Life, 1919-08-14 · page 8 of 44
Life — August 14, 1919 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Weed Anti-Skid Chains advertisement**, not satire. The page uses dramatic illustration to promote tire chains for winter driving safety. The top illustration shows two men demonstrating what happens during a "skid"—a tire spinning uselessly and losing traction. The text explains that skidding damages tires and causes inevitable punctures and blowouts. The bottom shows a car that has skidded or crashed, reinforcing the danger message. The advertisement argues that Weed Anti-Skid Chains prevent this by improving traction, especially on wet and slippery roads. The tagline "Every time you skid" emphasizes frequency and danger. **American Chain Company, Inc.** (based in Bridgeport, Connecticut) marketed these chains as essential winter safety equipment, urging customers to install them "at the first drop of rain."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
\ This is What a Skid Does! It actually grinds away the tire’s tread—stretches and weak- ens the fabric—cauSes inevitable punctures and blowouts. Every time you skid you grind off miles and miles of tire service and no matter how careful a driver you may be, when roads are wet and slippery it is next to impossible to avoid skidding unless your tires are equipped with Weed Anti-Skid Chains For Protection and Preservation / Weed Chains insure safety, economy and tire protection—Always put them on “At the First Drop of Rain.” AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INC. BRIDGEPORT 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 District Sales Offices ial Atlanta Philadelphia . y- Boston Pittsbure >. Chicago _—Portland, Ore New York San Francisco