillar cogs engage the ground at ail times. That prevents skidding and makes roads safer. And in starting, it gives the wheels sure-footed traction. You now have the facts. Resolve that unearned guarantees won't hold you to “trad2-out” tires any longer. Uniform Millers are to be had at present, but only enough for one motorist in fifty can be made this year. To be safe, see the Miller dealer now and reserve your supply. MILLER RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, Ohio Makers of Miller Red and Gray Inner Tubes, the Team-Mates of Uniform Tires Also Surgeons Grade Rubber Goods---for Homes as Well as for Hospitals Distributors, Dealers and others desiring a profitable agency with A few exceptional territories to be awarded soon sured future should write us for attractive proposition, ay comicbooks.com