Life, 1919-05-22 · page 2 of 42
Life — May 22, 1919 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a Michelin Tire Company advertisement from *Life* magazine (dated May 2, 1908). The ad promotes Michelin's "full-size tubes" for automobile tires. The imagery compares Michelin tubes (shown filling a tire casing completely before inflation) against competitor tubes that require stretching during inflation. The accompanying text argues that stretched tubes experience destructive heating that damages rubber resilience. The Michelin Man mascot appears for scale comparison. There is no political cartoon or satire here—this is straightforward product marketing emphasizing Michelin's manufacturing advantage and superiority over competing tire products of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| fRBILGIBO EMWCE < i al r—(/ Sx((( a Actual photograph show ing difference in width between Michelin Tubes and other tubes rg Michelin Tubes being made full-sized fill the inside of the casing even before inflation. Other tubes, being smaller in diameter than Michelins, must be stretched by inflation to fill the casing.~ The flexing of these stretched tubes under constant tension when inflated causes destructive heating which kills all the natural life and resiliency of the rubber, making it porous and less resistant to cuts and punctures. Michelin Tubes, being full-sized, are free from these disadvantages. Insist on Michelins—the full-sized inner tubes. Michelin Tubes fill the casing 2 Other tubes must be stretched by even before inflation inflation to fill the casing MICHELIN TIRE.CO., Milltown, N. J. Michelin Tire Co. of Canada. Lid., 782 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal Dealers in all parts of the world