Life, 1919-10-09 · page 35 of 48
Life — October 9, 1919 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **car advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Franklin automobile, manufactured in Syracuse, New York, as a superior touring vehicle. The ad targets enthusiast drivers by emphasizing the Franklin's economy (20 miles per gallon, 12,500 miles per tire set, 50% slower depreciation) and distinctive mechanical features: direct air cooling (avoiding radiator problems), wide observation windows, and easy handling that leaves drivers "unfatigued" after long drives. The illustration shows a cyclist admiring the Franklin sedan, with well-dressed motorists in the background—positioning the car as aspirational and practical for active, touring-minded people of means. At page bottom, a prominent circuit judge endorses the car's reliability on highways, lending credibility. The ad's tone suggests this was likely published in the 1920s, when such detailed mechanical specifications and touring capability were major selling points.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE FRANKLIN SEDAN HE surest clue to motoring satisfac tion is an owner's enthusiasm. — The owner of the average car displays it occa sionally—-whenever he happens to get a few more miles from his tires than the maker guarantees, or a little more distance than usual from his gasoline, or when he covers more ground in a day’s driving than he thought he could Franklin Sedan owners are always en vuse they continu- thusiastic motorists, be: ily get and often ex : 20 miles to the gallon of gasolin 12,500 aniles to the set of tires go% slower yearly depreciation But their records of economy are not the only things they are enthusiastic about What counts as much with Franklin Sedan owners is their ability to out-tour the aver- ie touring car and at the same time enjoy a riding comfort, ease of control and safety in handling, which leaves them unfatigued FRANKLIN AUTOMOBILE C¢ § PROMINENT UNITED STATES CIRCUIT During 14,9 engine troubl T have not \lso—frec and other at the end of a full day’s run dom from punctures outs tire accidents All of this the result Light Weight and) Flexible the same principles that economy of Franklin Construction. Frankli is give Mso, Franklin owners tell you that they vould never give up the benefits of Direct \ir Cooling (no water to boil or freeze) that they will never go back to the drainir of radiators, the using of anti-freeze mix- tures in winter, or the watching of ther mometers in summer And they know from experience that the Wide Observation Windows, giving unob structed outlook, the two Wide Doors, in creasing riding view and making access sy, and the slanting V-shaped Wind- shield, giving broadest driving vision, com bine to make the Franklin Sedan structur ally the most practical enclosed car IMPANY, SYRACUSE, N.Y. JUDGE 7o mil-s I have never had a sing! any kind stop me en seconds on th either. Have Maine, the White M the car has travelled some very r comicbooks.com