Life, 1920-03-25 · page 33 of 40
Life — March 25, 1920 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire page**—it's a straightforward **advertisement for Goodyear Cord Tires** from 1920. The page features a testimonial from Paul F. Semonin, vice-president of Peerless Manufacturing Company in Louisville, Kentucky, praising Goodyear's pneumatic (air-filled) truck tires for their economy and durability after 15,000 miles of hauling. The large photograph shows the tire's superior cushioning compared to older solid tires. The accompanying text explains that pneumatic cord tires offer better traction and performance than solid rubber tires, especially in harsh weather conditions. This represents early automotive advertising in a prestige magazine, targeting business fleet managers by citing real company endorsements and operational cost comparisons. The appeal is practical efficiency rather than humor or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ Copyright 1920, by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, ‘HE adoption of Goodyear Cord Tires in our trucking has proved a great economy because, while increasing our hauling ability tremen- dously, it minimizes repairs, depreciation and load breakage. In addition, the Goodyear Cords serve at moderate tire-mile cost. After 15,000 miles, they look good for much more hard work.”’—Paul F. Semonin, Vice-President and General Manager, Peerless Mfg. Company, Louisville, Kentucky THE experience related above expresses the same kind of all-round success with pneumatic truck tires that is reported by users everywhere throughout the country, The diversified improvements and savings effected with Goodyear Cord Tires, in many different branches of hauling, reflect the immensely increased fitness and ability of motor trucks shod with these tires. In place of the slower and otherwise restricted action of the solid tire, their owners now take advantage of the traction, cushioning and spryness of the perfected pneumatic truck tires. These obvious superiorities have been rendered entirely practical by the development of Goodyear Cord con- struction as has been demonstrated by millions of miles of heavy duty. It is this construction which has been the basis of Goodyear's pioneering of the employment of pneumatic truck tires just as it is today the basis of many better- ments in hauling methods. Since early in 1917, Goodyear’s fleets, shod with Goodyear Cord Tires, have been freighting over long and arduous routes and carrying passengers through all such weather conditions as seriously hinder solid tires. The operating and cost records of these fleets and of others, owned in varied lines of business, afford direct comparisons of pneumatic vs. solid truck tires and can be obtained by writing to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, at Akron, Ohio. GOODP YEAR CORD TIRE comicbooks.com