Life, 1924-08-28 · page 4 of 36
Life — August 28, 1924 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The ad addresses husbands ("Thousands of Men") who allegedly refuse to buy their wives Packard Six cars, claiming the price is too high and that Packard requires cash payment. The advertisement counters these objections by arguing that men haven't calculated the Packard's true value: low operating and maintenance costs, comfort, durability ("great strength with lighter weight"), and prestige. The tagline "Only Packard can build a Packard" emphasizes exclusivity. The illustration shows a well-dressed couple beside a Packard in a scenic setting, depicting the aspirational lifestyle the car supposedly offers. A note mentions Packard's "extremely liberal time-payment plan," directly addressing the cash-only objection. This is commercial persuasion, not political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thousands of Men- are denying their wives Packard Six cars. Why? They think the price is higher than it is; that Packard cars can be bought only for cash. They have never stopped to figure the low cost of the long-life Packard and the high cost of the short-life ordinary car. They do not know that the Packard Six combines low operating and mainte- nance costs with comfort-without-bulk, great strength with lighter weight and the beauty and distinction which belong to Packard alone. Packard Six and Packard Eight both furnished in ten body types, open and enclosed. Packard’s extremely liberal time- payment plan makes possible the immediate enjoyment of a Packard—purchasing out of income instead of capital ASK THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE comicbooks.com