Life, 1920-08-26 · page 5 of 36
Life — August 26, 1920 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is primarily a **Goodrich Silvertown tire advertisement**, not satirical content. The ad claims that Silvertown introduced the term "cord tire" into motorists' vocabulary, then backed it with superior performance to earn its reputation. The small illustration shows a vintage automobile passing between tall cypress trees near what appears to be a Mediterranean villa, with the tagline "BEST IN THE LONG RUN." The bottom specification line notes different tire types: Silvertown Cords (8,000 miles) versus Fabric Tires (6,000 miles), emphasizing durability advantages. This represents early automotive-era marketing positioning Silvertown as America's first cord tire manufacturer, appealing to motorists concerned with tire longevity and reliability—key selling points in the pre-1920s automobile market.