Life, 1919-05-08 · page 33 of 46
Life — May 8, 1919 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **a tire advertisement**, not political satire. The Miller Rubber Company promotes "Geared-to-the-Road" tires through a cartoon scenario. The image shows a man with a tire beside him, and a circular inset depicting a woman at a car's steering wheel with the quote: "I am penalized if one comes back." The joke appears to be a double entendre: the woman is penalized (fined/punished) if she returns a tire—meaning it fails and must be replaced under warranty. The ad emphasizes the tire's reliability and uniform quality, implying customers won't need replacements. The technical copy explains the tire's "caterpillar tread" design for better road grip and braking, positioning it as a safety innovation. This is straightforward commercial messaging typical of 1920s-era Life magazine advertising, using humor to promote consumer products rather than offering political or social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
V/ 7 ) VA f ei / S ‘LIFE: 813 "Tam penalized if one comes back”, oe For a Quick, Safe Stop—the Tread That Is Geared-to-the-Road HE emergency brake is of no use when the car slides on and the wheels are locked. Every motorist has had that experience and knows the dangers. Geared.-to-the-Road tires are needed— the famous Miller Tread of many caterpillar feet that lock with the ground like cogs. Transmits Full Power This scientific principle is used in all branches of mechanics. But for tires it comes in the Miller only—for we control the Geared-to-the-Road patents. In motion the Miller tread meshes with Road, by its positive traction, helps the speeding car to hold the road. Long-Distance and Uniform Geared-to-the-Road would make any tire desirable, but coupled as it is with Uniform mileage, it makes the Miller doubly valuable to motorists. Tire after tire—not merely some—is built to a single long distance standard. Our work- ers are trained to this system of uniform workmanship. That is the only way_to make mileage dnifoni. Wher. tires like these are made, why the road, so you get full power ahead go without them? Find the authorized from the wheels. And Geared-to-the- Miller dealer, or write us for his name. The Miller Rubber Company, Dept. A-122, Akron, Ohio Makers of Miller Red and Gray Inner Tabes—the Team-Mates of Uniform Tires, ‘also Miller Sargeons Grade Rabber Goods—for Homes as Well as Hospitals DEALERS: Write for attractive tire agency proposition in open territory (332) UNIFORM MILEAGE Z e e e A t Sag eS Wor SEE SEPOLLEELPEE ESET oveneme comicbooks.com