Life, 1920-11-18 · page 6 of 44
Life — November 18, 1920 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a commercial for Weed Tire Chains from the American Chain Company (Bridgeport, Connecticut). The ad features an illustration of a car driven by a man, shown head-on approaching the viewer. The headline "Don't Leave Them Behind" warns drivers to keep tire chains in their vehicles rather than storing them in garages. The messaging emphasizes safety: chains are essential for winter driving on icy roads ("black deadly skidways"). The copy uses the phrase "Brains and Chains must be used for the safe operation of automobiles"—a straightforward sales pitch positioning the product as a prudent safety measure for motorists, particularly during winter conditions.