Life, 1921-02-10 · page 12 of 42
Life — February 10, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement, not political satire**. The page promotes Raybestos Silver Edge brake linings for automobiles. The ad uses a safety-themed narrative: a speeding car confronts unexpected hazards (a steep hill, pedestrian, blind turn) and must stop suddenly. The message emphasizes that reliable brakes matter more than raw speed—"the wise motorist looks to his brake lining." The advertisement positions Raybestos as the dependable choice, claiming its product "STOPS the car when necessary" and guarantees durability ("wear one year"). The company lists factories in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Peterborough, Ontario, with various U.S. branch offices. This represents early automotive-safety advertising targeting cautious drivers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
It isn’t speed nor power that counts so much, as ability to STOP... the unexpected often happens. A blind turn, steep hill, pedestrian in the road, or thoughtless moto All these things may mean STOP quickly, or slow down. That’s why the wise motorist looks to his drake Jing. He avoids ordinary, doubtful lining. He buys Raybestos—sturdy, strong, dependable vbestos that STOPS the car when necessary. Drive carefully—faster if you —but STOP when you must—with genuine Raybestos. And remember, it’s guaranteed to wear one year. The genuine has a Silver Edge. THE RAYBESTOS COMPANY actorics: BRIDGEPORT, CONN. PETERBOROUGH, ONT., CANADA Branches: Detroit, 4837 Woodward Avenue San Francisco, 1403 Chronicle Building Chicago, 1402 South Michigan Avenue comicbooks.com