Life, 1920-03-18 · page 7 of 54
Life — March 18, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **an advertisement, not satire or political commentary**. It promotes Raybestos brake lining for automobiles. The ad uses a dramatic image of a worn car wheel with the rhetorical question "Will they hold?" to appeal to motorists' safety concerns. The copy emphasizes that brake reliability is crucial—especially on hills—and positions Raybestos as the trustworthy choice because it "WEARS and WEARS" with a one-year guarantee. The small cone-shaped product image (right side) shows the brake lining itself, marked with a "Silver Edge" identifier for brand recognition. This reflects early 20th-century automotive advertising's focus on mechanical reliability as a selling point when cars were still relatively new technology and brake failure was a genuine safety hazard.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
** the most important question for you to consider ‘pon the brakes depends your ability to stop, slow down, or ‘hold’ the hills. © motorists are particular about brake lining. They ce with other equipment, but when it comes to the Raybestos. Do your brakes “‘hold’’ when you press ave you fullest confidence in y akes? If there’s doubt, line them with Raybestos. SARS. It’s guaranteed to WEA Look for the Silver Edge THE RAYBESTOS COMPANY BRIDGEPORT CONN. comicbooks.com