Life — April 22, 1920 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **Michelin Tire Company advertisement**, not political satire. The page warns consumers about counterfeit inner tubes mimicking genuine Michelin Red Inner Tubes. The key message: inferior tubes were being sold in boxes designed to resemble authentic Michelin packaging—exploiting brand recognition through deceptive imitation. The ad urges buyers to carefully examine seals and verify they're purchasing genuine Michelin products. The cartoon figure is **Bibendum**, Michelin's famous mascot (the rotund tire-man character), used here to add brand identity and a somewhat humorous tone to the consumer protection warning. This reflects early 20th-century concerns about product counterfeiting and the growing importance of brand protection as manufacturing and distribution expanded.