Life, 1926-09-09 · page 39 of 40
Life — September 9, 1926 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **automobile advertising**, not satire or political commentary. The page uses a celebrity endorsement strategy rather than humor. **The Figure:** Mary Roberts Rinehart, a genuinely prominent American author of the 1920s known for mystery novels ("Tish," "Bab") and outdoor adventure writing. **The Strategy:** The ad quotes Rinehart endorsing the Willys-Knight Great Six automobile, positioning the car as the choice of cultured, accomplished Americans. The left column catalogs her credentials—bestselling author, playwright, outdoorswoman—to establish her as representative of "all that is fine and true in American womanhood." **Key Sales Pitch:** The right column emphasizes the car's "Knight sleeve-valve motor," claimed as a patented exclusive feature that requires no maintenance (no valve grinding, no carbon cleaning) and "has ever worn out." **For Modern Readers:** This reflects pre-1930 advertising techniques before regulations required substantiation of claims. The celebrity endorsement tactic and the implied status association (buy what famous people buy) remain recognizable marketing strategies, though the specific claims about durability are now unverifiable and likely exaggerated.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
As America’s best loved authoress expresses it “Next to my favorite saddle horse give me this spirited Willys-Knight Great Six’ Waiter of ‘‘Dangerous Days,”* **The Amazing Inter- lude,”’ ‘*The Breaking Point” and a score or more equally fascinating works . . . Creator of the daring Tish," the romantic ‘‘Bab"’... Co-author of that thriller, “The Bac’... Exponent of the vast Out- doors, as much at ease in the wide open spaces as in the drawing room of her Wash- ington home... \ name and personality typi- fying all that is fine and true in American womanhood . . . A rare privilege indeed to wel- come Mary Roberts Rinchart to that expanding group of type of automobile motor built. Quieter and more powerful than any other motor when new, it grows still guéeter, still more powerful, still more efficient with every mile. The motor of the Willys- Knight Great Six has no valves to grind. You never lay it up for carbon- cleaning. It has no springs to weaken— nothing to adjust—noth replace or repair. It is practically fool-proof and wear-proof. No Willys-Knight motor, so far as we know, has ever worn out. world-notables who admire and drive the Willys-Knight —$— Advantages such as these Great Six. MARY ROBERTS RINEHART make fast and enthusiastic ss 8 Authoress—Playwright—Outdoors-Woman friends of Willys-Knight owners—as More and more, and in amazingly _ does the comforting assurance that increasing numbers, those whose CON Mert IELTS mor this car holds top place in resale value means permit their enjoyment of the 4 because, in terms of years, its uscful- finest in motor cars the world affords are coming over ness is far and away beyond that of the average car. to the Willys-Knight Great Six. x aN Expressed in figures, over 25,0000f these superbSixeshave — Willys-Knight Great Six prices from $1750 to $2495 heen sold in the past 12 months. The 7 f. o. b. factory. months period ending July 31, 1926, reg- isters still greater progress—a sales gain of 74% over the corresponding period Jast year. Thus a sales record has been established which has never before been equaled in the same length of time, we finance plan means believe, by any luxury car. P Se less money down, smaller sss i monthly payments and The motor of the Willys-Knight Great Six . the lowest credit-cost in is an exclusive feature which other manufac- Ny t the industry. turers would pay millions to get. This feature— 4 the famous Knight sleeve-valve motor—is patented. Years of tests have proved it the most efficient We reserve the right to change prices .. and specifications * without notice. The new Willys-Knight Willys-Overland, Inc., Toledo, Ohio ‘Willys-Overland Sales Co. Lid., Toronto, Canada ‘Willys-Overland Crossley, Ltd., Stockport, England WILLYS-KNIGHT Great SIX comicbooks.com