Life, 1919-05-29 · page 6 of 42
Life — May 29, 1919 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. The American Chain Company, Inc. (Bridgeport, Connecticut) is promoting Weed Tire Chains—metal devices attached to vehicle tires for traction on icy or muddy roads. The advertisement uses a cautionary narrative approach: it depicts a taxi driver who neglected to install chains, resulting in a skidded wheel and accident. The testimonial quotes warn that without chains, drivers face danger on winter roads. One quote notes that professional drivers (taxi drivers, paid chauffeurs) who understand road safety always use chains. The humor is mild—playing on the driver's embarrassment and the irony that he should have known better. This reflects early automotive safety concerns when winter driving equipment was genuinely critical for vehicle control before modern tire technology.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: “When I’ve got them on the tires | know where I’m at—but Take Warning when I leave them off I don’t know what’s going to happen. Put on your “Look at that fellow over there—sce! He didn't put on his chains. Took WEED a chance—thought he was some careful driver . He got what was coming to him—a dished wheel and a nice big bill for repairs. Lucky nobody was hurt TIRE “Did you ever notice that us fellows who know our jobs—taxi drivers and CHAINS paid chauffeurs—hardly ever have an accident because we have learned to When the roads and be careful and never ta chances. Bur look out for the av e driver. He pavements are slip- is inclined to be“ stuck on™ his driving. Hits it up—cuts corners—neglects his pery and uncertain. brakes—doesn’t anticipate a skid. He gets into trouble himself and other road users don't feel safe when he is about “I'd be scared to death on slippery asy pavements and muddy roads if I did't have Weed Tire Chains. Bet your life / don't take any chances. “At the first drop of rain | lhaul them out of the tool box and put them on all four tires. Then I'm dead sure of myselfi—I know where I get off at “‘Weed Chains prevent an awful lot of accidents’’ bs AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INC. WEED BRIDGEPORT \6/ CONNECTICUT In Canada: Dominion Chain Company, Limited, Niagara Falls, Ontario Largest Chain Manufacturers in the World The Complete Chain Line—All Types, All Sizes, All Finishes—-From Plumbers’ Safety Chain to Ships’ Anchor Chain Comicbooks.com