Life — July 8, 1926 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Budd-Michelin Wheels Advertisement This is primarily a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. The Budd Wheel Company is promoting their "Budd-Michelin" wheels by claiming the public prefers them for automobiles. The ad uses a collage of vehicles—from early bicycles and motorcars to 1920s automobiles—to suggest the wheels' long success history. The text cites consumer testimonials praising features like safety, durability, and ease of tire-changing. The "Goodby wheels" text at top appears ironic: these new wheels allegedly make old problems obsolete. This represents typical early-20th-century *Life* magazine content: advertisements marketed as editorial endorsements, using aspirational imagery and supposed customer quotes to build brand credibility during the automotive industry's expansion.