Life, 1919-09-04 · page 37 of 48
Life — September 4, 1919 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward automobile advertisement for Willys-Knight vehicles, appearing in *Life* magazine (page 419). The ad promotes the "Sleeve-Valve" motor technology, claiming it improves with use and delivers increasingly smooth power over time. The illustrative sketch shows a car on a beach with passengers, emphasizing leisure and reliability. The tagline "Once a Willys-Knight Owner Always a Willys-Knight Owner" suggests customer loyalty based on the vehicle's quality. **Publisher**: Willys-Overland, Inc. (Toledo, Ohio) and Willys-Overland Limited (Toronto, Canada). This represents early automotive advertising's emphasis on mechanical superiority and durability as selling points — concepts modern readers might find quaint in an era of mass-produced cars.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
““Sleeve-Valvc, the Motor that Improves with Use” a omy and velvety action —these make the foundation on which is built the enthusiasm of Willys-Knight owners. The longer one drives a Willys-Knight Sleeve-Valve motored car, the more smoothly it delivers its power. had ILLYS- OVERLAND, ING., ‘Toledo, Ohia Knight Touring—Four, §175—Bigh, § Lan—Kour, —Kight, $475. 1 WILLYS-OVERLAND, LIMITED, TORONTO, CANADA comicbooks.com