Life, 1919-12-18 · page 47 of 56
Life — December 18, 1919 — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **straightforward automobile advertisement**, not political satire or a cartoon. It promotes the Milburn Light Electric car, manufactured by the Milburn Wagon Company of Toledo, Ohio. **Key content for modern readers:** - Electric vehicles were a viable commercial product in this era (pre-1920s), competing with gasoline automobiles - The ad emphasizes practical advantages: instant cold-weather starting, hill-climbing ability, electric brakes, and a battery-exchange system for convenience - Price of $2,485 (substantial for the period) - The decorative imagery—a small Milburn car and equestrian statue on a hill—suggests technological progress replacing traditional horse transportation - This represents a historical moment when electric cars were mainstream options before gasoline engines dominated the market The page is primarily **advertising copy with no satirical intent**. It's a genuine promotional document from Life magazine's commercial section, illustrating that electric vehicles were once a serious automotive alternative.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
|, i TIN UI \ i/burn LIGHT, ELECTRIC alll y = mn T M = =" =| —, I TIMI ] The Most Popular Electric Milburn performance has given it an pearance, economical and easy to handle enviable standing as the most popular elec- It starts instantly in cold weather with a tric in the world. touch on the lever. TIMI I Uh It has all the speed and power you will The Milburn has larger tires and bat- need in ordinary driving. It will climb any — teries. Fresh batteries are installed in a hill, Its exclusive electric brake eases the few minutes by the quick exchange battery car down steep inclines without tiring pres- system. sure on the foot pedal and wear on brake bands. TU TNT A tremendous demand makes an carly order advisable. Write for catalog and The Milburn is low swung, smart in ap: address of nearest dealer The Milburn will be on exhibition at the national automobile shows at New York and Chicago Price $2485 f. 0. b. Toledo Established 1868 The Milburn Wagon Company Toledo. Obie r ~\\ Automobile Division Ponta a) . TTT TTT HLL m7 Li TTT —_— el TWiST comicbooks.com