Life, 1920-10-07 · page 35 of 56
Life — October 7, 1920 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward advertisement for Packard Motor Truck Company. The page features an illustration of various truck sizes at the top but serves as product marketing, not political commentary. The ad argues that business owners face a choice: select trucks based on "commercial practice" (habit/cost-cutting) or trust "engineering authority" (Packard's scientific design). It emphasizes that Packard trucks are engineered with 44 specific design factors, each part coordinated with others, and subject to rigorous quality control—one inspector per twenty workers. The pitch targets industrial buyers concerned with transportation costs. The tagline "Ask the Man Who Owns One" is typical early-20th-century advertising, appealing to peer testimony. There's no satire here—this is a genuine corporate advertisement promoting engineering superiority as a selling point for commercial vehicles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
What makes engineering authority ISIT the busyfreight VV receiving platform of any railroad. Of the score or more motor trucks loading, there will be half a dozen assorted sizes doing practically the same work. Why so many sizes for the same job? Which size is right? Who said so? * * * The business man can select his motor trucks either of two ways. He can trust to rule of thumb “commercial practice.” Taking it for granted that the truck is right—that its parts are what they ought to be—and that his ‘“‘sav- ing’’ in first cost is genuine economy. Or he can go straight to the truck vouched for by engineering authority. De- signed for the work it has todo. Each part designed in relation to every other part—and built under rigid supervision. Sure saving in cost of transportation. In all industrial America there is no higher example of engineering carried in- tensively into a product than the Packard Truck. The 44 definite factors Each sizeot Packard Truck designed for a specific transportation Rear - end, clutch, feare—each ‘size the proper desiga for its own engine. Packard unity of de- a engine too big for the end, or driving One reasonwhy Packard trucks han- die ¢reater loads eco- nomically per hundred pounds cf track. of superiority in the Pack- ard Truck are the direct outcome of Packard inten- sive engineering. The design of the truck—and of its parts. The selection of material. The new andadvanced processes developed. Special machine equipment invented. Packard standards in the finished truck ensured by hold- ing one inspector responsible for the work of each twenty men throughout the Packard plant. All leading up to the un- equalled strength of the Pack- ard truck parts and the high performance of the Packard Truck. Packard engineering puts economy on the road ahead of cheapening production in the factory. Low transportation costs shown by Packard Trucks — dependable performance—long life—all matters of record. Records and the ‘44 factors” available to business men at local Packard headquarters. “Ask the Man Who Owns One” PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, Detroit comicbooks.com