Life, 1920-09-23 · page 31 of 40
Life — September 23, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. The Macbeth-Evans Glass Company promotes their "Liberty Lens" automobile headlight using patriotic imagery and claims of widespread endorsement. The **Statue of Liberty reference** appears decorative rather than satirical—the company claims the same craftsmen who made the famous statue's lens now produce their automotive product, implying superior quality and American excellence. The "Laws and Leaders Agree" headline suggests regulatory and industry endorsement, listing numerous car manufacturers as standard equipment users. This was common advertising strategy for automotive products in this era. The **technical specifications** describe the lens's safety features—reduced glare, improved visibility range, and light distribution—addressing genuine driving concerns of the early automobile age. No identifiable political figures or satirical commentary appears present. This is straightforward commercial advertising leveraging American patriotism and appeals to authority to market automotive safety equipment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Macheth-Evans made the great lens in this famous statue. The same scientific skill produced the Liberty Lens. Laws and Leaders Agree! Both endorse this lens HE safety laws of every state, the leading cars of America, endorse this splendid lens. It is legal every- where. And already it is standard equipment on more cars than any other lens! The Liberty Lens for automobiles is the latest achieve- ment of the Macbeth-Fvans Glass Co., whose products have been the best of their kind for more than half a century. Macbeth scientific skill has heen the world’s reliance for the lenses for the greatest battleships and lighthouses. It is a matter of history that no article bear- ing the Macbeth trade-mark has ever failed to lead its field. Protective Light The Liberty Lens prevents critical moments in night driving. It puts the light where it is wanted. 300 to 400 fect range—no glare—and side ditches as brightly lighted as the middle of the road! perpendicular prisms on the front surface of the lens spread the light. Seven transverse prisms in the rear bend the rays down on the road under a line 42 inches high, 75 feet ahead. perpeir . $3.00 Canada. . 2, 4.00 Deaver and West 3.25 Winnipeg and West 4.25 Standard Equipment on Jordan Studebaker Paige Peerless Paterson Case Stanley Moon Briscoe Premier Daniels Winton ional Grant Columbia Templar Cole andard —Biltwell Jones Hupmobile Sheridan American TRUCKS Service Motor Truck International Truck Garford Vim For over half a centur is trade-mark has been sign of admitted superiority, MACBETH-EVANS GLASS COMPANY, Pittsburgh Branch Ofices in: Boston; Chicago; New York; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh: San Francisco; 720 Book Building, De Macbeth-Evans Glass Company, Limited, Toronto, Cancda comicbooks.com