Life, 1920-03-25 · page 6 of 40
Life — March 25, 1920 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement** for Weed Anti-Skid Tire Chains, not political satire. The "gambler" metaphor compares a motorist driving on wet streets *without* tire chains to someone gambling with dice—risking lives through reckless chance-taking. The illustration shows a well-dressed man in a flat cap and bow tie, depicted as a "gambler" because he's metaphorically "rolling dice" with safety. The dice imagery reinforces the dangerous gamble of driving without proper winter traction equipment. The ad uses moral persuasion rather than humor: driving without chains on slippery roads is presented as irresponsible gambling that endangers both the driver and passengers. This was serious safety messaging during an era when winter driving hazards were significant.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Motorist who does not stop to put on Weed Tire Chains before driving over wet-slippery-skiddy streets gambles with his life and the lives of others. Don’t tilt the dice-box with Fate—don’t pit your skill against the Skid that lurks at every turn of the wheel, when streets are wet and treacherous. No matter how skillfully and carefully you may drive, you and your passengers are in imminent danger when the rain whips streets into black deadly skidways unless your wheels are equipped with Weed axsi: Chains For Dependable Security Give your Weed Tire Chains a chance to perform their mission. Don’t leave them in the garage or tool box—put them on the tires. Only a moment of your time and their steel forged protection will be securely chaining your car to safety. Weed Tire Chains are also made to meet the demand for an efficient traction and anti-skid device for trucks equipped with single and dual solid tires or with the very large pneumatic tires. They are so constructed that they satisfactorily meet the require- ments of heavy truck cervice in mud, sand or snow. American Chain Company, BRIDGEPORT \¢/ CONNECTICUT In Canada: Dominion Chain Company, Limited, Niagara Falls, Ontario Largest Chain Manufacturers in the World The Complete Chain Line—All Types, All Sizes, All Finishes—From Plumbers’ Safety Chain to Ships’ Anchor Chain General Sales Offices . Grand Central Terminal, New York City District Sales Offices: Boston jieago \ Portland, Ore, Philedelphia Sen Francisco comicbooks.com