Life, 1920-03-11 · page 31 of 40
Life — March 11, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a cartoon or satire—it's a straightforward **advertisement for Goodyear Cord Tires** from LIFE magazine (page 471). The page features a large photograph of a tire on the left alongside promotional text on the right. The ad employs corporate marketing rhetoric typical of the era, emphasizing "continuous betterment" and innovation. It claims Goodyear pioneered key tire technologies: the first American tire-making machine, straight-side casings, detachable rims, and the "All-Weather Tread." The text argues that Goodyear's commitment to improvement is unmatched and that their tires consequently dominate the market ("more people ride on Goodyear Tires than on any other kind"). There is no political or social satire present—this is genuine commercial advertising presenting Goodyear's manufacturing history and product superiority claims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Continuous Process of Betterment The present conspicuous goodness of Goodyear Cord Tires has origin in a type of bettering effort pursued by this Company through many years. Out of this effort emerged such important developments as the first American tire-making machine and the standard straight- side casing of today. Out of it, too, came the original Goodyear detachable rim, the safe and reliable piano-wire tire base, the efficient All-Weather Tread. The perfected Goodyear Cord Tire principle itself, as applied now in both passenger car and truck equipment, likewise arrived from this source. At no other time since the beginning of this business has this process of betterment attained the scope and importance sur- rounding it today. At no other time has it so effectively touched, and enriched, and benefited every phase of the material and manufacture of our products as now. Its fruits in the present Goodyear Cord Tire are an immense capacity for service and a record of tire accomplishment unique in the world. Because Goodyear Tires and the sincere conservation service behind them afford uncommon satisfaction, more people ride on Goodyear Tires than on any other kind. comicbooks.com