Life, 1920-08-12 · page 5 of 44
Life — August 12, 1920 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a straightforward **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Goodrich's Silvertown Cord tire, marketed as "America's First Cord Tire." The ad uses a small illustrated vignette of a vintage automobile on a scenic road to appeal to motorists. The tagline emphasizes practical benefits: attractive appearance ("more graceful"), better performance ("easier-running"), and cost savings ("lower-cost"). The fine print at bottom specifies technical specs: Silvertown Cords lasted 8,000 miles versus fabric tires' 6,000 miles—a genuine competitive advantage in the early automobile era when tire durability directly affected ownership costs. This represents early-1920s advertising strategy: combining visual appeal with concrete performance claims to justify premium pricing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE first look tells the smarter, more graceful difference of Silvertown Cords; the first ride, their easier-running difference; the first check-up on mileage, their lower-cost difference. Goodrich ilvertown America’s First Corn Tire The Goodrich Adjustment Basis: Silvertown Cords, 8000 Miles ; Fabric Tire:, 6000 Miles comicbooks.com