Life, 1920-02-19 · page 33 of 48
Life — February 19, 1920 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **straightforward advertisement**, not a political cartoon or satire. It's a Raybestos brake lining product ad from *Life* magazine (page 329). The page promotes "Silver Edge" brake linings, manufactured by The Raybestos Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The ad's message is practical and consumer-focused: Raybestos brand brake linings are distinguished by a silver-colored edge, which serves as an identifier to ensure customers receive genuine Raybestos products rather than inferior imitations or substitutes. The silver edge also guarantees one year's wear. The illustrated cone-shaped product shown is the brake lining itself. The ad emphasizes that while many brake linings exist, only Raybestos has this silver edge—a marketing strategy to help consumers identify authentic products in an era when counterfeits apparently were a concern. This reflects early 20th-century automotive commerce and brand differentiation tactics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EEE) | Silver Edge BRAKE LINING RAKE lining edged with HEN you buy brake lin- silver is vea/ Raybestos. We ing—look for that Silver put this silver edge on Edge. It identifies Ray- Raybestos for your protection. — bestos. It means that you will There are many substitutes; get the brake lining service you there are inferior imitations, and areentitledto. It meansthat you these are often sold as Raybestos. are assured of one year’s WEAR. There are many brake linings, but only ove lining edged with Silver. Remember this when you buy new lining for your car. THE RAYBESTOS COMPANY, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. comicbooks.com