Life, 1919-08-21 · page 39 of 40
Life — August 21, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire**, but rather a **car advertisement** for the Marmon automobile, appearing in *Life* magazine. The page promotes the Marmon 54, a luxury car manufactured by Nordyke & Marmon Company in Indianapolis. The ad uses a competitive metaphor—describing the car's acceleration and traffic performance using racing language ("First Away!"). The image shows a side-view illustration of an early 1900s open-air touring car. The selling points emphasized are: rapid acceleration (0-50 mph in 20 seconds), lightweight construction (1100 pounds lighter than competitors), fuel efficiency, and tire mileage. The ad appeals to wealthy buyers seeking performance and status. This represents typical early automotive advertising, targeting affluent readers of *Life* magazine with technical specifications presented as lifestyle advantages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MARMON o4 In Traffic—First Away! A torrent of power waits in the Marmon motor for the signal “Gol” At a touch on the throttle this long, low, lightweight car isoff like abird, Capable of accelerating 5 to 50 miles in 20 seconds, it takes the lead by common consent and quickly clears the way for those behind. 136-Inch Wheelbase—1100 Pounds Lighter Greater Gasoline and Tire Mileage NORDYKE A MARMON COMPANY : Indianapolis comicbooks.com