Life — September 18, 1919 — page 29: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This six-panel comic satirizes the unreliability of early automobiles (called "flivvers"), specifically Henry Ford's Model T. The protagonist, Mr. John Follie, attempts to ride a high-wheeled velocipede/early automobile, which repeatedly breaks down and malfunctions across multiple trips. The humor derives from the contrast between Ford's commercial promises and the vehicle's actual performance—it "broke down four times" on a short journey from Punkville. The reference to "Fort Sumter" (the Civil War's opening battle in 1861) is a historical comparison suggesting this automobile is as outdated and problematic as 1861 technology. The satire targets early automotive manufacturing's quality issues and the gap between advertising claims and reality. The title suggests this mechanical failure represents one of the era's notable "follies"—foolish pursuits or mistakes.