Life, 1919-01-02 · page 2 of 34
Life — January 2, 1919 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Michelin Tire advertisement**, not satirical content. The page promotes four reasons to buy Michelin tires: better materials, more materials used, superior tube design, and competitive pricing. The cartoon illustration features the **Michelin Man** (Bibendum), the company's iconic mascot—a rotund, cheerful figure made of tire treads—conversing with another character. This mascot was created to personify the tire brand and make advertising more memorable and friendly. The detailed product photography on the right showcases actual Michelin tires and tubes. There is **no political satire** on this page; it's straightforward early-20th-century product marketing using humor and distinctive branding to appeal to automobile owners considering tire purchases.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Published Weekly by Life Publishing Company Entered as Second Class Matter June 8 1629. atthe Post Offce ay at BS its ¥. ‘act of 9, ot a Neate, Entered as Second Class Copyrigh Better Materials Used. Ever since Michelin in- vented the pneumatic automobile tire, the House of Michelin has enjoyed a world-wide reputation for using and making only the best. More Materials Used. Michclin Tires not only embody better materials but more of each of them, as you can prove for yourself by campating Michelas wih olher tires as to weight, thickness of tread and size of traction-surface. Michelin Tubes Fit Better. Michelin Tubes possess superior durability because they alone are made ring-shaped and fit the ring-shaped casing naturally, instead of being made straight and forced to fit by inflation. Michelins Not High Priced. Although Michelin Casings and Tubes are recognized the world over as un- surpassed for durability, they are not high priced. In the end they are by far the most economical of all tires. MICHELIN TIRE COMPANY - - MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY CANADIAN HEADQUARTERS : Michelin Tire Co. 0f Camaa, Ltda, 182 St, Catherine St.