Life, 1921-05-26 · page 4 of 36
Life — May 26, 1921 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. American Chain Company is marketing "Weed Tire Chains" — metal chains fitted to vehicle tires for winter traction. The visual metaphor compares tire chains to a protective barrier: the top shows a dangerous figure (representing "skidding" or loss of control) on the left, while chains form a shield in the center, with a wrecked car on the right—illustrating the consequence of driving without chains in bad conditions. The text personifies "skidding" as a criminal threat ("no respecter of persons, purse, time or place") that "falls before" the chains' "relentless force." The ad urges drivers to install chains "at the first drop of rain." This reflects early 20th-century automotive safety messaging, when tire chains were standard winter equipment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4 . iy t+ © elween’ a == = ’ Weed Tire Chains They Stand as a Bulwark Between You and Danger Sa > EDD se KIDDING is no respecter of persons, purse, time or place. Pride, strength and bank accounts fall before its relentless force. Weed Tire Chains prevent skidding. Always take them with you and put them on at the first drop of rain. AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, INC. BRIDGEPORT \¢/ CONNECTICUT In Canada: Dominion Chain Company, Limited, Niagara Falls, Ontario The Complete Chain Line— All Types, Alll Sizes, All Finishes —From Plumbers” Safety Chain to Ships’ Anchor Chain GENERAL SALES OFFICE: Grand Central Terminal, New York City DISTRICT SALES OFFICES: Boston Chicago Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland, Ore. San Francisco Largest Chain Manufacturers in the World Sos comicbooks.com