Life — November 28, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a satirical cartoon** but rather a **straightforward advertisement** for Robbins & Myers Motors, placed in Life magazine (page 768). The image shows two businessmen examining industrial motors and equipment. The ad's message is purely commercial: it argues that reliable, quality motors—specifically R&M Motors—help businesses succeed by improving efficiency and worker satisfaction. The "business that stays" refers to companies that invest in dependable equipment, positioning R&M Motors as essential to industrial success. The company emphasizes twenty-one years of manufacturing experience and claims their motors are used across multiple industries (washing machines, grinders, vacuum cleaners, etc.). There is **no satire or political commentary**—this is period industrial advertising targeting factory managers and business owners.